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Zach Wilkens analyzes 2014 fantasy football waiver wire pickups and sleepers for Week 2, covering NFL running backs (RBs), wide receivers (WRs), tight ends (TEs) and quarterbacks (QBs).
Week 2 Waiver Wire for Fantasy Football
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What's up RotoBallers. I hope you all made it through Week One of the NFL and fantasy football season unscathed!
As most of us expected, there were some big disappointments and some big surprises too. As always, that means there will be a lot of waiver wire activity this week as we look to add players and improve our fantasy football teams for the season.
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Editor's Note: our famous 2014 fantasy football waiver wire pickups list is updated daily, and is a running list of waiver wire pickups for all fantasy football positions. You can also read more in-depth waiver wire analysis at each position, as we dig deeper and identify even more waiver wire options at each position weekly. Here are some of those waiver wire articles:
- Week 2 Deeper Sleepers: Players Who May Still Be Available
- Week 2 Tight Ends: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds
- Week 2 Quarterbacks: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds
- Week 2 Running Backs: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds
- Week 2 Wide Receivers: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds
- Defenses (DEF) to Start in Week 2: Fantasy Tiers & Rankings
Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickup Options
1. Jake Locker vs Dallas (27% Owned on Fleaflicker)
This is an easy one and if you don't have a top-10 QB, Locker is most likely your best bet this week. He looked very good in Week One (and I wrote about him!) and now gets the easiest matchup of the week at home. Kaepernick tore them apart and put up 17+ points despite a very conservative offense after the first quarter. The Titans will most likely not open up such a lead, which should allow Locker to throw the ball to open receivers all day.
2. Brian Hoyer vs New Orleans (10% Owned on Fleaflicker)
Truthfully I would probably write about Geno Smith here but I didn't want to write about the two same guys I wrote about last week! Hoyer was looking pretty awful at the half in Week One, but aided by a great rushing game he had a very nice mistake-free second half. Andrew Hawkins looked like his go-to target and Jordan Cameron had a nice 47 yard catch early on. Unfortunately Cameron left and I think Hoyer really needs him to be a great start this week. Keep an eye on his status. If Cameron starts, Hoyer could be a really nice play in Week Two.
3. Chad Henne @ Washington (11% Owned on Fleaflicker)
Surprising as it may be, Chad Henne was a top-13 QB in Week One. He didn't actually play that well, but jumped out to a big lead early on and threw no interceptions (although he did lose a fumble). In Week One against Washington, Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for over 200 yards on just 14 completions. It's not hard to imagine Henne going deep to Allen Hurns again if you are really in need of a QB.
Running Back Waiver Wire Pickup Options
1. Justin Forsett vs Pittsburgh (4% Owned on Fleaflicker)
Again, a super easy call at number one for multiple reasons. Ray Rice is gone and Bernard Pierce looked awful and fumbled. If all goes well it should be the Justin Forsett show in Baltimore. Pittsburgh allowed THREE different running backs to go over 6.0 yards per carry last week! That is insane. I'm not saying it's going to happen again in Week Two, but Forsett could have a huge game here.
2. James Starks vs New York Jets (15% Owned on Fleaflicker)
The Jets run defense looked really good in Week One... against a couple of old and decrepit running backs. I'm not willing to put too much stock in that run defense just yet. Starks looked decent against Seattle, so if Lacy can't go I'd expect a really good game from him. For now Lacy is supposedly recovering well, so this is a situation to monitor or to consider a stash off the waiver wire.
3. Isaiah Crowell vs New Orleans (5% Owned on Fleaflicker)
Crowell may have only received five carries last week, but it was enough to impress me. He had a 6.4 YPC with two touchdowns in those five carries. Last week vs. the Saints the Falcons had four different running backs with at least 30 total yards - and also got two touchdowns out of their backs. As of this writing, we don't know the severity of Ben Tate's injury but it could very well keep him out of this Week Two game. That should allow both Terrance West and Crowell to get significant work. I'd gladly gamble on Crowell off the waiver wire.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickup Options
1. Andrew Hawkins vs New Orleans (37% Owned on Fleaflicker)
I guess I am all-in on the Browns this week, having now named one player at each fantasy football position. The injury to Cameron is huge and it was Hawkins who took advantage with 8 receptions for 87 yards. Against the Saints in Week Two, I am very confident he will be the top receiving option again. Especially in PPR leagues, he is a must add. If Josh Gordon comes back, Hawkins could still be a nice #2 receiver in this offense as well.
2. Rod Streater vs Houston (12% Owned on Fleaflicker)
Coming into the season, I wasn't sure who would end up atop the WR depth chart in Oakland. I'm still not 100% certain, but Streater looks to be the top guy after leading Oakland in targets, receptions and yards while also racking up a touchdown. He had over 800 yards last year with Terrelle Pryor, Matt McGloin and Matt Flynn starting at quarterback. Derek Carr is better than all of them, which means Streater could set some career highs this year if things go well.
3. John Brown @ Giants (10% Owned on Fleaflicker)
Allen Hurns is the mostly-unowned rookie that has caught the attention of most fantasy football owners after Week One. But it's the small John Brown (listed 5'11" but I'd be surprised if he's not an inch or two shorter) that can have better wide receiver production long-term. He got rave reviews in the preseason, and flashed some fancy footwork on his late touchdown that ended up being the game-winner. He only had two catches in Week One, but if Larry Fitzgerald continues to see a decreased role in the offense John Brown is going to be a big benefactor. He's super speedy, and even drew Marvin Harrison comparisons on the broadcast Monday night. Small warning, the Cardinals also have a receiver named Jaron Brown - if you are adding John Brown off the Week Two waiver wire, double-check the name first.
Tight End Waiver Wire Pickup Options
1. Dwayne Allen vs Eagles (24% Owned on Fleaflicker)
With three decent wide receivers requiring several targets every game, I doubt Allen will be a very consistent player week-to-week. But against lesser defenses, and in games that should be high-scoring, Allen should be quite effective at the tight end position. That was the case last week, and should be the case in Week Two as well against the Eagles. I expect similar numbers in Week Two for Allen, and would advise you to grab him off the waiver wire if you need a boost at tight end.
2. Larry Donnell vs Cardinals (0% Owned on Fleaflicker)
The Giants have made semi-relevant tight ends out of Kevin Boss and Jake Ballard in the past. And it looks like that could happen again this year with Donnell. Going into Week One, it wasn't apparent whether the Giants would have a tight end they could use in the passing game. After leading the team in targets, yards and receptions - while getting the only passing touchdown - it's clear that Donnell has fantasy potential this year. The Cardinals allowed over 100 receiving yards to fellow tight ends Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green in Week One. Donnell is not as talented as either, but could see 50+ yards and maybe a score once again in Week Two. Eli Manning is going to need to rely on his tight end while under pressure, and may be dumping the football off to him a lot.
3. Levine Toilolo @ Cincinnati (4% Owned on Fleaflicker)
It would have to be a very deep league for me to consider Toilolo, but he has his positives for fantasy football. He will never be a huge part of the receiving game, and only had 19 yards in the high-flying offense of the Falcons in Week One. Despite that, he could be a touchdown threat in any given week. He is huge at 6'8" making him a great red zone guy. Toilolo will always be a low yardage risk/reward type player, but if you are desperate at the position or in a very deep league, he is a decent player to target off the waiver wire and consider throwing into the lineup.
