Week two is behind us in fantasy football season. Some team owners are riding high on a two game winning streak while others might be panicking losing two weeks in a row. As to the latter, there’s plenty of time to turn things around in fantasy football.
Last week, if you added Andy Dalton (3), Matt Breida (1), John Ross (7), DJ Chark (8), and Mark Andrews (2), you were really happy with your pick-ups. Also, deep sleepers DK Metcalf and the Browns' defense and special teams were great plays if you took the risk.
The lists below are rankings of this week’s potential waiver wire adds. With injuries now to quarterbacks Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger, to go with Nick Foles and the retirement of Andrew Luck from last week, we’ll spend a little time discussing the waiver wire adds at the position. Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
2 Josh Allen, Bills
3 Andy Dalton, Bengals
4 Matt Stafford, Lions
5 Case Keenum, Redskins
6 Jacoby Brissett, Colts
7 Kyler Murray, Cardinals
8 Mason Rudolph, Steelers
9 Teddy Bridgewater, Saints
Except for Jimmy Garoppolo, the above referenced five quarterbacks are widely available. As for Garoppolo, Josh Allen, and Andy Dalton, they’ve each got a good schedule coming up with some favorable match-ups. Dalton, Matt Stafford and Case Keenum are likely top twelve in your league. So, there is no reason to panic if you lost your starter over the past two weeks. In two quarterback leagues, you can look to Jacoby Brissett of the Colts, Kyler Murray of the Cardinals and even Mason Rudolph of the Steelers. These latter three quarterbacks look like they will only get better as the season moves on. On Teddy Bridgewater, the Saints talented group of wide receivers were much to blame for Bridgewater’s depressed stats from last week. He’s someone to monitor.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Peyton Barber, Buccaneers
2 Royce Freeman, Broncos
3 Chris Thompson, Redskins
4 Raheem Mostert, 49ers
5 Adrian Peterson, Redskins
6 Frank Gore, Bills
7 Jeff Wilson, 49ers
8 Rex Burkhead, Patriots
Peyton Barber and Royce Freeman are still available in some leagues’ waiver wires and would be your top running back adds if you need the help. Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians showed faith in Barber, using him more as a featured back last week and while Royce Freeman is sharing running back duties with Peyton Lindsay but is a stronger play in points-per-reception leagues. The same can be said of Chris Thompson. 49er Raheem Mostart near split running back duties with Matt Breida. Jeff Wilson is a touchdown dependent flex in deeper sixteen team leagues.
Wide Receivers
1 John Ross, Bengals
2 D.J. Chark, Jaguars
3 D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks
4 Demarcus Robinson, Chiefs
5 Deebo Samuel, 49ers
6 Nelson Agholor, Eagles
7 Terry McLaurin, Redskins
8 Devin Smith, Cowboys
9 Bennie Fowler, Giants
John Ross and D.J. Chark have had back to back weeks of solid production. Similarly, D.K. Metcalf looks to be the Seahawks deep threat. All are worthy of a WR3 or flex play.
Deebo Samuel had a great week two as did Demarcus Robinson and Terry McLaurin. Both should be heavily involved on their teams’ passing offenses going forward.
With DeSean Jackson (groin) and Alshon Jeffery (calf), Nelson Agholor hauled 8 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. He’s a must add off the waiver wire if both D-Jax and Jeffery miss this week’s tilt against the Falcons. Likewise with Michael Gallup out for at least two games, Devin Smith’s role on the Cowboys offense should remain strong. The Giants Bennie Fowler benefits from a banged up group of wide receivers too.
Tight Ends
1 Greg Olsen, Panthers
2 Vernon Davis, Redskins
3 Will Dissly, Seahawks
4 Jason Witten, Cowboys
5 Eric Ebron, Colts
6 Tyler Eifert, Bengals
This week’s waiver adds for fantasy football tight ends is dominated by veteran Greg Olsen targeted 9 times in each of the past two weeks. He’s looking healthy and available in roughly half the fantasy football waiver wires out there. The rest of the listed tight ends are all touchdown dependent.
Defenses
1 Cowboys (v. Dolphins)
2 Patriots (v. Jets)
3 Redskins (v. Bears)
4 Titans (at Jaguars)
5 Seahawks (v. Saints)
6 49ers (v. Steelers)
These defenses each play teams that have either struggled in Week 1 and Week 2 or are having problems producing offense due to injuries or poor play. Any defense playing the Dolphins is a solid play this season.