Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 2: Target Kenneth Gainwell, Mark Ingram, More Adds
Bob Levey/Getty Images. Pictured: Texans RB Mark Ingram II.
With a wild Week 1 in the books that started the 2021 NFL season with a bang, it's time to turn our attention to Week 2 waiver wire targets.
Whether you need replacements for Raheem Mostert, Jerry Jeudy or Ryan Fitzpatrick, or a Week 2 streamer, make sure to check out The Action Network's top targets at each position — all of which are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — that you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parenthesis and as of Monday.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs To Target
Jameis Winston, Saints (44% rostered)
We saw an entirely new Winston this weekend in his debut as the Saints' starter. He completed 14 of 20 attempts for 148 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions, and rushed six times for 37 yards. He should be a viable streamer in one-quarterback leagues at least over the next few weeks, which include matchups against the Panthers, Patriots and Giants.
Jared Goff, Lions (7%)
Goff and the Lions made a statement on Sunday and proved they aren't going to be an automatic bye for teams each week. In spite of Detroit's pedestrian receiving corps, Goff managed to complete 38 of 57 attempts for 338 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and recorded three carries for 14 yards. He spread the ball around, targeting tight end T.J. Hockenson and his running backs D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams heavily. He could offer interesting streaming appeal in the right matchups.
Trey Lance, 49ers (44%)
We saw Lance on the 49ers' second drive after Jimmy Garoppolo fumbled the first snap of the game. He completed one pass for five yards and a touchdown and recorded three carries for two yards. Although it was Garoppolo who finished out the game, managers should absolutely stash Lance if they have roster space; it's only a matter of time before the No. 3 overall pick wins this job in San Francisco.
Teddy Bridgewater, Broncos (11%)
Like Winston, Bridgewater was another victor of a preseason quarterback duel. He looked strong and completed 28 of 36 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, and rushed three times for 19 yards. Bridgewater is a must-add in two-quarterback leagues and could also offer streaming potential in deeper one-quarterback leagues over the next couple weeks as the Broncos take on the Jaguars' and Jets' permeable defenses.
Tyrod Taylor, Texans (4%)
The Texans shocked everyone with their Week 1 rout over the Jaguars after an offseason mired in scandal and question marks around the quarterback position. Taylor was impressive and completed 21 of 33 attempts for 291 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, and recorded four carries for 40 yards. Unfortunately, the Texans won't get to play the Jaguars every week, and will face a much tougher opponent in the Browns in Week 2. Taylor is only worth adding in deep leagues or two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Fantasy Waiver RBs To Target
Elijah Mitchell & JaMycal Hasty, 49ers (8% and 1% rostered)
Mitchell will likely be the most popular waiver add after last week's Shanahanigans. Highly-touted rookie Trey Sermon was a healthy scratch and veteran Raheem Mostert saw just two carries for 20 yards. Meanwhile, Mitchell recorded 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown and Hasty rushed once for three yards and caught a pass for 15 yards. It's going to be a weekly dice roll trying to interpret Kyle Shanahan's smokescreens into lineup decisions, so I would temper expectations for Mitchell — or any 49ers running back — emerging as a trustworthy week-to-week starter. Hasty is only worthy of consideration in the deepest of leagues right now.
Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (8%)
It was Gainwell — not Boston Scott — who backed up Miles Sanders in the team's blowout victory over the Falcons. The rookie recorded nine carries for 37 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for six yards. He also had a would-be touchdown called back on a holding penalty. New Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni seems committed to using a running back platoon, with Gainwell and Sanders each having significant roles.
Mark Ingram II, Texans (20%)
Ingram was featured heavily in the Texans Week 1 win over the Jaguars and saw 26 carries for 85 yards and a touchdown — more than eight times the number of attempts David Johnson recorded. He was clearly the team's lead back this week, though it's difficult to trust anyone in this crowded Houston backfield.
Tony Jones Jr., Saints (23%)
Jones is now Alvin Kamara's backup with Latavius Murray gone. He is a valuable insurance policy for Kamara and also may have standalone value given that he saw 11 carries for 50 yards in the Saints' win over the Packers.
Fantasy Waiver WRs To Target
K.J. Hamler and Tim Patrick, Broncos (both 2% rostered)
Broncos wideout Jerry Jeudy is set to miss at least four to six weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1 against the Giants. Jeudy demonstrated great chemistry with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and was the team's top receiver, reeling in six of seven targets for 72 yards. His absence should mean more targets for Courtland Sutton, who had a quiet day and caught one of three targets for 14 yards, as well as K.J. Hamler and Tim Patrick. Hamler should be the priority over Patrick, even though Patrick had a better fantasy day, according to Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright.
"Tim Patrick's going to be the third-down guy, contested catch guy, but K.J.'s going to be the play-maker," Allbright told The Action Network on Monday.
Sterling Shepard, Giants (39%)
Shepard was the lone bright spot in the Giants' opener against the Broncos. He reeled in seven of nine targets for 113 yards and a touchdown and saw more targets than Darius Slayton and offseason addition Kenny Golladay. Shepard has dealt with a slew of injuries since entering the league, but he is definitely worth rostering while healthy — especially with Golladay still not 100% while recovering from a hamstring injury.
Gabriel Davis, Bills (8%)
Stefon Diggs is the star of this offense, but Davis caught two of five passes for 40 yards and reeled in the Bills' lone receiving touchdown of the day against the Steelers. He looked spryer than Cole Beasley, who went eight for 13 for 60 yards. Better days are ahead for Josh Allen and this Buffalo offense. Davis is a nice sleeper addition with Year 2 breakout potential.
Deonte Harris, Saints (4%)
Winston made do with a decimated Saints receiving corps against the Packers. Marquez Callaway was the popular add heading into the season but he was held to just one catch on two targets for 14 yards. Harris caught two of two targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. He is an intriguing speculative add for deep leagues while Tre'Quan Smith and Michael Thomas remain sidelined.
Van Jefferson Jr., Rams (2%)
Matthew Stafford showed he's going to be a problem for opposing defenses. Wideout Cooper Kupp was the star of the show with seven catches for 108 yards and a touchdown, but Stafford spread the ball around to multiple receivers, including Robert Woods, Tyler Higbee and Jefferson. The 2020 second-rounder from Florida had a quiet rookie campaign and caught 19 of 31 for 220 yards and a touchdown. He reeled in two of three targets for 80 yards and a touchdown on Sunday and could be an interesting Year 2 breakout candidate with the major upgrade at quarterback.
Christian Kirk, Cardinals (14%)
Kirk and DeAndre Hopkins stole the show on Sunday with a pair of touchdowns each. Hopkins is a locked-in WR1 each week, but Kirk could be worth a look in deeper leagues. The 2018 second-rounder from Texas A&M reeled in five of five targets for 70 yards and two touchdowns. However, the target volume won't always be there with significant competition from Hopkins, veteran A.J. Green and rookie Rondale Moore.
Zach Pascal, Colts (1%)
Pascal scored a pair of touchdowns in the Colts' opener against the Seahawks. He was the team's third-most targeted receiver behind Nyheim Hines and Jonathan Taylor and reeled in four of five passes for 43 yards and two scores. He's worth a look in deep leagues, but temper expectations moving forward in light of competition from Michael Pittman Jr. and Parris Campbell, among others, and a fairly anemic passing attack led by Carson Wentz.
Fantasy Waiver TEs To Target
Juwan Johnson, Saints (10% rostered)
Johnson has dual eligibility as a tight end and receiver.
Marquez Callaway was the buzzy name during draft season, but it was Johnson who stole the show on Sunday. He caught three of three passes for 21 yards and two touchdowns and will likely see more targets with Tre'Quan Smith and Michael Thomas sidelined.
Cole Kmet, Bears (34%)
Kmet was the team's second-best receiver behind Marquise Goodwin and ahead of star wideout Allen Robinson. He recorded five catches on seven targets for 42 yards and played 74% of snaps, according to NFL.com. He's worth adding in deep leagues, or if you are lean at the position, especially once Justin Fields inevitably takes over.
Jared Cook, Chargers (26%)
The veteran tight end was the third-most targeted Charger behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. He caught five of eight passes for 56 yards and could be a weekly streaming option in the Chargers' pass-heavy offense.
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