This is shaping up to be one of the busiest opening waiver weeks in the past few years. Surprising usage (Kenneth Gainwell, Kyren Williams, Tyler Allgeier), big injuries (Justice Hill, Gus Edwards, Joshua Kelley), and good old-fashioned breakouts (Puka Nacua, Romeo Doubs, Kendrick Bourne) created a host of players who will be among the top Week 2 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds. Not all of these players will be claimed on waivers, but all are worth adding after waivers clear around 4-5 a.m. ET on Wednesday mornings in Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Our full free agent list is packed with even more players at WR (Rashid Shaheed, Zay Jones), RB (Zack Moss, Tank Bigsby), and TE (Hayden Hurst, Hunter Henry), plus our usual array of potential Week 2 D/ST streamers that can be found at the end of the list.
With so many potential "starting" RBs on the wire, it's worth using a high waiver claim this week. Gainwell, Williams, Kelley, Hill, and Edwards all have major upside for Week 2 and beyond. Allgeier, Nacua, Doubs, and even Moss also have long-term upside and merit claims. We wouldn't go all-in for the WRs like we would the RBs, but they almost certainly won't make it to free agency in 12-team leagues. (Update: Gainwell didn't practice on Monday or Tuesday because of a rib injury, slightly dimming both his short-term and long-term appeal.)
WEEK 2 FANTASY: Full waivers list | FAAB budget planner | Buy-low, sell-high
If you have a low waiver claim and don't "need" one of these players, it's not a bad idea to wait for free agency. Yes, you'd be passing on some potentially valuable contributors, but you'll move toward the top of the list for next week's inevitable injury replacements and breakouts.
WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 2
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Joshua Kelley, RB, Chargers. Kelley was already high on pickup lists after rushing 16 times for 91 yards and a score against Miami, but when news broke on Monday about Austin Ekeler's ankle injury, Kelley really shot up priority lists. It's unclear just how injured Ekeler really is, but Kelley proved in Week 1 that he can be a factor even when Ekeler posts 20 touches, 164 total yards, and a TD. He's a must-add ahead of Week 2's matchup in Tennessee.
WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams. Nacua stepped up in a big way with Cooper Kupp (hamstring) out, hauling in 10-of-15 targets for 120 yards. You can't expect that kind of performance every week from the rookie, but he figures to be heavily involved for at least the next three games while Kupp is out. He'll continue to have a solid PPR floor, including next week in a tough matchup against San Francisco.
WEEK 2 FANTASY: Full waivers list | FAAB budget planner | Buy-low, sell-high
Rashid Shaheed, WR, Saints. Consistency will likely be an issue for Shaheed, at least while Michael Thomas and Chris Olave are healthy, but he showed what he's capable of in Week 1, catching five-of-six targets for 89 yards and a TD. He also added 11 yards on a pair of runs. Shaheed is an explosive player who can go off against anyone, making him a nice boom-or-bust flex next week against Carolina. He also serves as a de facto handcuff to Olave and Thomas.
Zack Moss, RB, Colts. Moss (arm) missed Week 1, but after Deon Jackson struggled (18 touches, 28 total yards) and lost two fumbles in Week 1, it's possible -- maybe even likely -- that Moss will start and handle the bulk of the carries if he's active in Week 2 against the Texans. He should be picked up in all 12-team leagues in anticipation of his return.
Hayden Hurst, TE, Panthers. We've all heard the stereotype about tight ends being a young quarterback's best friend, and while it's often exaggerated, it was certainly the case for Bryce Young and Hurst in Week 1. Young fed Hurst a team-high seven targets, leading to five receptions, 41 yards, and a TD. This could be a classic Week 1 fluke, but given how bad the tight end position played as a whole last week, Hurst is worth a speculative add for those hurting at the position. Consider him a low-end TE1 in PPR leagues next week against the Saints.
For additional waiver/free agent suggestions, including top pickups Kenneth Gainwell, Kyren Williams, Justice Hill, Gus Edwards, and more, check out our full Week 2 list.
