With the Sunday main slate done, it’s never too early to turn our attention to Week 3 and start planning our attack on the fantasy football waiver wire!
Week 2 offered plenty of performances from players who could bring you full-season fantasy upside. To make sure there’s at least one person on this list you can take action on, I’ve got two to three players per position, all of whom are under 50% rostered on Sleeper app.
May your waiver claims be successful!
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, Las Vegans Raiders (29%) — Carr is far from the sexiest name among fantasy quarterbacks but the man has opened the season with back-to-back games of over 380 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. And they came against the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, two good defenses. Carr’s start to the season has pushed him from just a great streaming option to a year long fantasy starter.
Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos (23%) — It’s helped that Bridgewater got to open his season playing against the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the QB certainly has taken advantage. Bridgewater went 26-for-34 for 328 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Jags this week. He made plenty of big time throws down the field and clearly is starting go click with go-to receivers Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant. If you’re in a deep Superflex league, Bridgewater is not a bad add at all. (He’s my starting Superflex QB in a deep dynasty league.)
Running Backs
James White, New England Patriots (55%) — Yes, yes, I’m breaking my under 50% rostered but I only do it because I care. White has a history of being an under-appreciated fantasy asset and he’s well on his way to it again this year. Through two games, White has seen at least six targets and come up with six catches. Against the New York Jets, White racked up 65 total yards on 11 touches and a touchdown. If White is going to be heavily involved in the passing game thus year, he’s a must-roster in PPR leagues.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (41%) — Dalvin Cook left the Vikings game twice against the Arizona Cardinals due to injury. While he still played the majority of the game and saw the majority of the touches, it was a reminder of Cook’s ever-present injury history. Mattison isn’t an add to start right away, he’s an add to stash to save yourself spending a ton of FAAB to get him later. I’m only recommending him if you have a deep bench and the space to add him.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team (39%) — Thursday Night Football feels like a life-time ago and it’s easy to forget about the players who played in that game for waivers. Don’t do that. Not when it comes to J.D. McKissic. McKissic was the RB16 in PPR last year and looked like his 2020-self against the Giants. McKissic ran the ball 4 times for 10 yards and a touchdown and added 83 yards, catching 5-of-6 targets. It’s no coincidence that it was in Taylor Heinicke’s first start this year we saw McKissic’s targets skyrocket. McKissic has legit RB2 value in PPR leagues rest of the season.
Wide Receivers
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals (52%) — This is your last chance to add Moore off waivers, I promise you. After catching 4-of-5 targets for 68 yards in Week 1, Moore followed that performance up catching 7-of-8 targets for 114 yards and a touchdown. Those eight targets led the team. The rookie seems to be a vital part of the Cardinals’ high-flying attack with Kyler Murray so do whatever you can to add him to your roster.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons (16%) — It’s clear Patterson’s role on this Falcons’ offense is not a fluke nor is it something to scoff at. After 67 total yards in Week 1, Patterson caught 5-of-6 targets for 58 yards with a touchdown plus had 7 carries for 11 yards and another score. His usage in both the passing and rushing game—and position flexibility in fantasy—makes Patterson a must-add off waivers this week.
K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings (10%) — Osborn came out of nowhere in Week 1 to catch 7-of-9 targets for 76 yards. Well, he did it again against the Cardinals Sunday. Osborn caught 5-of-6 targets for 91 yards and a score, leading the team in receiving yards. He’s quickly emerging as a reliable pass catcher in this Vikings offense and should be quickly picked up in all leagues and formats.
Braxton Berrios, New York Jets (0%) — The Jets offense did not look good Sunday against the Patriots but it marked the second week-in-a-row that Berrios has seen at least seven targets. Berrios caught 7-of-11 targets for 73 yards against New England. If you’re in a super deep league and in need of receiver depth, Berrios has fantasy value based on his volume alone.
Tight Ends
Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns (36%) — Odell Beckham Jr. is still making his way back onto the field after is ACL injury. Jarvis Landry left Sunday early with a likely MCL sprain. With the Browns’ top receivers not on the field, Baker Mayfield turned to his tight ends against the Houston Texans. Hooper led the team with 5 targets, catching all 5 for 40 yards. Hooper might quickly become a viable fantasy start simply due to necessity. (Harrison Bryant—2% rostered—was second on the team catching 4-of-4 targets for 49 yards.)
Jack Doyle, Colts (2%) — Doyle was second on the Colts Sunday in targets, catching 5-of-8 for 64 yards and a 2-pt conversion. Doyle is just a speculative add right now given how the Colts have used their tight ends in the past and the status of Carson Wentz moving forward. But anytime you can add a tight end off waivers who’s seeing eight targets a game, that’s a man worth monitoring.
Who are you rushing to add off waivers this week? Let me know in the comments!