Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 2
We’re only one week into the 2023 season and there is already plenty of turmoil. It isn’t time to hit the panic button quite yet. However, using FullTime‘s Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 2 to beef up your roster is always a good idea.
Scoring was down across the league in Week 1. There were also plenty of injuries to account for. While blowing your entire FAAB budget after one week is inadvisable, it’s always advisable to be proactive.
Here are the top fantasy football waiver wire: Week 2 players to target—also, a recommended FAAB value to spend.
FAAB denotes Free Agent Acquisition Budget
Kenneth Gainwell (RB) Philadelphia Eagles (25% FAAB) – Rashaad Penny was a healthy scratch. D’Andre Swift only logged two touches. For now, this is Kenny Gainwell’s backfield. We saw that play out in preseason and that’s how the regular season opened. However, Gainwell is rostered in about half of the fantasy leagues. Where he’s available, view Gainwell as the top waive priority this week as an RB2 in an elite offense.
Puka Nacua (WR) Los Angeles Rams (20% FAAB) – Cooper who? Fifth-round rookie wideout Puka Nacua drew a lot of hype this summer. And that came to fruition in Week 1. Nacua caught 10-of-15 targets for 119 yards in the Rams’ upset win. Nacua did a phenomenal Cooper Kupp impression, making plays all over the field. Subsequently, he warrants an aggressive FFAB bid as a weekly WR2/3 moving forward. Tutu Atwell (4% FAAB) matched Nacua with 119 receiving yards. However, the Rams are highly unlikely to repeat that kind of volume consistently.
Justice Hill (RB) Baltimore Ravens (20% FAAB) – And just like that, J.K. Dobbins is done for the season. Hill was already projected to be more involved in Baltimore’s new offense. But, those two goal-line touchdown runs were a nice surprise. I expect the Ravens to employ a committee with Hill and Gus Edwards moving forward. However, with his pass-catching ability, Hill should be the more highly coveted add.
Kyren Williams (RB) Los Angeles Rams (20% FAAB) – There seems to be little doubt who the Rams’ passing down back is. Williams ran 29 routes to just four for Cam Akers. However, the biggest takeaway from that game was Williams’ involvement in the red zone, where he punched in a pair of short-yardage scores. Despite being considered LA’s RB2, that kind of usage can’t be ignored. Williams outplayed Akers at ever level and should be considered a high-priority add wherever he’s available.
Luke Musgrave (TE) Green Bay Packers (10% FAAB) – Tight end was an unmitigated disaster in the season opener. However, Musgrave’s role and usage were a welcomed surprise. Musgrave led all skill position players with 45 snaps (75%) and routes run (23). Also, no other Green Bay tight end drew a target in Chicago.
Tyler Allgeier (RB) Atlanta Falcons (10% FAAB) – We can’t count on two scores again. However, the Falcons will be one of the run-heaviest teams in football. Allgeier logged a 54% snap rate on Sunday. Also, he was featured prominently in the red zone. The sophomore rusher should stay involved and have enough role to warrant flex consideration on a week-to-week basis.
Roschon Johnson (RB) Chicago Bears (10% FAAB) – Chicago’s backfield indeed was split. However, it was Johnson who led the rotation with 29 snaps. The rookie rusher also led the backfield with 4.0 yards per carry, receptions (6), yards (55), and looked impressive cashing in a goal-line TD in garbage time. It seems like only a matter of time before Johnson becomes the unquestioned starter. And that makes him worth a fairly aggressive FAAB price.
Kendrick Bourne (WR) New England Patriots (8% FAAB) – Bourne led New England in targets (11), receptions (6), and yards (64) while reeling in a pair of scores. Obviously, we can’t count on the TDs every week. However, Bourne has locked up New England’s slot role secured. Bourne should be fantasy-relevant more often than not.
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Commanders (8% FAAB) – Quietly, Samuel posted WR30 numbers in 2022. That success carried over into Week 1 as Washington’s slot receiver ran 33 routes and had six opportunities. Samuel caught all five of his targets and should be a reliable WR4/flex option on most weeks.
Romeo Doubs (WR) Green Bay Packers (7% FAAB) – It was announced before kickoff that Romeo Doubs would be on a “snap count” as he was dealing with a hamstring injury. However, Doubs made those 29 snaps count. He snagged four of his five targets and housed a pair of TDs. Although we’re hopeful Christian Watson will be back in Week 2, Doubs should remain in Green Bay’s lineup. As good as Jordan Love looked in Chicago, adding starters from this offense looks like a solid plan.
Rashid Shaheed (WR) New Orleans Saints (8% FAAB) – Although he only corralled two grabs for 11 yards, Shaheed did secure a touchdown reception. More importantly, he played 35-of-62 snaps and ran 25 routes. Also, he ranked third on the Saints with six targets against Tennessee. He won’t be a consistent fantasy option but Shaheed warrants waiver considerations in leagues where injuries are taking their toll.
Allen Robinson (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers (6% FAAB) – Robinson caught five balls for 64 yards in Pittsburgh’s Week 1 defeat. With Diontae Johnson potentially sidelined, Robinson moves into two wide sets. George Pickens and A-Rob both played 56 snaps Sunday. Plus, Robinson led the team with eight targets.
Zack Moss (RB Indianapolis Colts (5% FAAB) – Despite receiving 19 opportunities, Deon Jackson was a disaster last week. Jackson coughed up two fumbles and ran for just 14 yards on 13 totes. Expect Moss, who missed Week 1 with a forearm injury, to be activated against Houston and lead Indy’s backfield.
Hayden Hurst (TE) Carolina Panthers (5% FAAB) – Carolina’s offense sputtered in Atlanta, but Hurst led the team in receiving. Also, he hauled in Bryce Young’s first (and only) touchdown pass. Although Hurst tossed that ball into the stand, fantasy managers should consider tossing a bid on a player who has streaming value at a position with no depth.
Gus Edwards (RB) Baltimore Ravens (5% FAAB) – I was pretty low on Gus Edwards heading into 2023. Now, with J.K. Dobbins gone for the season, Edwards is worth a decent look in the fantasy football waiver wire: week 2. He’ll split touches with Justice Hill, but Edwards has been a favorite of John Harbaugh for years and might just be able to carve out a fantasy-relevant role for the remainder of the season.
Kareem Hunt & Leonard Fournette (4% FAAB) – Considering the sad state of running backs, it seems like only a matter of time before one or both of these veteran rushers sign a deal. Also, that’s far more likely now that Week 1 is past and salaries are no longer guaranteed. If you can afford a roster spot, proactively picking up one of these veterans could be a savvy move.
Joshua Kelley (RB) Los Angeles Chargers (4% FAAB) – One of the more surprising results, Kelley was in on 45% of LA’s snaps. Kelley took a whopping 16 carries and produced 91 rushing yards. Although that kind of usage won’t be consistent, he’s clearly the only handcuff for Austin Ekeler.
Jerome Ford (RB) Cleveland Browns (4% FAAB) – Nick Chubb may have led the way with 22 opportunities against Cincinnati. But Ford was also heavily involved. Ford ran 12 routes and racked up 15 carries in Cleveland’s victory. He’s the clear handcuff to Chubb and should be the favorite to play on passing downs in games that will feature a different game script.
Robert Woods (WR) Houston Texans (4% FAAB) – There isn’t a ton of upside here. However, Woods led Houston’s wideouts in snaps (58) and targets (11). As long as that usage persists, Woods should be on fantasy radars.
Donald Parham (TE) Los Angeles Chargers (3% FAAB) – The Chargers split tight end reps. However, it was Parham who caught the red-zone score. He won’t be a reliable week-to-week option. But when you factor in the sad state of tight end fantasy production in Week 1, a minimal bid isn’t the worst idea.
Durham Smythe (TE) Miami Dolphins (3% FAAB) – Smythe also makes sense as a rotational fantasy option. He ran a surprising 33 routes in Los Angeles and saw seven targets. The Dolphins don’t incorporate their tight ends into the offense all that much, so it was probably an anomaly due to the high-scoring nature of that contest. Still, with the TE position so thin, a starter should certainly warrant some blind-bid bucks.
Trey Palmer (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5% FAAB) – Don’t read too much into Trey Palmer’s touchdown grab. The rookie was only in on 23 snaps, which was five more than Deven Thompkins. Palmer only drew three targets, resulting in two grabs for eight yards and the score. He’s worth a flier in deep/dynasty leagues. However, anything more is throwing FAAB away on an ancillary option in a subpar offense.
Adam Trautman (TE) Denver Broncos (2% FAAB) – Scoring was down for tight ends. Denver lost Greg Dulchich in their opener. If Dulchich is unable to suit up in Week 2, Trautman would have streaming appeal versus Washington.
Calvin Austin (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers (2% FAAB) – The early prognosis for Diontate Johnson doesn’t look good. If Johnson missed multiple games, Austin would see an increase in snaps and targets. Austin reeled in six passes in Pittsburgh’s Week 1 loss.
Lil’Jordan Humphrey (WR) Denver Broncos – Humphrey was activated before the game and ended up playing a healthy 45 snap. Also, he caught one of Russell Wilson’s two touchdown throws. However, this receiving corps will be hard to handicap until we see Jerry Jeudy return. Don’t spend too much chasing Humphrey’s score.
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