Week 1 of the fantasy football season was an absolute delight. It’d been far too long – seven months – without football, and with it came all familiar highs and lows. With Week 1 in the books (aside from the 49ers/Jets matchup on Monday night), there is a critical early-season reminder I’d like to impart to you. Don’t panic. It’s easy to overreact – especially in Week 1. We’ve been clamoring for data and information all offseason in anticipation of live game action, so the first week always hits harder, whether that be with studs or duds.
There were plenty of duds this week. Anyone who spent a top-24 pick on Marvin Harrison Jr. is undoubtedly feeling some sort of pain right now. Drake London managers, too. We wouldn't bat an eye if either of those players dropped their respective stat line in Week 10. Conversely, there were some surprising standout performances. Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams each went over 120 yards and scored a touchdown through the air. It's this unpredictability that makes us love the game, even if it sometimes comes at the expense of the WR1 counterparts.
Below, you’ll find this week’s most tantalizing adds off the waiver wire. Keep in mind that PPR is the assumed scoring format. To qualify for this list, a fantasy player must be around or below 50% rostered on Yahoo! Platforms. Happy hunting!
“For leagues with deeper rosters, in which some of these free agents are not available, see Leonard LaPadula’s article:
Week 2 Streamers for the Desperate.”
Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (35% Owned)
Tampa QB Baker Mayfield completed 80% of his passes against a hapless Washington Commanders defense this past Sunday in their home opener. He finished the day 24-of-30 for 289 yards and four touchdowns. Mayfield was also sacked just once and added three rushes for an additional 21 yards on the ground.
The 29-year-old fed his three top targets – running back Rachaad White and wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – throughout the contest and ended the week as the overall QB2. I’ll admit, I was skeptical he would succeed again with the departure of offensive coordinator Dave Canales in the offseason. However, Baker looks like he might be an excellent value for those who took him in drafts. He’ll have a much more formidable task when he and the Bucs take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday. If you're a Jordan Love manager and Baker is available on your league's wire, he should be your primary target.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (10% Owned) **Deep League Option**
Derek Carr was an impressive 19-for-23 with 200 yards and three scores in the Saints’ 47-10 drubbing of the Carolina Panthers. It’s tough to tell if New Orleans’ offense is vastly improved or if Carolina’s defense wasn’t ready for what they brought to the table. Either way, this was an encouraging outing for Carr in his first season under Klint Kubiak.
The 33-year-old was better than you think to close out last season, and the entire offense is better off running concepts from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree thus far. Carr’s matchup in Week 2 isn’t as favorable against a tough Cowboys defense, but he’s the QB6 on the young season, and many of the other options aren’t as viable unless you trust Vikings QB Sam Darnold against San Francisco.
Running Backs
Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders (4% Owned)
The Raiders lost to the LA Chargers 22-10 in their road opener with a serviceable Gardner Minshew manning the helm. He spread the ball around, but the more interesting story here is the backfield split. Alexander Mattison was out-touched by backfield-mate Zamir White 15-to-9, but Mattison out-gained him 62-to-46. He was also more active in the passing game, catching 4-of-6 targets to White’s two.
While White was the preferred option in drafts, the former Viking looked like the better player in Week 1. Seeing how the touch share shakes out moving forward will be interesting. It was 65/35 this week. Las Vegas will take on the Ravens in Week 2.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21% Owned)
Bucs RB Bucky Irving took nine carries for 62 yards in the Bucs’ 37-20 win against Washington, and added an additional 14 yards on two receptions. Incumbent Rachaad White is still the lead back and brought in all six of his targets to work his way to the second-leading receiver on the team with 75 yards. Irving out-classed him on the ground, though, 62-to-31 on six fewer carries (15).
It’s unlikely to project so many touches for Irving moving forward, but it appears he’s locked up the No. 2 role in the Bucs’ backfield. White was notoriously inefficient on the ground last year and didn’t do himself any favors to combat that in Week 1. This may turn into more of a committee than initially anticipated.
Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers (2% Owned) **Deep League Option**
Not only did the Packers lose a heartbreaker to the Eagles 34-28 in the NFL’s first live-action in Brazil, but quarterback Jordan Love injured his MCL and is expected to be out 3-6 weeks. Wilson ripped off big gains as the only other RB to touch the ball behind Josh Jacobs, rushing for 46 yards on just four carries. He was also targeted twice in the passing game, catching both targets for two yards.
Matt LaFleur has proven that he’d prefer to use more of a committee approach to his offensive scheme, and GB might lean on the run a bit more with Malik Willis under center. Wilson participated in just 24% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps but proved a capable runner. I’m not expecting big things from him, but the second-year RB was talked up quite a bit this offseason and is a must-add to handcuff with Jacobs if you’re into that sort of thing.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers (53% Owned)
San Fran RB Jordan Mason has been the handcuff to own in the 49ers backfield for quite a few weeks now, and I was adding him everywhere I had an extra roster spot – whether I was rostering Christian McCaffrey or not. As of this writing, news has broke that Run-CMC will not make his 2024 debut against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
I don’t expect McCaffrey to miss much time – if any – considering he was listed as questionable, and coaches responded positively leading up to the matchup. However, Mason would become one of the hottest players in fantasy if McCaffrey were to miss extended time and an immediate waiver wire add.
Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys (33% Owned)
The Cowboys gave the Cleveland Browns everything they could handle in their 33-17 victory on Sunday. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks was a serviceable fantasy asset in the win, with four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He’d probably have a more significant line if the game were more competitive.
Cooks could see his usage climb over the coming weeks since tight end Jake Ferguson is considered week-to-week with a minor MCL sprain. The journeyman wideout would be one of my top targets this week if I needed pass-catching help on my squad.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (2% Owned)
Indianapolis fell 29-27 in their opener against the Houston Texans, but it wasn’t because of a lack of trying. Quarterback Anthony Richardson showed off the upside that made him a popular breakout pick this summer in drafts, and Pierce was the primary beneficiary of his dual-threat signal caller.
The third-year wideout caught two long bombs on Sunday, one that went for 57 yards and another that culminated in a 60-yard TD. That pass registered the third-most air yards in the Next Gen Stats era. Pierce won’t catch long touchdowns every week, and his target volume will likely be volatile. However, this is a player I was largely excited about coming out of college, and Richardson may be the key needed to unlock him. He’s firmly on my radar.
Tyler Johnson, Los Angeles Rams (0% Owned)
The Rams took an L on the scoreboard in a tough one to the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football, but the losses stretch farther than just their record in the standings. Star wideout Puka Nacua reaggravated his preseason knee injury on a non-contact play during the second quarter and was eventually carted to the locker room. He’ll miss at least four weeks after being placed on IR.
In his stead, Tyler Johnson saw a nice boost in playing time and made the most of his opportunities. He hauled in 5-of-7 targets for 79 yards and is due more work with LA’s receiving corps looking thin. He out-paced presumed No. 3 wide-out Demarcus Robinson in receptions and yards while tying him in targets.
Tight Ends
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (29% Owned)
By all accounts, Ravens’ tight end Isaiah Likely is the top priority this week amongst waiver targets. Likely shocked everyone Thursday night when he racked up 12 targets, turning them into nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. He almost had a second score – one that was initially called a touchdown, but upon review, it was found that his toe was on the end line.
Mark Andrews put up a two-catch 12-yard line on two targets to compound this effort. Warning: this waiver target comes with a disclaimer. While I expect the third-year TE to garner a more featured role in Baltimore’s offense, he has not yet superseded Andrews in the pecking order. This is an impossible situation to forecast, but Kansas City has game-planned him out of their last five matchups, going as far as triple-covering him multiple times throughout Thursday’s opener. Additionally, it is possible that he was getting worked back in and not fully recovered from the car crash he sustained earlier in August.
Likely will be good, but don’t go dropping Andrews for him.
In conclusion, Week 2 of the fantasy football season is a crucial time to make strategic waiver wire additions. While it’s easy to overreact to Week 1 performances, staying level-headed and making calculated moves will set you up for long-term success. Whether it’s capitalizing on breakout performances like Alec Pierce and Baker Mayfield, or adding potential handcuffs such as Jordan Mason, each move you make early in the season can be pivotal. Pay attention to player usage trends and team dynamics, but avoid making drastic decisions based on one game.
As injuries and unexpected performances inevitably arise, remaining flexible and proactive on the waiver wire is key. Don't be afraid to take a chance on high-upside players with favorable matchups or those stepping into larger roles due to injuries. Week 2 is the perfect time to bolster your roster with hidden gems before the competition catches on. Stay sharp, make smart moves, and you'll be well on your way to fantasy success.
