NFL · 1 year ago

Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups at Every Position in Fantasy Football

David Connelly

Host · Writer

TE: Isaiah Likely (10.5% rostered)
It should be obvious, but Isaiah Likely needs to go to the top of your waiver claims. He was an absolute monster for the Ravens on Thursday night and completely took over the Mark Andrews role in the offense. His combination of size and speed makes him an awesome prospect, and he is a guaranteed start at the position ahead of Week 2. Put in a healthy-sized bid for him and pray he becomes yours.

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QB: Matthew Stafford (35.7% rostered in ESPN leagues)
Matthew Stafford finished second among quarterbacks in Week 1 in passing yards, only behind Tua Tagovailoa. He looks fully healthy and is within an offensive system that may favor the pass more than the rush after 49 attempts in Week 1. Going up against the Cardinals, who boast a potent offense and weak defense, he could find himself in a shootout, which makes him a great Week 2 streaming option.

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RB: Jordan Mason (37.4% rostered)
With Christian McCaffrey's surprise absence on Monday Night Football, as he continues to deal with a calf injury, it was Jordan Mason's backfield to himself against the Jets. He took full advantage, claiming a spot at RB5 among all running backs in Week 1. There's plenty of noise that CMC could miss again this week against the Vikings, which makes Mason the hottest commodity at the position on the waiver wire this week.
RB: Jaleel McLaughlin (44.2% rostered)
It wasn't pretty in any facet for the Broncos on offense in Week 1, but the workload for Jaleel McLaughlin was at least promising. He led the backfield with 15 touches and looked to eat into Javonte Williams's share more than expected. Any lead back in the NFL should be rostered, and grabbing McLaughlin before Denver eventually has a successful week on offense is a way to get ahead of the curve here.
RB: Tank Bigsby (4.6% rostered)
One of the biggest surprises of Week 1 was the split workload out of Jacksonville. Despite the assumption that Travis Etienne would once again dominate the workload for the Jaguars, Tank Bigsby was able to vulture 50 percent of the carries and finished the game with more fantasy points. He's a great pickup for a thin running back room with some solid immediate production and one Etienne injury away from being a smash start.
RB: Jeff Wilson Jr. (0.1% rostered)
Jeff Wilson Jr. immediately becomes a priority waiver wire add, with De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert missing practice back-to-back days to kick off the week. While he could end up in a timeshare with rookie Jaylen Wright, he was the third choice in the backfield on Sunday ahead of Wright and was effective with five carries for 26 yards. You would imagine he'd be next in line on a short week, making him a strong pickup for teams desperate at running back.
WR: Tyler Johnson (0.1% rostered)
Even before Puka Nacua went down with an injury, Tyler Johnson looked well-established in Sean McVay's offensive game plan. Once Nacua went down, Johnson became even more involved and turned a slant catch into a 63-yard reception with some smooth moves. He looks like the upside pick to step into Nacua's spot and potentially give you some production at receiver over the next month. Give him a chance, and keep an eye on Jordan Whittington (0.9%) in deeper formats, who had a jet sweep touchdown called back for an offensive holding penalty.
WR: Wan'Dale Robinson (6.9% rostered)
While he's a part of perhaps the most bleak offense in the NFL, Wan'Dale Robinson still managed to finish second in the league in targets for Week 1. That constitutes rostering no matter the team, and he even showed some ability as a gadget guy with a 14-yard rush. He isn't going to win you your league, but he is a solid guy to have on the bench if you find yourself in an injury pinch down the road.
WR: Adonai Mitchell (33.2% rostered)
If Anthony Richardson could find his deep ball, Adonai Mitchell would be the most significant waiver wire add in the NFL entering Week 2. Instead, he hauled in just one catch for two yards and was missed on three routes where he was wide-open, two of which would have been walk-in touchdowns. If he was found on those three routes, he would have finished the day with 29.4 PPR points and finished at WR3 on the week. He's a sneaky add that most won't be looking at, given his near-zero outing, but he's a worthy stash after displaying some serious potential.
WR: DeVaughn Vele (0.1% rostered)
This is a ridiculously deep pick, but a player I have kept my eyes on for the past month or so. The easy comparison here is Marques Colston, a 23-year-old rookie that Sean Payton turned into a superstar in New Orleans. DeVaughn Vele is a 26-year-old rookie who Payton seems to have liked after seeing an absurd eight targets in 34 snaps on Sunday. In a very shaky receiver room, he could quickly become a stud. Scoop him up in deeper formats, and hope you have found a hidden gem.
TE: Isaiah Likely (10.5% rostered)
It should be obvious, but Isaiah Likely needs to go to the top of your waiver claims. He was an absolute monster for the Ravens on Thursday night and completely took over the Mark Andrews role in the offense. His combination of size and speed makes him an awesome prospect, and he is a guaranteed start at the position ahead of Week 2. Put in a healthy-sized bid for him and pray he becomes yours.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
QB: Matthew Stafford (35.7% rostered in ESPN leagues)
Matthew Stafford finished second among quarterbacks in Week 1 in passing yards, only behind Tua Tagovailoa. He looks fully healthy and is within an offensive system that may favor the pass more than the rush after 49 attempts in Week 1. Going up against the Cardinals, who boast a potent offense and weak defense, he could find himself in a shootout, which makes him a great Week 2 streaming option.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.

Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups at Every Position in Fantasy Football

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