Week 2 brought another exciting slate of action with some pleasant and unexpected surprises throughout. For starters, the Minnesota Vikings knocked off the reigning NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in a shocking 23-17 win (more about them later). RB Jordan Mason again broke 100 yards, and has matched or surpassed the 20-carry mark in consecutive games. If you were lucky enough to get him – and depending on where you did – he could be this year’s league winner, as running back Christian McCaffrey will miss at least the next four games after being placed on IR.
Unfortunately, the injury news doesn’t stop there. QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), WR Cooper Kupp (ankle), RB Isaiah Pacheco (fibula), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (lower leg), RB Joe Mixon (ankle), TE Evan Engram (hamstring), QB Justin Herbert (leg), WR Justin Jefferson (quad), TE Taysom Hill (chest), RB Rachaad White (groin), and RB Tyjae Spears (ankle) all came away from the weekend dinged up. Some injuries varied more in severity than others, such as the case of Pacheco (6-8 weeks) and Kupp (an IR candidate), while others were not as serious, such as those to star WRs Jefferson (bruise) and St. Brown (bruise/cramp).
Not all of the players mentioned above will miss extended time, but for the ones that do, we must act. Falling behind in the fantasy standings and not keeping up with emerging trends can be enough to turn a potential playoff team into a bottom-of-the-standings staple. As a reminder, this column assumes PPR formats and will only feature players at or around 50% ownership on Yahoo! Let's get into this week’s waiver targets.
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (20% Owned)
Derek Carr was featured here last week, and I inquired whether this was a case of the Saints being really good or the Panthers being really bad. Both statements appear accurate as Bryce Young was just benched for Andy Dalton, and New Orleans steam-rolled the Cowboys 44-19 in Dallas this past Sunday.
The Saints have been one the hottest teams in football, and Carr leads the league with five touchdown tosses and a 142.4 rating. If you’re one of the unfortunate Tua/Love managers heading into Week 3 with a QB plan that hasn’t worked yet, he's a clear add.
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (13% Owned)
In another case of chicken or the egg – QB Sam Darnold (and the rest of the Vikings unit) made easy work of the New York Giants in Week 1, prompting a similar question as Carr and the Saints above. Well, Minnesota proved they weren't messing around when they upset the San Francisco 49ers this past weekend, 23-17. Once left for dead, Darnold has completed 36-of-50 passes (72%) for 476 yards and four scores and looks reborn in coach Kevin O’Connell’s system.
Carr would be my first choice on this list, but Darnold has at least worked his way into streaming consideration. It’d be a boon for his fantasy outlook to get WR Jordan Addison (ankle) back ahead of Week 3, but that remains to be seen. The Vikings will square off against the Houston Texans this upcoming Sunday.
James Conner is used to scoring touchdowns in Pittsburgh 🤷@JamesConner_ x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/7Fl3iydiyJ
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 3, 2023
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (34% Owned)
Despite his roster percentage, QB Geno Smith is my least favorite option of these three. However, I enjoyed watching him air it out this past weekend in the team’s 23-20 victory over the New England Patriots. In the contest, wide receivers DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba combined for 22 catches, 246 yards, and a touchdown.
I don’t foresee Geno throwing it this much all the time, as it’s likely he did so with the team not having their starting running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique). However, backup RB Zach Charbonnet was terribly inefficient, and he’ll have his work cut out for him when Seattle squares up against the Dolphins this Sunday. If Walker cannot play, I like the 33-year-old Smith to throw it all over the yard for the second week in a row.
Running Backs
Carson Steele/Samaje Perine, Kansas City Chiefs (4/5% Owned)
With the news that Chiefs’ running back Isiah Pacheco (fibula fracture) is heading to IR, I’m prescribing both Carson Steele and Samaje Perine, as they both project to handle backfield duties while Pacheco’s on the shelf. There’s a chance Kansas City will sign veteran help (they’re scheduled to meet with RB Kareem Hunt this Tuesday), but with a gap in their lineup at a critical position – we should all be taking fliers on at least one of these players because the volume will be there.
I expect Steele to get most of the early-down rushing work, while Perine should mix in as a change-of-pace back and handle the passing-down situations. The former is the better athlete and garners a higher ceiling, while the latter is a more reliable veteran option. For what it’s worth – Perine has yet to handle a carry, while Steele has not drawn a target in the passing game.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets (10% Owned)
After participating on just nine snaps in Week 1 (18%), rookie running back Braelon Allen was much more involved in the Jets’ 24-17 Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans. He took seven carries for 33 yards and a score while hauling in 2-of-4 targets for 23 yards and an additional TD. Allen played 20 snaps in this one (35%), while starting RB Breece Hall out-snapped him by 21 and went off for 114 total yards and a score on 21 touches. However, there were a few times that they both shared the field together. I don’t believe this to be the norm moving forward, but it is also something we cannot write off as a fluke.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been shaking off the rust while the New York passing attack has looked sluggish out of the gate. It is possible the Jets will incorporate both backs into their gameplan over the coming weeks. Hall’s starting role is not in jeopardy. Still, the 20-year-old Allen has undoubtedly shaved off some of the superstar’s fantasy ceiling.
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings (29% Owned)
RB Aaron Jones (undisclosed) led the Vikings backfield in their Week 1 domination over the New York Giants, but that wasn’t the case this weekend in the team’s 23-17 victory over the 49ers. Backup RB Ty Chandler took hold of the reigns, out-rushing Jones by 50 yards despite one less carry (9).
It’s certainly eyebrow-raising, but it is also unclear why it was the case. Jones was dinged up in the second half for a handful of plays but returned to the game after visiting the blue medical tent. He also coughed up a costly fumble just inches away from the goal line after taking a screen pass into the red zone.
Minnesota has been a pleasant surprise thus far, and if the 29-year-old is forced to miss time or begins to cede work to Chandler regularly, the latter becomes an intriguing target.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (34% Owned)
Through two weeks of play, rookie RB Bucky Irving has been the more efficient runner than returning starter Rachaad White (groin). Irving was uber-efficient in his debut in Week 1, rushing nine times for 62 yards. He was less so this week (7 car/22 yds.), but was still better than his counterpart on a per-carry basis (3.1 avg) as White rushed ten times for just 18 yards.
The rookie running back could be looking at an expanded role moving forward, as it was reported that his teammate sustained a groin injury during their Week 2 victory. White did return to the game, but it’s clear he was less than 100% – seeing just one target throughout the contest. Irving was a solid runner during his time at Oregon and caught an impressive 56 balls in his final year with the program. He’ll boast RB2 value with the role all to himself.
Cam Akers, Houston Texans (1% Owned)
Texans RB Cam Akers has racked up just seven rushes for 32 yards through the first two weeks of the season but could be in store for a significant uptick in usage if Joe Mixon (ankle) were deemed unfit to suit up. Mixon picked up the injury in the team’s 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears when his ankle rolled up while being taken to the ground. Head coach DeMeco Ryans stated that the eighth-year veteran will be evaluated this week. For now, the injury severity is unknown.
Akers, on the other hand, is the clear next man up with backup Dameon Pierce (hamstring) sidelined and would benefit from a feature role on a high-powered Texans offense. However, it’s unlikely that the 25-year-old gets all the work to himself, as Dare Ogunbowale would be expected to mix in at least in passing situations. Akers would be an RB3/FLEX play.
Wide Receivers
Jalen Nailor, Minnesota Vikings (1% Owned)
Vikings WR Jalen Nailor caught his second touchdown in two weeks in the team’s victory over the 49ers, racking up 54 yards on 3-of-4 receptions. He caught his lone target in Week 1 for a 21-yard score too, and was one of the most productive and talked about players during Minnesota’s preseason.
Nailor could also see himself in an expanded role in short order. Jordan Addison (ankle) has yet to resume practicing after missing all of last week, and superstar Justin Jefferson (quad) got dinged up in this past Sunday’s win. While Jefferson was on record saying he feels “fine” and does not believe he will miss any time, Addison has been nagged by ankle injuries since training camp. Either way, the arrow is pointing up for the 25-year-old Naillor ahead of a Week 3 matchup with the Houston Texans. He would be a high-end WR3/low-end WR2, pending Jefferson’s participation.
Tyler Johnson/Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (11/42% Owned)
I mentioned Tyler Johnson in this column last week, but I’m now advising him and Demarcus Robinson, as both project to pick up the slack in the LA Rams’ offense. LA was already thin at WR with Puka Nacua (knee) being placed on IR, and it appears Cooper Kupp is also an IR candidate after injuring his ankle in this weekend’s 41-10 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals.
Robinson played 48 snaps in the loss compared to 45 for Johnson, as well as out-gaining him by 30 yards on the same number of catches (2) and one more target (4). It will be impossible to tell who will lead this duo or how long LA will be without Nacua and Kupp. However, you could do worse than having Matthew Stafford as your quarterback. Look for us to gain some clarity on this situation after the Rams square off against their in-division rival 49ers this coming Sunday. If I had to pick one to go after, it’d be Johnson, as I really liked his college tape coming out of Minnesota. However, both should be viable WR3s with upside.
***LA RAMS HONORABLE MENTION: JORDAN WHITTINGTON***
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (28% Owned)
WR Alec Pierce is another returning player to this column as he built on his impressive Week 1 performance in Week 2. Indianapolis fell 16-10 to the Green Bay Packers, but Pierce again led his team in yards. It marks the second week in a row he’s out-gained Michael Pittman Jr., this time matching him for the team lead in targets (7) while recording two more receptions (5).
This is a concerning development for Pittman managers, as he was one of the better PPR receivers in 2023. QB Anthony Richardson has seemingly been more inclined to chuck it downfield and isn’t as locked on the USC product as QB Gardener Minshew was last year. Additionally, AR-15 is completing less than 50% of his attempts as he continues to adjust to NFL defenses.
I like Pierce moving forward, though I think he’ll be more of a boom-bust WR3 during most weeks rather than a consistent low-end WR2. Still, his output is encouraging. He currently ranks sixth in the league in total air yards (225) – three more yards than the Cheetah Tyreek Hill.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (24% Owned)
Patriots TE Hunter Henry was one of the bigger surprises in Week 2 when he went off in the team’s 23-20 defeat. Henry reeled in an impressive 8-of-12 targets for 109 yards, handily leading all New England pass-catchers in yards, targets, and receptions. It’s quite the turnaround from Week 1, where Austin Hooper out-gained him by 13 yards on the same amount of catches (2) and one more target (4).
The Week 1 outputs might have been the anomaly here, as the 29-year-old veteran has led the TE room in snaps both weeks, cumulatively out-snapping Hooper 111-to-73. Henry can’t really be trusted on a weekly basis, but not many tight ends can be. If you’re desperate, fire him up as a potential low-end TE1, as he stands out in a Pats' offense currently void of other offensive weapons.
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (5% Owned)
After a shocking Week 1 16-10 loss to the Patriots, Cincinnati’s offense came to life a bit last week despite a defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. Perhaps an even bigger surprise is that Mike Gesicki led the team in yards (91), catches (7), and targets (9). Gesicki had more than all the other TEs on the team, more than WR Ja’Marr Chase, and more than everyone. The veteran tight end also went for a long gain of 37 yards.
Do I expect Gesicki to repeat this week-over-week? No, not with Ja’Marr Chase shaking off the rust and WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) working his way back to the field. However, the 28-year-old leads all Bengals tight ends in every significant statistical category despite participating on 12 fewer snaps than starter Drew Sample (60) and three more than rookie Erick All Jr. (45).
I’ve always been a fan of the Penn State product and thought he was an underutilized TE, even dating back to his days as a Miami Dolphin. It is possible that even with the return of Higgins, Gesicki carves out a role as the Bengals’ third option in their passing attack. You can likely wait a week to add him but don’t hesitate if you’re hurting at the position.
As we move into Week 3, the landscape of fantasy football has shifted dramatically. The injury bug has hit hard, affecting key players across the board and potentially altering team strategies. With stars like Christian McCaffrey and Cooper Kupp on the shelf, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve and make the right waiver wire moves. The performances of emerging players like Jordan Mason and Sam Darnold offer glimmers of hope and opportunity. Embracing these changes and being proactive can turn your team’s fortunes around and help you stay competitive in a rapidly evolving season.
Navigating the injury-riddled field requires sharp decision-making and timely adjustments. Keep a close eye on the latest updates and make strategic picks from this week’s waiver wire targets to fill gaps and capitalize on emerging talent. Remember, staying informed and adaptable is key to maintaining a strong fantasy lineup and avoiding the pitfalls of injury-induced setbacks. Get ready to make your move and position yourself for success in the weeks ahead!
