Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here’s my NFL Week 2 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:
ADD
WR Puka Nacua, Rams (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 7%): Nacua made quite an impression in the offseason after GM Les Snead selected him in the fifth round and he shares a similar skillset to Robert Woods, who thrived in Sean McVay’s offense. I’ve been shouting this from the mountain tops since early August and now everyone knows. Nacua earned almost a 40 percent target share In Week 1 operating as Cooper Kupp, finishing with 10 receptions on 15 targets. Since 1980, only six wide receivers have finished Week 1 with more receiving yards (119) than Nacua produced. If Nacua maintains this level of play, he will remain a starter and have a valuable role even after Kupp returns. I still anticipate the Rams being a bad football team, which means there should be enough volume in the ing game to multiple receivers, including Tutu Atwell (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 6%), who had six receptions for 119 yards against the Seahawks.
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (ESPN: 22%; Yahoo: 47%): Beat writers made it clear Gainwell looked like the lead back in Philadelphia since the beginning of training camp. Rashaad Penny was a healthy inactive and D’Andre Swift served as Gainwell’s backup against the Patriots, finishing with just three yards on two touches. Gainwell produced 74 total yards on 18 touches (four receptions) with the Eagles offense struggling for most of the day. There’s upside here going forward if he can handle the workload.
QB Brock Purdy, 49ers (ESPN: 25%; Yahoo: 56%): I’m not sure we’ve established a ceiling yet, but the floor is looking mighty enticing. Purdy has thrown for at least two touchdowns in seven of eight career starts (including playoffs) that he’s managed to finish. He finished as the overall QB6 in fantasy the final five games of 2022. If you lost Aaron Rodgers for the season — he was drafted as the overall QB12 — you could do much worse than the former Mr. Irrelevant.
TE Zach Ertz, Cardinals (ESPN: 39%; Yahoo: 5%): Ertz was the overall TE4 in standard formats (TE3 in PPR) last season before he tore his ACL and MCL in Week 10. The former Pro Bowler caught six of 10 targets (both team-highs) against the Commanders after he was limited in practice all week and questionable going into the game. Most of us have avoided the Arizona roster like the plague in our fantasy drafts — for good reason — but there could be some value here, especially at a position in a constant state of fluidity in fantasy.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (ESPN: 44%; Yahoo: 56%): As someone who invested heavily in Bijan Robinson, I’m now fully prepared to curse Allgeier’s (and Arthur Smith’s) name the rest of this season. The reality is this running game is robust enough to both backs in fantasy, especially when you consider the myriad of ways Smith can utilize Robinson. Allgeier will have RB2/flex upside if he’s getting double-digit touches every week.
BONUS: QB Jordan Love, Packers (ESPN: 16%; Yahoo: 31%): Love was solid against an awful Bears defense, throwing for 245 yards and three TDs without top target Christian Watson. There’s still a ways to go before we can trust him as a weekly starter, but he deserves to be stashed and will deserve streaming consideration when a matchup presents itself.
BONUS: RB Gus Edwards, Ravens (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 20%): With an Achilles injury ending JK Dobbins season, Edwards and Justice Hill (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 4%) are next up. I’d prioritize Edwards, a reliable veteran who has produced in the past, and a superior -blocker to Hill, who scored twice against the Texans. I wouldn’t be surprised if Baltimore sniffs around Leonard Fournette or Kareem Hunt as a free agent option to fill the void left by Dobbins.
BONUS: RB Kyren Williams, Rams (ESPN: 10%; Yahoo: 6%): Cam Akers started the game, but Williams entered for the second play and it was clear the rest of the way who the better back is. Akers produced 29 yards in 22 carries and Williams finished with 52 yards on 15 carries and two TDs in the upset at Seattle. McVay can be noncommittal when it comes to his backfield, but I prefer the second-year back out of Notre Dame going forward. His receiving acumen and skills as a protector will keep him on the field more than Akers.
BONUS: WR Rashid Shaheed, Saints (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 16%): Mount Carmel’s Shaheed was the overall WR37 in standard formats (WR38 in PPR) the final five games (all starts) of his rookie season after g with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent. He had five receptions for 89 yards and a TD in his first game with Derek Carr. According to Pro Football Focus, Shaheed’s 16.5-yard average depth of target was sixth-highest among wide receivers with at least five targets in Week 1, which speaks to his big-play ability.
BONUS: RB Roschon Johnson, Bears (ESPN: 21%; Yahoo: 16%): The rookie was the primary third-down back, scored Chicago’s only rushing TD, and also led the team in receptions (six). Stash him to see where this goes.
BONUS: WR Kendrick Bourne, Patriots (ESPN: 2%; Yahoo: 2%): Bourne isn’t a priority target for me, but I’m not going to ignore the 11 targets. He produced six receptions, 64 yards and two scores against a good secondary. Bourne has done this for extended stretches before, so it’s possible he can continue to be viable in fantasy because there simply isn’t an Alpha in New England’s receiver group, but I also don’t expect Mac Jones to throw as much going forward — Jones attempted 54 es against the Eagles.
BONUS: TE Sam LaPorta, Lions (ESPN: 34%; Yahoo: 65%):
LaPorta caught five es (on five targets) for 39 yards against the Chiefs on opening night — the most receptions for a rookie tight end in Week 1 since 2019 when TJ Hockenson caught six es, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s looking like the talented tight end will have an opportunity to pay off his immense potential in a possible top-5 offense.
BONUS: WR Romeo Doubs, Packers (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 31%): I expect Watson to still lead Green Bay in targets once he’s healthy, but Doubs maintains his upside from a year ago. He was questionable for Week 1, but played in a limited role, and had four receptions for 26 yards and two TDs. Rookie receiver Jayden Reed (ESPN: 17%; Yahoo: 12%) and tight end Luke Musgrave (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 19%) — he actually led all Packers players with 23 routes run — will have an opportunity to earn Love’s trust as well. This is a offense still sorting itself out.
BONUS: TE Hayden Hurst, Panthers (ESPN: 5%; Yahoo: 11%): Hurst led a questionable group of -catchers in targets (seven), receptions (five), yards (41) and caught Bryce Young’s first career TD, and only ing score of the day, which he promptly heaved into the stands. I wouldn’t utilize him against New Orleans — the Saints lock down tight ends — but the schedule softens the following two weeks. Hurst is a borderline TE1 for me until further notice.
BONUS: RB Jaylen Warren, Steelers (ESPN: 47%; Yahoo: 47%): Now is a buy-low opportunity for all principals in Pittsburgh’s offense after the 49ers brutalized them Week 1. Warren remains the primary third-down back with potential for more if Najee Harris doesn’t perform.
BONUS: WR Rashee Rice, Chiefs (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 36%): Kadarius Toney isn’t a guarantee to stay on the field (or apparently catch the football) and both JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman left in free agency, so there’s a lot of targets up for grabs in Kansas City — potentially even more if Travis Kelce’s knee injury is serious. According to Pro Football Focus, Rice earned a 79.9 grade in Week 1, the highest mark among receivers in the Chiefs’ seven-man rotation. Mahomes to Rice has a ring to it.
BONUS: RB Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (ESPN: 27%; Yahoo: 46%): The rookie’s professional debut was a mixed bag. He had seven carries and a TD, but also lost a fumble. He’s Travis Etienne’s handcuff and will likely hover around double-digit touches (even if Etienne is healthy) for the season in an ascending offense.
BONUS: D/ST Browns (ESPN: 60%; Yahoo: 10%): You can blame it on the weather or Joe Burrow missing time during the preseason/training camp, but I’m giving credit for shutting down Cincy’s high-powered offense to new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and a talented group who gave us glimpses of this down the stretch last year — they had five games with double-digit points in 2022, including three in the final six games. Next up: at Pittsburgh and Tennessee at home.
BONUS: D/ST Giants (ESPN: 3%; Yahoo: 7%): The G-Men are in need of a “get-right” game after getting smashed by the Cowboys and fortunately face the Cardinals this week. Arizona generated only 210 yards of total offense in its season opener, committed two turnovers and allowed three sacks.
BONUS: D/ST Buccaneers (ESPN: 9%; Yahoo: 21%): Tampa Bay held the Vikings to 17 points in Minnesota, and will now face the Bears with their terrible offensive line at Raymond James in its home opener. The Bucs are a solid streaming option this week, but you can cut the cord after with the Eagles on the docket for Week 3.
DROP
RB JK Dobbins, Ravens: Dobbins tore his Achilles on Sunday and will be out for the year. The talented back just can’t catch a break.
WR Kadarius Toney, Chiefs: Speaking of not catching … here’s a chance to show your fantasy roster that egregious play like Toney exhibited against the Lions in the opener will not be tolerated. It’s early in the season. Set the tone.
QB Ryan Tannehill, Titans: Speaking of egregious … Tannehill was terrible against the Saints, throwing no TDs and three interceptions while only completing 16-of-34 es. It’s only a matter of time before he’s benched with two young QB prospects waiting in the wings for Tennessee.
RB Deon Jackson, Colts: Jackson only has flex value in the deepest PPR formats — he had five receptions on Sunday — after running for 14 yards on 13 carries against the Jaguars. Zack Moss will likely get the start this week and Indy has reportedly been kicking the tires on some free agent options at the position with Jonathan Taylor on IR (while still being shopped).
TE Isaiah Likely, Ravens: Likely was one of my favorite prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft and gave us a glimpse of his potential as a rookie. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for everyone who swapped him into their lineups after Mark Andrews was a late scratch. If you drafted Andrews early, you should keep Likely as his handcuff — normally I don’t advise this for tight ends, but that’s how much upside Likely continues to have. Otherwise, cut him loose if it appears Andrews will return against the Bengals this week.
