Week 2 Injuries & Opportunities

NFL Week 1 DFS Breakdown

Top-40 RB Rankings - Week 1

Week 2 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Details
Alex Ciulla
NFL

We’re so back! Man, did I miss football. That includes all the highs and lows that come with every Sunday. As always, Week 1 brought a mix of fresh storylines, disappointments, and surprises. I probably said this last year, but it’s worth repeating: now is not the time to overreact. Just look at the Cincinnati Bengals — once again off to a slow start — and remember that by season’s end, early struggles are often long forgotten.

That said, some action is still required. Doing nothing is a decision in itself, and in fantasy football, that can be costly. Before jumping into Week 2 waiver wire adds, let’s handle some important housekeeping. Early 2024 was brutal for injuries, but so far this year we’ve been relatively fortunate — aside from a few tricky situations.

The biggest Week 1 injuries came from the San Francisco 49ers. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) both left the win over the Seahawks. We’re still waiting on updates for Jennings, but recent reports suggest Kittle could miss 3–5 weeks and may even be placed on injured reserve — a major blow for both the 49ers and fantasy football managers.

The Atlanta Falcons also took a hit in Week 1, as wide receiver Drake London (shoulder) suffered a sprain. He’s currently considered day-to-day but will undergo additional testing. Treat him as questionable until further notice. Finally, the Denver Broncos lost tight end Evan Engram (calf) during their 20–12 win over the Tennessee Titans. He exited in the fourth quarter and did not return, with an update on his status expected within the next 24 hours.

If you'd like more additional players to stream for next week, check out ASL Founder Leonard LaPadula's "Streamers For The Desperate". For more injury related info, take a peek at ASL's Chris Hexter's "Injuries & Opportunities".

This column assumes PPR formats unless specifically noted and will only feature players available in 50% or more of Yahoo! leagues. Happy hunting!


Streaming Quarterbacks

Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (32% Rostered)

The Atlanta Falcons pushed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the limit in Week 1. Despite rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggling at times, he still threw for 298 yards without committing a turnover, something he had done in each of his three previous starts. He was also sacked only once and added a rushing touchdown on six carries for 21 yards, marking his second straight game with a score on the ground (dating back to Week 18 of 2024).

Better days are ahead for Penix Jr., especially once he builds more chemistry with No. 1 wide receiver Drake London. With London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts, the Falcons have one of the most athletic young cores in the NFL. Even when Penix struggles, his playmakers are capable of elevating him.

It was also encouraging to see Penix use his legs more often. Even modest rushing production can add up to meaningful fantasy value across a full season. For now, fantasy football managers shouldn’t rush to replace him, but Penix remains one of the most intriguing quarterbacks still widely available on waiver wires. He faces the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, making him more of a speculative stash than a must-start option.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (6% Rostered)

I’m just as surprised as you are to see Daniel Jones in this spotlight, but here we are. Jones looked like an MVP candidate in his Indianapolis Colts debut, totaling three touchdowns (two rushing) and 272 passing yards while completing 22 of 29 passes (76%). He also added 26 yards on seven carries. Wow.

The big question now: was this breakout performance more about Indy’s offensive scheme or the Miami Dolphins’ defense? We’ll find out soon enough.

For now, we have to take this performance at least somewhat seriously. The former Giant could be the next quarterback to thrive once free of the New York curse, much like Sam Darnold and Geno Smith. Still, we’ll need a larger sample size to know if Daniel Jones is truly for real, and next week’s matchup against the Denver Broncos should provide a strong test.

I’d be cautious about starting him against Denver’s formidable defense, but Jones and the Colts offense are worth monitoring closely over the next month. And on the off chance Michael Pittman Jr. is still available in your fantasy leagues (77% rostered), he’s an absolute must-add.


Running Backs

Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (46% Rostered)

You’ll notice several Cleveland Browns skill players popping up early this year, and one of the biggest surprises came against the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead of projected starter Jerome Ford, it was rookie running back Dylan Sampson who led the backfield in touches. He managed just 29 yards on 12 attempts but out-touched Ford by six carries.

Sampson’s rushing efficiency was underwhelming, especially against a Bengals defense that looked paper-thin. However, the 20-year-old shone as a receiver, hauling in all eight of his targets for 64 yards. His pass-catching role should remain valuable as long as veteran Joe Flacco is under center.

That last part is key. With rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel waiting in the wings, Sampson’s role could shift once the Browns hand the offense over to a younger QB. Until then — and until fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins gets up to speed — Sampson projects as a sneaky source of fantasy production.

55% Discount – 1-year DFS Optimizer: Cutting edge features, multiple projections sources


Wide Receivers

Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs (25% Rostered)

The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers kicked off the NFL International Series in São Paulo, Brazil, and the matchup didn’t disappoint. Justin Herbert went toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes, but the real headline was an early injury. Rookie wideout Xavier Worthy (shoulder) collided with Travis Kelce just three snaps into the season, suffering a dislocation that puts his return timeline in question.

With Worthy sidelined, former Raven Marquise Brown stepped into the WR1 role and immediately saw massive usage. Brown drew 16 targets in the Chiefs’ loss to the Chargers, cementing himself as Mahomes’ top option until Worthy returns or Rashee Rice (suspension) re-enters the mix.

Brown is easily the top wide receiver waiver add of the week and has league-winning upside in the short term.

Keenan Allen/Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (50%/9% Rostered)

On the other side of the matchup, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was forced to air it out after the run game stumbled, a trend across several NFL teams in Week 1. The heavy passing volume opened the door for multiple Chargers receivers to shine, with both Keenan Allen and Quentin Johnston emerging as key fantasy football waiver-wire considerations.

That doesn’t mean you should pick up and start both receivers. In fact, doing so would be risky, as Ladd McConkey's role limits Justin Herbert’s ability to fully support three fantasy wideouts. Instead, evaluate your roster and adjust strategically. Quentin Johnston offers the higher ceiling, while Keenan Allen provides the safer floor. In Week 1, Allen played 13 fewer snaps than Johnston in their win over the Chiefs, reinforcing their respective upside and reliability.

Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (1% Rostered)

Before diving into Kayshon Boutte, it’s important to note that when Stefon Diggs is fully healthy, he remains New England’s clear No. 1 wide receiver. That said, Boutte’s six-catch, 103-yard performance in Week 1 was impressive, especially considering he’s surpassed 95 yards in three of his last four games dating back to last season.

Even with Diggs as the alpha target, there’s no definitive second option in New England’s passing game. Running back TreyVeyon Henderson will absorb some targets, and tight end Hunter Henry tends to be limited to short gains. Beyond those two, it’s Boutte and nobody else. He led all Patriots wide receivers in snaps by a wide margin, making him a high-priority fantasy add this week.

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (28% Rostered)

I’m honestly surprised that Cedric Tillman even qualifies for this article, as he should have been on all fantasy radars once Joe Flacco was named Cleveland’s starting quarterback. Similar to Dylan Sampson, Tillman’s fantasy value is tied to Flacco’s presence under center, though there’s reason to believe he could maintain value even after Flacco’s tenure.

The 25-year-old is a strong athlete and a legitimate downfield threat. It took him some time to find his rhythm in 2024, but once he broke into the starting lineup, Tillman was electric, recording at least six receptions and 75 yards in three of four starts before a concussion derailed his season. He has firmly established himself as Cleveland’s WR2, logging as many snaps as running mate Jerry Jeudy (67).

Calvin Austin III, Pittsburgh Steelers (2% Rostered)

I could have highlighted several wide receivers for this final spot, but Calvin Austin III stands out due to his athleticism and current opportunity. New quarterback Aaron Rodgers proved he still has elite skill, tying Tom Brady for the most games with a 4:0 TD: INT ratio in NFL history (28). This performance also provided a clear view of how Pittsburgh plans to run its offense under Rodgers.

With Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, two-tight-end sets are expected to be frequent. While DK Metcalf led the Steelers’ wide receiver corps with 54 snaps, Austin III was the only other receiver with more than ten (45). The snap distribution was more lopsided than anticipated, but it signals a prime moment for fantasy managers to react. Recent developments show that prior assumptions about Pittsburgh’s passing game may no longer apply.

The fourth-year pro is an absolute burner, and Rodgers has shown he can still be an effective downfield passer. If Austin III can garner significant volume, he'll shed his boom-bust moniker.


Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (2% Rostered)

The Saints’ season opener went about as well as they could have hoped. Quarterback Spencer Rattler avoided turnovers, which is notable on its own, but New Orleans struggled to capitalize, scoring just 13 points despite leading the Cardinals in total yards and first downs. Right now, things in NOLA resemble a dumpster fire—but sometimes chaos can create sneaky fantasy opportunities. That could be the case for tight end Juwan Johnson.

Johnson has always been an athletic standout, but tight ends are notoriously finicky. Their development is challenging, as they must excel both as a receiver and a blocker. The 28-year-old hadn’t produced much in his first five NFL seasons, but he finished strong last year and has started 2025 on a high note.

With wide receiver Chris Olave still leading New Orleans in targets and Rashid Shaheed providing additional options, Johnson’s consistent fantasy value depends on receiving opportunities. In Week 1, running back Alvin Kamara saw just two targets. We’ll need to monitor whether that was an anomaly when the Saints face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (2% Rostered)

The same disclaimer used for other Cleveland Browns applies to third-round rookie Harold Fannin Jr. from April’s draft. The rookie surprised everyone in Week 1, leading Cleveland in targets with nine and totaling 63 yards on seven receptions in his NFL debut. While Fannin Jr. played nine fewer snaps than starter David Njoku (64-55), he out-targeted Njoku by three and out-caught him by four.

This is an unusual development, and it may not become a consistent trend. Rumors suggest the Browns were considering shopping Njoku due to high expectations for Fannin Jr., who will enjoy a short-term boost while Joe Flacco remains the starting quarterback. The Bowling Green alum led all FBS players in 2024 with 117 receptions and currently has a higher TPRR (targets per route run) than Njoku, signaling strong upside for fantasy managers keeping an eye on emerging Browns talent.

Thanks for reading, and good luck in your matchups next week!