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Injuries have decimated the ranks of the NFL through two weeks, taking down some of the best at each position. Big-name quarterbacks are dropping like flies while notable skill position players are taking turns riding the injury carousel. In deeper leagues, it's kill or be killed on the waiver wire this week.
The following players are owned in approximately 10% or fewer of Yahoo leagues, so they won't be the flashiest names on the market. But if you're looking for a good spot start for an injured player or just need some high upside lottery tickets, these are your guys.
Let's look at some potential waiver wire adds in deep leagues.
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Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco, Denver Broncos - 6% owned
Joe Flacco threw the ball 50 times in Sunday's matchup with the Bears. 50 times. That's 40 more attempts than Kirk Cousins had in his first game. Never mind that he fell just short of 300 yards and put up just one touchdown, the law of averages says there are big games ahead for Flacco. This Broncos team wants to chuck the ball all day long, and Flacco has zero problems doing just that. They have a tough matchup against the Packers at Lambeau this week but Flacco's assured passing volume still makes him a decent start.
Teddy Bridgewater, New Orleans Saints - 1% owned
When the backup Saints come marching in, fantasy outlooks start to look bleak all around. Drew Brees could miss six weeks with a torn ligament in his thumb and Sean Payton appears to be Team Teddy. Bridgewater struggled after being inserted into the game against the Rams, completing 17 or 30 passes for just 165 yards and no touchdowns. The Seahawks have given up the seventh-most passing yards in the league.
Josh Rosen, Miami Dolphins - 1% owned
Despite the coaching staff reportedly standing behind Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback, you have to wonder how long it'll take before Miami gives Rosen a tryout. There's been nary a glimpse of Fitzmagic thus far, and the team needs to see what they have in the sophomore QB before next year's draft. Stand by for Rosen's eventual call to action.
Running Backs
Frank Gore, Buffalo Bills - 9% owned
Here's your annual reminder that Frank Gore is still fantasy-relevant somehow. The once-crowded Bills backfield could suddenly become very thin if Devin Singletary misses time with his hamstring injury. The rookie running back is considered day to day but if he misses this week's matchup with Cincinnati, Gore could seize an even bigger slice of the rushing pie. The Bengals were carved up by every member of the 49ers backfield in Week 2. They allowed a combined 238 rushing yards and three touchdowns to the trio of Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, and Jeff Wilson Jr.
T.J. Yeldon, Buffalo Bills - 2% owned
...The Bengals also gave up 117 yards receiving to running backs, which is Yeldon's specialty. Let's not forget that Yeldon finished as RB22 in PPR formats last year while filling in for the oft-injured Leonard Fournette. He'll serve as the RB2 on a team bound to be on the field quite a bit.
Jeffery Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers - 0% owned
Speaking of the San Francisco backfield, you need to get your hands on any and all pieces of it. Last week I told you to go pick up Raheem Mostert, who put up 151 total yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. But Wilson was the goal-line king, scoring twice on the day from inside the 5-yard line. The Steelers have given up the 11th-most rushing yards in the league, but one touchdown from Wilson is all you really need for a flex-worthy start.
Wide Receivers
Chris Conley, Jacksonville Jaguars - 4% owned
The former Chief has quietly put together a great couple of games, amassing 10 receptions for 170 yards and a touchdown. Gardner Minshew appears to be a fine enough replacement for Nick Foles, and he's been getting Conley the ball deep with some consistency. The Jaguars draw a matchup with the Cowboys, who've given up the 12th-most passing yards through two weeks.
Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins - 2% owned
Yes, I included Preston Williams in this list last week and yes I'll continue to list him so long as he keeps getting a respectable target share. Williams had four receptions on six targets for 63 yards against New England in Week 2. He looks to be the primary weapon for a struggling quarterback that needs a reliable set of hands to get him out of tough situations.
Devin Smith, Dallas Cowboys - 1% owned
Michael Gallup will undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss two-to-four weeks, which leaves a big hole for Devin Smith. The former Jet torched the Washington defense, catching all three of his targets for 74 yards and a touchdown. Smith gets to play against the Dolphins this week, who've already given up 102 total points. That's 39 points more than the next-worst team. Smith is in a good spot to dominate the box score this week.
Tight Ends
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks - 4% owned
There is no concrete pecking order in Seattle. Every ball is seemingly up for grabs to the best (or least covered) route. Dissly won his routes this week, catching all five of his targets for 50 yards and two touchdowns. You can't bet on that kind of production every week, but it was encouraging to see Dissly put up such a big stat line after battling a knee injury during his rookie campaign. He's a gigantic red zone target and plays a Saints Defense that's given up the sixth-most total points.
More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice
