Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist for Week 2

September 12, 2025

Joey's fantasy football waiver wire watchlist before Week 2 of 2025. You should keep an eye on these emerging players and consider them waiver wire stashes.

Welcome to Week 2 of our fantasy football waiver wire watchlist. It was a wild opening week, in which waiver wire players such as Dylan Sampson and Quentin Johnston emerged as key figures in their respective offenses.

However, both Sampson and Johnston are rostered too much and no longer qualify for this article (all players listed in this article are rostered in less than 50% of fantasy football leagues).

With that being said, here are five players still on the majority of waiver wires that could help you make significant strides in your fantasy football league. Good luck on the waiver wire and happy hunting!

Week 2 Waiver Wire Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - 32% Rostered

A week ago, I wanted nothing to do with Stafford. He hadn't practiced for the majority of the offseason with a bad back, and I figured it would take him time to get back up to speed.

And of course, the veteran isn't very mobile, so he would take hits that could result in serious injury if his back hadn't fully recovered. But it seems my worries were all for naught after Stafford played in Week 1 and delivered a rock-solid performance.

Against one of the league's stingiest defenses in the Houston Texans, Stafford passed for 245 yards and a touchdown, completing 21 of his 29 passing attempts. He also reached a career milestone of 60,000 career passing yards.

Matthew Stafford became the 10th player in NFL history to throw for 60,000+ yards 👏 pic.twitter.com/nX8jsh4WcJ

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2025

As long as Puka Nacua and Davante Adams stay healthy - which they did despite taking big hits in Week 1 against Houston's physical secondary - Stafford will be productive. While the injury risk is still there, Stafford is clearly in the lineup and ready to go, so he's a good stash if you have an unreliable QB1.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts - 18% Rostered

Well, that was a big surprise. Not only did the Colts dominate the Dolphins in Week 1, but they did it behind a sensational performance from Daniel Jones. In his first game as a starter in Indy, he completed over 75% of his passes for 272 yards and a TD, and ran for 26 yards and two more TDs.

A good start for Indiana Jones🤠#ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/5gV8BFCqqB

— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) September 9, 2025

Behind a solid offensive line and executing plays called by offensive guru Shane Steichen, Jones looked like a man possessed, picking apart the Miami secondary and making plays with his arm and legs.

Obviously, Jones won't play this well every week. But playing in the AFC South guarantees that he'll get at least four matchups against some other awful defenses. The Jaguars and Titans defenses are both among the league's worst, and Jones will surely be able to pick on them much like he did against Miami.

His rushing upside also gives him a steady floor as a high-end QB2. Stash Jones and put him in the lineup when he has a good matchup.

More Options:

-Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets - 19% rostered

-Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders - 12% rostered

Week 2 Waiver Wire Running Backs

Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh Steelers - 7% rostered

Going into Week 1, Gainwell was almost entirely off the fantasy football radar. With the return of Jaylen Warren, joined by third-round rookie Kaleb Johnson in the Steelers' running back room, it seemed like there would be little opportunity left for the team's other backs.

But it turns out - at least as of Week 1 - that Gainwell is ahead of Johnson in the pecking order. While Warren led the way with 11 carries, Gainwell had seven and also caught three passes. Johnson had just one carry and did not catch a pass. In fact, Gainwell led all Steelers running backs in snaps, even outpacing Warren.

He even made a brilliant play on special teams, forcing a fumble that helped the Steelers hold off the Jets and win the game. That might not count for any fantasy points, but it certainly could give the coaching staff another reason to keep him on the field.

STEELERS FOOTBALL

Fantastic special teams play by Kenneth Gainwell to punch the ball out! pic.twitter.com/hdt7ucPQPj

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 7, 2025

Gainwell had just 23 total yards on those 10 touches, but don't be steered away just yet. If Gainwell can continue to earn snaps on all three downs like he did in Week 1, the former Eagle might find himself at home in the Steel City. He's a solid pickup as a fringe flex option in deeper leagues.

More Options:

-Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins - 33% rostered

-Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears - 2% rostered

Week 2 Waiver Wire Wide Receivers

Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots - 22% rostered

The Patriots' new-look offense looked like more of the same in Week 1, with the team scoring just 13 points in a disappointing Week 1 loss. However, one bright spot was the play of wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. The third-year wideout snagged six passes for 103 yards in the loss, and his 80.7 receiving grade from PFF ranked fourth out of all wide receivers in Week 1.

Kayshon Boutte led the NFL with 103 yards vs zone in Week 1, and he tied with JSN for the lead in downfield catches (6)

The chemistry Boutte and Drake Maye showed this summer on fades and digs translated to the field, and Maye showed great anticipation on a deep curl pic.twitter.com/IyFuNvVsBx

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) September 8, 2025

Before a disastrous end to his college career at LSU, Boutte was seen as a first-round prospect. Now that he's getting consistent playing time and taking advantage of his opportunities, we might be seeing that first-round talent emerge in real time.

Including last season, Boutte has gained at least 90 receiving yards in three of his last four games. That's not an accident, as he's proven he can separate from NFL defenders and has earned QB Drake Maye's trust.

Boutte played the most snaps of any Patriots skill player in Week 1. If that continues to be the case, Boutte is a must-add in all leagues and a potential league-winner.

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns - 46% rostered

Tillman has enjoyed a bigger role in the Browns' offense since last year's Amari Cooper trade, and he's been excellent ever since. Tillman is averaging 9.6 targets over his last five full starts, and put up another outstanding performance in Week 1. The youngster caught five of eight targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in the team's narrow Week 1 loss against Cincinnati.

And his stat line could have been much better. One on play, Tillman streaked down the field and was wide open, but the ball was not thrown his way. However, he still passed the eye test and the advanced statistics test with flying colors.

Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku, and Harold Fannin Jr. are all around to compete with Tillman for targets. But he has already carved out a role for himself and has impressed while doing so. The Browns' defense was surprisingly stout in Week 1 against a great offense, but that may not last. If that really is the case, then Tillman's target load could increase, making him a solid addition in fantasy football.

Tillman is a clear starter for a Browns team that continues to target him, regardless of who is playing quarterback. QB instability might be a worry later on, but for now, with Joe Flacco in the lineup, you can count on Tillman as a fringe flex option or solid bench player.

More Options:

Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers - 9% rostered

Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions - 6% rostered

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