Week 2 Waiver Wire: MUST ADD Players, Injury Replacements & Streamers (09/15 Fantasy Football Podcast)

AJ Brown is a must-start receiver who will miss significant time due to injury, creating an urgent replacement need; his absence is the primary driver of increased FAB spending at the wide receiver position this week.

AJ Brown is on IR and could be out for six weeks, a significant blow to Philadelphia's receiving corps.

Aaron Jones could be a must-start this week at Chicago if Jordan Mason remains unavailable, positioning him as a high-priority waiver target.

Jones is injured and his return timeline is unknown; his absence has allowed Jordan Love to maintain high pass volume, but when Jones returns, Love's volume and fantasy value may decrease.

Antonio Williams had a great debut but only 29% route participation rate, which limits excitement; he's a really talented receiver who can win in the slot and was used everywhere in college, but the Commanders didn't use him enough in week 1; his pathway to more playing time depends on whether they go to 11 personnel (three wide receivers) more often, possibly with Oconko out; he's a stash but not a top waiver wire add right now.

Mayfield is expected to bounce back in a big way when facing his former team. However, the opposing defense may not be as easy a matchup as it once was.

Bo Nix had a poor Week 2 performance, described as 'awful' by the source. He fumbled multiple times (some didn't count) and threw an interception. The source notes that despite Denver's defense potentially being 'awesome because there's a lot of young players there,' Nix's poor play limits the Broncos' offensive upside. However, the source expects 'a better Denver offense moving forward,' suggesting Week 2 was an outlier.

Bo Nix looked awful in Week 1 against Kansas City, fumbling multiple times and throwing an interception; the offensive line provided him no favors, and Kansas City's pass rush attacked aggressively through the A gaps, making it very difficult on the young quarterback. However, the expectation is that Denver's offense will improve moving forward.

Listed as a deeper waiver wire running back option if going beyond the primary targets.

Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to play this week despite recent injury concerns, a positive sign for his availability.

Brock Bowers is day-to-day, a status that fantasy managers should monitor closely when considering him for starting lineups.

Bowers is listed as day-to-day by Kubiak, but the source suspects the injury is more week-to-week in reality, which affects the viability of Mayer as a waiver wire target.

Young is available in 78% of leagues and is preferred over Carson Wentz for waiver wire pickups due to a better upcoming schedule. In super flex leagues, Young is already rostered in most cases.

Irving had one of the best games of any running back the speaker has watched; he was making defenders miss in the backfield despite the Buccaneers' run defense not improving. The speaker is curious to see how he performs against Cincinnati's run defense this week.

Otton is a low-end tight end streaming option against Cleveland; the speaker suggests he could find the end zone in that matchup.

Best Dolphins receiver in week 1; speed was a differentiator; must add for now, though different Dolphins receivers may lead targets on a week-to-week basis depending on whether Chris Bell gets going or Malik Washington continues to lead targets.

Caleb Douglas ranks among the top 10 rookie wide receivers in Week 1 receiving yards over the last 20 years, placing him in elite company alongside Marquise Brown, Terry McLaurin, Puka Nakua, and Jamar Chase. This historical performance suggests significant breakout potential.

Second priority wide receiver add; Dolphins receiving core is a work in progress, creating opportunity for Douglas.

Douglas had an impressive Week 1 performance and is viewed as a potential steal drafted later than expected; however, the speaker cautions it's too early to call him a league-winner because Chris Bell could take a bigger target share as he gets healthier. Douglas made a veteran sideline catch with toe drag that impressed evaluators, and Pete Prisco preferred him over Bell post-draft.

Douglas had a very high average route depth in Week 1, suggesting deep-ball dependency that may not be sustainable given Willis's poor downfield accuracy; this limits his floor and consistency.

Douglas is 28% rostered and should be prioritized ahead of Demario Douglas on the waiver wire for deep leagues.

Wentz is expected to be one of the most-spent FAB targets this week in super flex leagues due to quarterback scarcity; his job security depends on performance in Week 2, with potential to keep the Vikings starting role all season if he performs well.

Wentz is available in 99% of leagues and is the top waiver wire quarterback option for deep leagues. However, there is uncertainty about whether he will be the rest-of-season starter.

As Bell gets healthier, he could take a bigger target share and have a bigger opportunity, which could limit Caleb Douglas's upside; the speaker wanted to stash Bell leading into Week 1.

Chris Brooks appeared to be the primary back on passing downs for the Packers in Week 1, though the backfield rotation remains unclear after one game. He combined with Marshawn Lloyd for only two targets, and Lloyd showed pass protection issues, suggesting Brooks may have a role advantage moving forward.

Olave left the field frequently in Week 1, suggesting possible injury or role concerns; his availability and snap count going forward are uncertain.

Expected to be used in tandem with Kalen Black; Black will be a flex play on a weekly basis with upside if McCaffrey gets injured.

Watson looks like a monster in the Green Bay passing game; however, he has a history of injury concerns, creating contingency upside for Devon Valey if Watson misses time.

Kalief Raymond's role in the Bears offense negatively impacts Colson Loveland's target share and role.

The speaker is worried about Foreman not getting the volume he expected; Foreman played 50% of snaps in week one, which the speaker attributes to injury-related limitations on the Bears offense, suggesting his role share may not expand as hoped.

Dalton Kincaid is 87% rostered but occasionally available in leagues; he is preferred over Jawan Johnson and Dalton Schultz in the tight end hierarchy.

Schultz earned 8 targets again in Week 2 against the Bills defense, which is encouraging despite the Bills' strong defensive personnel; he's mentioned as a viable waiver wire tight end option.

Schultz got eight targets against the Bills defense in Week 2, maintaining second-place target share on the Texans; the speaker calls him an easy add if you need a tight end this week.

Dalton Schultz is ranked below both Jawan Johnson and Dalton Kincaid in the tight end hierarchy for week 2 waiver wire purposes.

Montgomery faces Cincinnati's run defense this week; the speaker notes Cincinnati's run defense allowed 18 carries for 60 yards (or similar), suggesting a potentially tough matchup. Montgomery had 21st-ranked work in the passing game but the speaker disliked his fumble.

Njoku should be added to the tight end waiver wire list due to the McCaffrey injury opening up opportunity in the Browns offense.

David Njoku is mentioned as a tight end who may take advantage of injuries in week 2.

Deshaun Stribbling could be out for four weeks, creating a temporary void in his team's depth chart.

Available in shallow leagues; should absolutely be rostered in 100% of leagues; probably prioritized over Devaughn Vele as a waiver wire target, though it's a close call.

Debo Samuel is mentioned as a shallow league wide receiver option with 80% roster percentage on CBS, slightly higher than Matthew Golden (77%). However, Golden is preferred as a waiver wire target over Debo despite similar availability.

Samuel had 6 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown plus a 12-yard carry in Week 1; he's a massive priority on the waiver wire. With Elijah Stripling out for a month or more and the 49ers showing another great offense, Samuel should be in play as at least a number three receiver as long as he stays healthy. The touchdown inflates his Week 1 line, but the underlying role in a strong offense supports his value.

Robinson is 7% rostered and the 49ers love him; he played a lot in week one and will get an opportunity despite being older, making him a potential waiver wire pickup in deeper leagues.

Source would love to see DeMario Douglas get better opportunities and more targets, but Patriots are stubborn and still favor veteran Matt Collins; Douglas is ranked much further down the waiver wire due to limited opportunity.

Douglas is positioned as a stash candidate in PPR formats after Stefan Diggs' departure opened opportunity; he posted a 22% target share in a quarter-and-a-half against Seattle last week and had a 29.1% target per route run rate when Diggs was off the field last year, suggesting he could reach around 11 PPR points if volume increases, though his 5 catches for 20 yards in Week 1 suggests he needs better efficiency.

Douglas is highlighted as a deep league wide receiver option on waivers. Caleb Douglas is 28% rostered and would be prioritized ahead of Demario Douglas.

Deshaun Watson is likely to start for his team, a key depth-chart note for fantasy managers.

Rookie wide receiver who had the 10th most receiving yards in the last 20 years in week 1 for any rookie WR; strong start in first game without Jordan Tyson; expected to be part of a high-volume passing offense; must add and potential must start as long as Tyson remains out.

Listed as third favorite running back on the waiver wire, though source is not married to the ranking.

Singletary is the only running back worth adding on waivers and is available in many leagues. He has a defined role as the passing downs back for the New York Giants; if the game script goes wrong for the Giants, he will see increased playing time over Saquon Barkley into the second half.

Lock is expected to be a high-spend FAB target in super flex leagues due to quarterback scarcity; his value is elevated by the difficulty of finding starting quarterbacks in deep formats.

Dylan Samson is out for an extended period, opening opportunities for other Cleveland running backs.

Listed among running back waiver wire options alongside Kalon Black and Tyler Algier.

Evan Ingram looked decent in Week 1 for Denver, part of the team's approach to spread the ball out among multiple receivers rather than focusing heavily on Jalen Waddle.

Hunter Henry is mentioned as a tight end who may take advantage of injuries in week 2.

Isaiah Pacheco is out several months following back surgery, creating a significant opportunity for other Kansas City running backs.

Dobbins had 6-8 carries in week one against Denver; the Chiefs' conservative offensive approach and heavy reliance on the run game suggests Dobbins could see consistent volume in the backfield.

Available in shallow leagues; should absolutely be rostered in 100% of leagues; prioritized as a waiver wire target.

Jalen Coker is identified as the number one shallow league wide receiver waiver wire target, with 70% roster percentage on CBS. His status as a top waiver priority suggests strong Week 1 performance and role establishment.

Coker's roster percentages vary significantly by platform: 70% on CBS, 60% on Yahoo, and 50% on ESPN, making him available in shallow ESPN and Yahoo leagues despite being heavily rostered on CBS; his ankle status is a consideration for FAB spending decisions.

Jalen Coker sprained his ankle in the first quarter and was in a walking boot, but he expects to play and should be fine, making him a potential waiver-wire target.

James Cook did not run a single route on third down in week 1, a concerning sign for his passing-game involvement and overall usage in Buffalo's offense.

Reed did not have his best game in Week 1 despite playing in a strong Green Bay passing game; his upside may not have fully materialized yet.

Jalen Waddle received only two targets in Week 1 under Davis Webb's play-calling, a notably low volume for a top receiver that raises questions about his offensive role and target allocation.

Waddle had only three targets and one catch in Week 2 against Kansas City's defense. The source expresses concern about the Broncos' passing game efficiency, noting 'I'm not encouraged by this passing game at all.' Additionally, the speaker mentions telling his wife to draft Waddle in her fantasy league but criticizes the play-calling, saying the offensive coordinator 'does not let Jalen Waddle touch the ball enough.' There's speculation that Sean Payton may take over play-calling duties due to the poor offensive performance.

Waddle had only 3 targets and 1 catch in week one; his limited target share is concerning given the Dolphins' passing game expectations and raises questions about his role in the offense.

Despite a poor Week 1 performance by the Denver offense against Kansas City, Waddle is a buy-low candidate; he was still fast, elusive, and separating on the field, was double-teamed twice, and the poor game is attributable to Bo Nix's struggles and the offensive line's poor performance rather than Waddle's ability. The buy-low window remains open until Waddle has a huge game, which should come soon.

Concern exists about Waddle's role in Denver's offense based on Week 1 patterns; the team spread the ball out with Evan Ingram and Pat Bryant looking decent, and Cortlin Sutton still needs to be involved, suggesting Waddle may not continue to be a focal point despite being a major investment.

Jeremiah Love was not on a snap count in week 1, which is not encouraging for his short-term fantasy outlook despite facing Seattle this week.

Source would drop Jonathan Brooks for Kalon Black, suggesting Brooks is not a priority hold after week 1.

Love scored 23 fantasy points against Minnesota and is available in shallow leagues despite 68% roster ownership on Yahoo; he's only 42% rostered on ESPN, making him a potential pickup for league-specific availability.

Jordan Love is mentioned as a shallow-league pickup option in the context of the Packers offense looking pass-heavy in week 1, suggesting upside for managers in shallower formats.

Love averaged over 30 pass attempts per game in his career and typically scores 23 points per game in those games; when given high volume opportunities, he rewards fantasy managers. In Week 1 against Minnesota, he played well despite an interception off a tip and offensive line issues early; he was carving up a strong defense. His value is contingent on maintaining high pass volume, which may change when Aaron Jones returns from injury.

Jordan Mason has a sore thumb that could affect his availability, though the source suggests it may not be a major concern.

Tyson's return timeline is unknown, and his effectiveness upon return is uncertain; this creates opportunity for Devon Valey to maintain a larger role in the Saints passing game.

Josh Jacobs' status remains unclear heading into Week 2, with the source noting that the upcoming game against the Jets will provide more clarity on his availability and role in the Packers backfield.

Josh Jacobs' potential return is flagged as a factor that could affect the Packers' running back landscape, though no specific timeline is provided.

Jawan Johnson is the one shallow-league tight end to target; he is preferred over Dalton Schultz and Dalton Kincaid (who is 87% rostered).

Received significant work in week 1 against the Rams and looked impressive; McCaffrey's injury makes Black a priority add; source would drop Jonathan Brooks for Black.

Raymond is a small, shifty underneath target and check-down option for Caleb Williams, particularly when Williams is pressured. The speaker loved his role in the offense and wonders if 10 PPR points per game is sustainable, though he cautions it would require a deep league. Raymond is only 1% rostered.

Raymond is 1% rostered on CBS and available everywhere; he could be a free agent pickup on Thursday/Friday if PPR scoring matters in your league. The speaker notes that while everyone hates Raymond right now, he might still get a lot of targets and could be worth adding in shallow leagues if you can't land other wide receiver options.

Listed as a deeper waiver wire running back option if going beyond the primary targets.

Allen got some playing time after Jacoby Crosby had a fumble late against Philadelphia. The speaker suggests stashing him to see what happens with the backfield situation.

Bourne is serving the same wide receiver role for Arizona as he did for Chicago; the speaker might buy into Bourne slightly more than Raymond, noting both are rooting hard against them but both might still get a lot of targets in their respective offenses.

Kendrick Bourne is only 1% rostered and intriguing because the Patriots are going to throw the ball a ton.

Walker was heavily featured in Seattle's Week 2 win, averaging 7.5 yards per carry on six to eight carries. The source notes that Seattle 'leaned into Walker like Seattle rarely did outside of the playoffs last year,' suggesting the team realized early they could run the ball effectively and committed to the ground game. However, the source cautions that this production may not be sustainable if defenses improve their tackling and Kenneth Walker isn't averaging 7.5 yards per carry in future weeks.

Khalil Shakir had a not-bad week 1 game with four catches for 50 yards on six targets; he gets Detroit on Thursday in week 2.

Murray's situation is uncertain heading into Week 2, creating potential quarterback scarcity concerns for super flex managers.

Kyler Murray suffered a concussion, creating uncertainty around Arizona's quarterback situation for the upcoming week.

Kalief Raymond's role in the Bears offense negatively impacts Luther Burden's target share and role.

Burden missed significant time in camp with a groin injury and was questionable going into week one; his snap and route counts should improve dramatically once he's fully healthy, as his early-season numbers are depressed by injury.

Washington also had a high average route depth in Week 1 like other Miami receivers; despite the deep-ball scheme, he can still produce 10+ PPR points even if Caleb Douglas maintains his role.

Willis had a poor Week 1 game throwing downfield, which is a concern for his downfield passing ability and could negatively impact his receivers' production.

Willis had a poor Week 1 performance throwing downfield; his inability to execute vertically limits the upside of his receivers and his own fantasy value.

Marshawn Lloyd struggled in pass protection during Week 1, including one play where he was run over, resulting in a tipped pass and interception. This performance may limit his role in the Packers offense moving forward, particularly on passing downs where Chris Brooks appears to have the edge.

Had a 30% target share in week 1; ran 25% of routes; however, his routes were primarily go routes, which is not favorable for fantasy production.

Matthew Golden commanded a 30% target share in Week 1 despite running primarily go routes, which are suboptimal for fantasy production. However, he was heavily peppered with 12 targets when the team was chasing points, demonstrating significant offensive involvement and role in a pass-heavy game plan.

Matthew Golden is the top waiver wire target among shallow league wide receivers, preferred over Debo Samuel despite similar roster percentages (Golden 77%, Debo 80%). The preference is driven by his role and target volume in Week 1.

Golden may have had his best game in Week 1 and is part of a strong passing game with Love; he's a potential league-winner candidate for waiver wire pickups, though not a guaranteed league winner.

Michael Mayer is a potential pickup or start option this week, with Brock Bowers' day-to-day status creating an opportunity for increased playing time.

Mayer is the only tight end the source would prioritize on waivers, but only as a short-term answer contingent on Brock Bowers remaining out; he was disappointing against Miami with 7 targets in a game where the Raiders played with a lead, which won't be typical, and his small sample size track record from last year when Bowers was out provides limited confidence despite the opportunity.

Michael Mayer may or may not be the starting tight end for the Raiders in week 2.

Penix is a potential high-spend FAB target in super flex leagues if available, as quarterback scarcity makes him valuable; his availability depends on the Falcons' quarterback situation.

Evans was banged up frequently in training camp, raising durability concerns heading into the season.

Mitch Trubisky is mentioned as a potential waiver wire add, but the speaker didn't watch the Jets offense closely enough to evaluate him; however, if he looked as good as preseason reports suggested, he might be on the same tier as Antonio Williams—not exciting to add, but there's a chance the Jets offense throws downfield more than in the past, and Trubisky is a good downfield receiver.

Noah Fant got eight targets and a touchdown for the Saints in week 1, but he only ran 18 routes; this is considered an anomaly to ignore.

Omar Cooper Jr. left for the Jets, a roster move that affects his previous team's offensive line depth.

Bryant received attention in camp at the expense of both Waddle and Sutton; he looked decent at times in week one and scored a touchdown, making him worth monitoring despite the camp competition context.

Pat Bryant looked decent in Week 1 for Denver, part of the team's approach to spread the ball out among multiple receivers rather than focusing heavily on Jalen Waddle.

Mahomes had a very good fantasy game despite throwing for only 184 yards on 27 passes; he ran faster in week one than at any point last season, and benefited from the Chiefs' conservative game plan that relied heavily on running the ball against Denver.

Johnston (Vela) is recommended as a must-add wide receiver at 7% roster percentage due to significant wide receiver injuries this week; he could spark a bidding war and warrants spending up to 10% FAB despite low ownership.

Raheem Sanders was the third-down back for Cleveland in week 1, positioning him as a potential pass-game contributor in the backfield.

Rice had two targets and one touchdown in Week 2, his first game back from injury. The source advises not to panic on Rice yet, noting 'I don't think you should panic on rice yet' and contextualizing the limited targets within the game script: Kansas City faced one of the best pass defenses in the NFL (Denver), and the game script didn't require heavy passing. The source expects the Chiefs' offense to improve as they face loaded fronts that open up downfield opportunities.

If Zay Flowers misses time, Rashad Bateman becomes the favorite Ravens receiver; with Jacoby Lane no longer on the roster, Bateman will get more opportunities and ran a lot of routes getting targets.

Kalief Raymond's role in the Bears offense negatively impacts Rome Odunze's target share and role.

Saquon Barkley had nearly all of his rushing yards come after contact in week 1, demonstrating his ability to generate yards despite offensive line challenges and making him a valuable fantasy asset.

Terrence Ferguson is a younger tight end option with upside; compared to established options like Frymuth and Hawkinson, if you need somebody to start this week, the older guys are preferable; Ferguson is not Darren Waller.

Third priority wide receiver add due to Ladd McConkie's injury; if McConkie is out, Harris gets a bigger role; Chargers offense expected to improve, especially against the Raiders this week.

Jamie likes Trey Harris as a waiver wire add in week 2.

Trey Tucker is an inconsistent player who didn't do much in week one, but that doesn't mean he won't produce in week two against the Chargers; he always has a chance.

Kraft did not have his best game in Week 1 despite the strong Green Bay passing game; his upside may not have fully materialized yet.

Ty Johnson was listed as limited in practice for Buffalo ahead of a Thursday game against Detroit, raising questions about his availability and impact on James Cook's role.

Xavier Worthy 'did not look good again' in Week 2, per the source. The speaker expresses surprise that there wasn't more usage for Cyrus Allen and mentions limited opportunities for Thornton downfield. This suggests Worthy's role and production remain concerning despite being a Chiefs receiver in an offense that should eventually improve.

Flowers is a must-start wide receiver when healthy but his status is uncertain heading into Week 2; his potential absence due to injury creates a replacement need at the receiver position.

Zay Flowers' hamstring injury does not appear to be a major concern, and he is expected to play this week against the Saints.