Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Carr followed up his Week 1 drubbing of the Panthers with a Week
2 beat down of the Cowboys, throwing for 243 yards and 2 TDs on
only 11 completions. Up next is the Eagles, who have yet to play
in Week 2 but gave up 260 yards and 2 TDs to Jordan Love in Week
1. Carr looks to keep the Saints rolling at home.
Darnold has been solid through two games, completing 72% of his
passes and throwing for 2 TDs and 200+ yards in both (the last
against a solid 49ers defense). Up next he gets a Texans defense
that was relentless against last night’s rookie Caleb Williams,
but got exposed in Week 1 by Anthony Richardson.
Minshew put up a gritty 38-30-276-1-1 line against a tough Ravens
defense en route to a comeback win in Week 2. He’ll have a much
easier time going against a Panthers defense that has been outscored
by 60 points through two games.
Dalton steps in for the benched Bryce Young. With Carolina’s
leaky offensive line, he may not put up incredible numbers, but
he should make some of the supporting cast more viable (Diontae
Johnson, Chuba Hubbard). Dalton should at least be serviceable
in deeper leagues, although the Raiders pass rush might make it
a rough start this week.
Baker Mayfield, TB @ DET: Mayfield had a solid day in a win over
the Ravens, helped by a 5-34-1 rushing line. He only threw for
185 yards but added a passing TD. Up next he gets a Denver team
that has struggled in its first two games.
Justin Herbert, LAC @ CAR: Herbert didn’t have to do too
much against the hapless Panthers, throwing for only 130 yards
but added 2 passing TDs. Up next is a much tougher test against
the ruthless Steelers defense.
Justin Fields / Russell Wilson, PIT @ DEN: Fields got the Week
2 start with Wilson still dealing with a calf strain. For the
second straight week, Fields didn’t have to do much, throwing
for only 117 yards and 1 TD. He surprisingly only added 27 rushing
yards, so one has to believe if Wilson is ready to go, he starts
in the upcoming game against the Chargers.
Neither was involved much against the Bengals, but with Isaiah
Pacheco headed to IR with a fractured fibula, it’s next-man-up
time in Kansas City. Perine has been the receiving back while
Steele has been the early-down hammer, so it’s likely neither
will be as productive as Pachco but they could each be flex-worthy.
Up next is a Falcons team that faces the Eagles Monday night but
did a nice job containing running backs in Week 1 against the
Steelers.
Allen exploded for 7-33-1 rushing and 4-2-23-1 receiving against
the Titans. He won’t be surpassing Breece Hall, but is a key handcuff
if you roster the Jets’ RB1. Up next is a date against the Patriots.
With Dameon Pierce inactive, Akers did a nice job spelling Joe
Mixon after the latter left early with an ankle injury. Akers
posted a 7-32-0 rushing line and added a 3-yard reception. We’ll
have to keep an eye on the Mixon injury status (he did return
to the game), but Akers could be worth an add as a handcuff just
in case. Up next is a tough Vikings team that is bottom 10 in
fantasy points allowed to RBs.
Gibson had a solid day spelling starter Rhamondre Stevenson against
the Seahawks, going 11-96-0 on the ground and adding a 7-yard
reception. Up next are the Jets, who have allowed the 9th-most
points to RBs.
J.K. Dobbins, LAC @ CAR: Dobbins had a monster game against the
Panthers, going 17-131-1 rushing and adding a reception. Hopefully
you picked him up after Week 1 since he appears to be the lead
back for the run-heavy Chargers.
Justice Hill, BAL vs LV: Hill went 4-22-0 rushing and 2-2-10-0
receiving in a heartbreaking loss to the Raiders where the Ravens
led until the final minute. Hill will take a back seat to Derrick
Henry in most games, but may see more work in a tough game against
Dallas this week.
Alexander Mattison, LV @ BAL: Mattison spiked a TD on only 4
carries against the Ravens, as he is a trusted red zone weapon
for the Raiders. Up next is the Panthers defense that has allowed
3 different rushers to score a TD and have allowed the 3rd-most
fantasy points to RBs.
Jordan Mason,
SF vs NYJ: Hopefully, you got him prior to the Monday Night Football
game last week as Christian McCaffrey has been placed on IR. Mason
rushed 28-147-1 against the Jets and followed that up with 20-100-1
against the Vikings. He’s no CMC but he’s delivering solid production.
Up next is the Rams defense that has allowed the 4th-most points
to RBs.
Tank Bigsby, JAX vs CLE: Bigsby sustained a shoulder injury early
in the game against the Browns, and didn’t record a carry
or target. His schedule for return is still TBD.
Jaleel McLaughlin, DEN vs PIT: McLaughlin came back down to earth
against the Steelers, going 3-6-0 rushing without being targeted.
With Audric Estime going on IR, McLaughlin should still be the
backup to Javonte Williams in an attack that loves to dump the
ball off to RBs.
Johnston nabbed 2 TDs in a blowout win over the Panthers, going
6-5-51-2 receiving. It looks to be a race between him and Ladd
McConkey as the Chargers’ WR1. Up next is a tough matchup
against the Steelers on the road.
Nailor came in for an injured Jordan Addison and went 4-3-54-1,
scoring a TD in both games this year. If Addison is out again,
Nailor could have another solid day against the Texans.
With Puka Nacua on IR prior to Week 2 and then Cooper Kupp leaving
in the first half against the Cardinals with an ankle injury,
Whittington and Atwell saw more second half snaps. Tutu went 4-3-48-0
(all receptions after Kupp left) and Whittington was 2-2-22-0.
It’s still to be determined who will pick up the pieces if Kupp
faces a multi-week injury. Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson
saw 85%+ snap rates in Week 2, so they are the early favorites
to be the biggest beneficiaries. Whittington out-snapped Atwell
26-10 so he should be the favorite for opportunities ahead of
Tutu going forward.
Reynolds went 5-4-93-0 against the Steelers, a week after going
8-5-45-0 against the Seahawks. He was the clear WR2 with Devaughn
Vele inactive. Up next is a matchup against the Buccaneers, who
did well against the Commanders in Week 1 but were torched by
the Lions wide receivers in Week 2.
Pierce tied for the team lead in targets a week after being the
deep threat, going 7-5-56-1 against the Packers. Up next is a
stingy Bears defense that could wear down late if their offense
continues to be ineffective.
Mooney grabbed 3 receptions for 88 yards and a score on Monday
Night against the Eagles. His 7 targets tied Drake London for
the team lead. As Kirk Cousins continues to work his way back
from an Achilles injury, he’s shown he can support two pass
catchers. Mooney looks to solidify his status this week against
a Chiefs team that will likely force the Falcons to play from
behind.
With A.J. Brown set to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury,
Covey was a major beneficiary on Monday Night Football, going
6-6-23-0. He isn’t the game breaker that Brown is, but Brown’s
targets will have to go somewhere. They could also go to new addition
Jahan Dotson, whose snap counts rose from 32 to 56 from Week 1
to Week 2 but still had only 1 reception for 6 yards on Monday
Night. Up next is a road game against New Orleans in a potential
shootout.
Gesicki saw a whopping 9 targets and caught 7 of them for 91
yards against the Chiefs. Up next is a tough assignment against
the Commanders who have been the toughest defense against TEs
to start the season.
Henry led all TEs with 12 targets in Week 2, catching 8 for 109
yards against the Seahawks. Up next is a tough Jets defense, but
Henry could be the security blanket for Jacoby Brissett.
Brandin Cooks, DAL vs NO: Cooks went 2-2-19-0 in a blowout loss
to the Saints. Jalen Tolbert had a nice day but Cooks should bounce
back against the Ravens in Week 3.
Wan’Dale
Robinson, NYG @ WAS: Robinson put up a 4-2-18-1 line against
the Commanders, a week after seeing 12 targets against the Vikings.
With Malik Nabers cooking (18 targets in Week 2), Robinson takes
a clear back seat but appears to be the WR2 in New York. Up next
is a matchup against a tough Browns defense.
TE Isaiah Likely,
BAL vs LV: Likely came back down to earth in Week 2 against the
Raiders, finishing behind Mark Andrews with a 3-2-26-0 line. Up
next is a matchup against the Cowboys.
TE Colby Parkinson, LAR @ ARI: Parkinson went 2-1-12-0 in a blowout
loss to the Cardinals after Kupp left early with an ankle injury.
He should be much more involved if both Kupp and Nacua are sidelined
against the 49ers.
TE Zach Ertz, WAS vs NYG: Ertz saw another 4 targets against
the Giants, catching all 4 for 62 yards. Up next is a matchup
against the Bengals, who have done a nice job defending TEs through
two weeks.
Jordan Akins, CLE @ JAX: Akins filled in since David Njoku was
out with an ankle injury, but he only managed 1 reception for
10 yards. It’s clear he’s not nearly the weapon that
Njoku is, so he probably won’t garner a lot of targets with
Njoku on the shelf.
Defense/ Special Teams
Raiders vs CAR
The Raiders did a nice job keeping the Ravens in check, allowing
the offense to steal a win on the road, creating a turnover and
generating 2 sacks. Up next is the Panthers offense that can’t
do anything right, scoring only 13 points in two games.
Packers @ TEN
Green Bay did a nice job containing Anthony Richardson in Week
2, allowing only 10 points and getting 3 interceptions. Up next
are the Titans, where Will Levis has offered up some boneheaded
turnovers through two weeks, and they have given up the most points
to opposing defenses.
Buccaneers vs DEN
Tampa Bay stymied the vaunted Detroit attack, holding them to
16 points and creating 2 turnovers. Up next are the Broncos, whose
QB Bo Nix has thrown 2 interceptions in each of his first two
games.
Other D/ST to consider: Seahawks vs MIA
Last week’s waiver adds:
Chargers @ CAR: The Chargers allowed only 3
points against the struggling Panthers, getting 2 sacks and a
turnover in the process. Up next is a Steelers team that has also
struggled to score.
Seahawks @ NE: Seattle had 3 sacks and 0 turnovers
and needed overtime to beat the Patriots on the road. Up next
is a Dolphins team that has weapons but will likely have backup
Skylar Thompson at the helm.
Texans vs CHI: The Texans dominated the Bears
offense, creating 7 sacks and 2 interceptions. Up next is the
Vikings, who have looked solid through two games but Sam Darnold
is always waiting to implode.
