Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 2

Week 1 is (mostly) in the books, and while the year is clearly over for the Bears, Browns, and Falcons, your fantasy team can still rebound from a Week 1 loss.

Maybe you're considering a change at QB after being let down by one of the popular Week 1 plays like Jameis Winston or Baker Mayfield. If you are looking for a new gunslinger, we've got plenty of options for Week 2 and beyond.

In this article we're looking at quarterbacks owned in fewer than 65% of Yahoo leagues, while throwing in a few deep league options who are owned in fewer than 20% of leagues.

QB Waiver Wire - Free Agents To Consider Adding

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings - 62% Owned

The Vikings really embraced a run-first offense in Week 1, with Cousins attempting just 10 passes in Minnesota’s 28-12 win over Atlanta. That may scare some owners off of Cousins, and rightfully so, but his matchup in Green Bay next week should be more conducive to fantasy production for Cousins. Green Bay is an early -3.5 favorite, meaning Minnesota likely won’t be grinding clock like they did in Week 1. The Packers new-and-improved defense looked solid against the Bears, but it’s hard to tell whether that performance was Green Bay playing well or Chicago’s offense flopping. The Packers did have the fifth-worst DVOA for pass defense last season, so Cousins could be in line for a bounce back game. After this Week 2 matchup with Green Bay, the Vikings have a home game against the Raiders, who had the worst pass defense DVOA in 2018. Cousins has two solid matchups coming up, and his low volume Week 1 means he won’t cost much on waivers.

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills - 32% Owned

Josh Allen is inefficient and turnover prone, no one would dispute that, but his mobility and gunslinging style gives him plenty of upside despite his flaws. Allen put up a respectable 20-point performance in Buffalo’s win over the Jets in Week 1, but he draws a much better matchup against New York’s other team in Week 2. The Giants had the seventh-worst pass defense DVOA last season, along with the fifth-highest net yards per attempt and tenth-most passing yards allowed. They lost several key defensive pieces this offseason, most notably Olivier Vernon and Landon Collins, making the Giants’ defense even worse in 2019. It looked much worse in Week 1, as Dak Prescott and the Cowboys carved the Giants up. Allen is a great option next week, and could have bit of a longer run as a streamer, with solid matchups against Cincinnati and New England following his start against the Giants.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders - 29% Owned

Do you know what time it is? That’s right, garbage time! The Raiders have a home matchup with the Chiefs in Week 2, and the Chiefs are an early -7.5- point road favorite. That means lots of throwing for Oakland as they chase points, and it worked out well for Carr in this matchup last season. He threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas City at home in a 40-33 loss, and all three of those touchdowns came in the second half while Oakland trailed the Chiefs. It would be nice if Carr had Antonio Brown to help clean up the trash, but even without Brown Carr makes for a fine garbage time play this week. Carr is more of a one-off streamer for this week, as Oakland takes on Minnesota, Indianapolis, and Chicago in their three games following Week 2.

Deeper League / Two-QB League Options

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals - 10% Owned

The Red Rifle was sharp against Seattle on Sunday, throwing for over 400 yards for the first time in his career. The Seahawks Defense isn’t what it used to be, but on paper it’s still stronger than San Francisco’s defense. The Niners had a good performance against the Bucs this week, at least by getting turnovers, but they were the sixth-worst pass defense in terms of DVOA last season and allowed the most passing touchdowns in 2018. Even though his 10% ownership puts him in deep league territory, Dalton is definitely a viable streamer in this matchup with San Francisco even in one-QB leagues for those in need.

Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - 0% Owned

Jacksonville’s Nick Foles era was put to a screeching halt Sunday as Foles suffered a fractured clavicle. This injury will cost Foles a large chunk of the season, leaving Gardner Flint Minshew the Second with the keys to this Jacksonville offense. Sure, he has an A+ name, and an A+ ‘stache, but does he have an A+ game? Probably not, but Minshew is available in literally every league and takes on a Houston defense that allowed the sixth-most passing yards last season. I’m not saying I love Minshew or go out and start him next week, but if you’re in a deep two-QB league where nearly every quarterback is owned, then Minshew needs to be added. Nick Foles owners in those leagues will need a quarterback anyway.

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice