There’s still one more game left to be played in Week 1 between the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, but it’s never too early to start researching possible fantasy football waiver wire options for Week 2.
As is normally the case in just about every week, there were some very good and very unexpected performances by lesser-known players around the NFL.
We also saw some significant injuries that have opened the door for players further down the depth chart. Ambulance chasing is a necessary evil if you’re going to survive and thrive in fantasy football.
In our first waiver wire article of the 2022 campaign, we’re covering the best pickups at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, and we’ll even make a D/ST streaming suggestion.
On top of listing the players, all of whom are available in 50 percent or more of ESPN leagues, we’ll also assign a priority level for each so you know just how aggressive you need to be in order to nab them.
Without further ado, the best fantasy football waiver wire pickups going into Week 2 (note: we’ll update this list if necessary following the Broncos-Seahawks Monday night game).
QB Marcus Mariota, Atlanta Falcons
Dual-threat quarterbacks are gold in fantasy football, and Marcus Mariota certainly qualifies as such.
Mariota had 12 carries for 72 yards and a rushing touchdown on top of his 215 passing yards — and his solid performance came against a New Orleans Saints defense that is expected to be elite.
Health is always a concern with the former No. 2 overall pick, but he might put together a top-12 season if he keeps playing like this.
Priority: High
RB Jeff Wilson, San Francisco 49ers
There must be something in the water in San Francisco because the 49ers just cannot stay healthy, especially at running back.
Starting back Elijah Mitchell went down with a knee injury in the first half of Week 1 and did not return. It isn’t clear if he’ll miss time, but there’s at least a chance.
The next running back up was Jeff Wilson, who saw nine carries for 22 yards and a pair of receptions for eight yards.
We like Wilson as a waiver wire add and flex start this week if Mitchell lands on the shelf, but temper expectations because we could also see an uptick in carries for Deebo Samuel, and Trey Lance will get his fair share, also.
Priority level: Medium
RB Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions
As D’Andre Swift managers watched one of their first draft picks look like a superstar between the 20s on Sunday, it wasn’t as fun when the Lions were near the goal line.
That’s because Jamaal Williams vultured a pair of touchdowns from Swift. The veteran finished with 11 carries for 28 yards and one reception for two yards.
There is no question Swift is light years better than Williams, but the Lions insist on giving the latter more work than they probably should, especially near the goal line.
Williams will be touchdown-dependent but is worth an add because of the potential he can return standalone flex value some weeks. He’s definitely a must add for Swift owners who want a handcuff.
Priority level if you don’t have Swift: Medium
Priority level if you do have Swift: High
RB Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans
Despite Derrick Henry dominating touches, Dontrell Hilliard still managed to reel in three receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding two carries for eight yards.
The problem for Hilliard is that he only had 11 snaps, and expecting him to be that efficient every week just isn’t reasonable.
If Henry were to get hurt, Hilliard would likely handle the majority of work, but he won’t sniff Henry’s workload and he’ll likely have competition for carries with rookies Hassan Haskins and Julius Chestnut.
Hilliard is worth a look in PPR if you can get him without using FAAB budget or a waiver claim, but there’s a bit more urgency for Henry owners if they want his handcuff.
Priority level if you don’t have Henry: Low
Priority level if you do have Henry: Medium
RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
While starter David Montgomery struggled to get anything going on the ground, it was Khalil Herbert who provided the spark.
Herbert ran it nine times for 45 yards (five yards per carry) and one touchdown, and he added one reception for a negative gain. Meanwhile, Montgomery had 17 carries for just 26 yards and three receptions for 24 yards.
Weather may have played a factor in the Bears running it so much (37 carries to just 17 passes), but Herbert was clearly the better back on Sunday.
Adding to that, there were rumblings during the offseason that the Bears might not like the fit with Montgomery in their offense, instead favoring Herbert. If the latter can continue outplaying the former the way he did on Sunday, there’s a path for him to steal that starting job.
As far as standalone value while Montgomery is healthy, Herbert could be a flex option some weeks, but he’ll be touchdown-dependent until he gets more snaps.
Priority level if you have Montgomery: High
Priority level if you don’t have Montgomery: Medium
RB Rex Burkhead, Houston Texans
For all the hype surrounding Dameon Pierce, it was veteran Rex Burkhead who led the Texans backfield in touches.
Burkhead outsnapped Pierce 50-20 and had 19 touches (14 carries, five receptions) and a whopping eight targets, seven more than Pierce in each category.
Granted, Burkhead didn’t do much with them (70 total yards, 40 rushing), but volume is king at the running back position and Burkhead had plenty of it in Week 1.
Now, do we expect this to last the entire year? Absolutely not. Pierce is the better player and will eventually take control of this backfield.
But for now it looks like Burkhead is going to hang around while Pierce gets his feet under him in the NFL. He looks like he’s the preferred back in the passing game, also.
Priority level if you don’t have Pierce: Medium
Priority level if you have Pierce: High
RB Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco led the Chiefs’ backfield with 12 carries that he turned into a team-high 62 yards and a touchdown. He was not targeted in the passing game.
Before we get too crazy about this one, just know that the Chiefs were crushing the Cardinals in the third quarter so chances are that’s why Pacheco saw extra run.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the lead back still but he has proven susceptible to injury during his career. If he goes down, Pacheco, who was a stud in training camp and the preseason, could step in to handle the majority of carries.
Priority level if you have Edwards-Helaire: High
Priority level if you don’t have Edwards-Helaire: Medium
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders led the way in carries and touches, but Kenneth Gainwell looked to be the preferred back in passing situations. Both matched reception totals, but Gainwell had two more targets.
Even still, there isn’t enough volume with Sanders and Jalen Hurts running around, nor is there enough targets to go around with a crowded situation in the passing game to warrant Gainwell as anything more than a wait-and-see bench stash or Sanders handcuff.
Priority level if you have Sanders: High
Priority level if you don’t have Sanders: Low
WR Sterling Shepard, New York Giants
Shepard posted solid production with two catches for 71 yards and a touchdown, but it’s important to note 65 of them came on one play that saw blown coverage and a blown tackle, allowing Shepard to score.
We usually get to this point every year where Shepard makes this kind of list, but we don’t have much faith in him as a weekly option.
Priority level: Low
WR Kyle Philips, Tennessee Titans
In the first game with a new-look group of pass-catchers in Tennessee, Philips led the way in targets (nine), receptions (six) and receiving yards (66). He didn’t find the end zone.
It appears there’s some really good chemistry and trust between the slot receiver and quarterback Ryan Tannehill, as the veteran even went to the rookie for a long completion on a potential game-winning drive.
Touchdowns might be hard to come by for Philips, but the potential is there for him to make up for it with receptions in PPR leagues if Tannehill continues to pepper him with targets.
Priority level: Medium
WR Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens
After two quiet seasons to start his career, Devin Duvernay posted his best fantasy showing ever, reeling in four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
Granted, Duvernay only had four targets, but he had more receptions than No. 1 receiver Rashod Bateman and more yards than star tight end Mark Andrews.
Duvernay will be the No. 3 option and a deep threat moving forward. He’ll be a boom-or-bust flex option after his showing in Week 1.
Priority level: Medium
WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Rookie quarterback Trey Lance favored Jauan Jennings in Week 1, as the second-year pro led the team in receptions, yards, and was second in targets behind only Deebo Samuel.
Do we expect him to keep outproducing Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk in the passing game?
No, but clearly he has a good rapport with the rookie and he could be a steady contributor moving forward. Increasing his chances of being that is the injury to Elijah Mitchell, which could lead to more running back snaps for Samuel.
Consider Jennings a bench stash for now to see how things play out in San Fran if Mitchell misses time and when George Kittle returns from injury to add even more competition for targets..
Priority level: Low
WR DeAndre Carter, Los Angeles Chargers
With Keenan Allen ruled out during the game, Deandre Carter stepped up big time, catching three passes for 64 yards and one touchdown. His four targets were tied for the team lead.
With Allen uncertain to suit up for a Thursday night matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Carter could once again be heading for a bigger role.
However, temper expectations because we expect more from Mike Williams and Josh Palmer in Week 2. Carter is not a viable option if Allen plays.
Priority level: Low
WR Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
Josh Palmer had a fair amount of hype going into the 2022 campaign, but it was DeAndre Carter who shined in Week 1. Palmer saw four targets but managed only five yards on his three receptions.
Unfortunately for Carter, I don’t believe he’ll be able to hold off Palmer for the No. 3 receiver job, let alone for a bigger role if Keenan Allen misses time.
We still like Palmer slightly more than Carter, especially if Allen misses time but there’s no doubt the latter has closed the gap.
Priority level: Low
WR DJ Chark, Detroit Lions
DJ Chark’s Lions tenure got off to a rough start after he dropped his first pass, but he settled down after that.
Chark saw eight targets, the second-most on the team, and he turned them into four receptions for 52 yards, both ranking second on the team. He also found pay dirt.
Detroit has a lot of mouths to feed on offense, but lest we forget Chark was a good receiver during his days in Jacksonville. If anyone other than Amon-Ra St. Brown and T.J. Hockenson are going to emerge, it’s Chark, who could provide some flex value moving forward.
Priority level: Medium
WR Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
It was a long road to Week 1 for Curtis Samuel after missing 12 games in 2021, but Samuel looked like his old self in Week 1.
Samuel had 12 touches (eight receptions, four carries) and led the way with eight receptions. His 55 receiving yards ranked third on the team, and he added one touchdown and 17 rushing yards.
The good thing about Samuel is that he can impact the game in multiple ways, and he appears to be in Washington’s plans now that he’s healthy, as he should be.
Samuel was a productive player in his final season with the Carolina Panthers and we expect him to recapture that with the Commanders.
Priority level: Medium
WR Julio Jones
It’s still very weird to be suggesting a former fantasy football superstar like Julio Jones as a waiver wire add, but here we are.
Jones had a disastrous, injury-plagued 2021 campaign, which plummeted his stock ahead of the season, but he’s quickly on the radar after Week 1 for multiple reasons.
For starters, Jones looked good and fast, showing no ill-effects from the hamstring issue that plagued him in 2021. Adding to that, the veteran’s five targets and 69 receiving yards were second-best on the team, and he connected with Tom Brady for a 48-yard reception on one of his three.
Chris Godwin, who was coming off a major injury, looks like he’ll miss time because of a hamstring injury. If that’s the case, fire Jones up as a flex option with WR2 upside moving forward. And, who knows, maybe he can rediscover his WR1 form, but we’ll hold off on that kind of hype for now.
And, yes, we would start Jones instead of Russell Gage, who is currently more rostered than Jones going into Week 2. Gage was practically a no-show, with two catches for 13 yards.
Priority level: High
WR Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
A dart-throw option on waivers is Zay Jones, who finished second on the team in receiving yards and targets, while tying Christian Kirk for the team lead in receptions.
We still believe Kirk and Marvin Jones are the two receivers to own in Jacksonville, but Zay may have some value as a spot starter when you’re in a pinch and could be a good receiver handcuff for Kirk and Jones.
Priority level: Low
WR Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals
With Rondale Moore and Zach Ertz sidelined, Greg Dortch stepped up to lead the team in receptions (seven), receiving yards (63) and targets (nine).
Dortch’s fantasy value will go in the toilet once Moore returns but we don’t know exactly when that will be. We wouldn’t start Dortch until we see more, but he’s a viable waiver wire add, especially if you have Moore.
Priority level: Low
WR Robbie Anderson, Carolina Panthers
Despite Robbie Anderson making not-so-nice comments previously about Baker Mayfield, the two seemed to have a strong connection right out of the gate.
Mayfield threw to Anderson eight times, more than any other Panther, and he turned those into a team-high five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Granted, most of Anderson’s yards came on a 75-yard touchdown pass, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from him during his career. Anderson is a true deep threat who could prove to be valuable moving forward.
Priority level: Medium
WR Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
Jahan Dotson had an impressive debut, as two of his three receptions went for touchdowns, and he finished with 40 yards in total.
It’ll be hard to trust Dotson moving forward after Wentz threw to 10 different players on Sunday, but the talent is clearly there. Consider Dotson a bench stash at best for now.
Priority level: Low
WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
Rookie Christian Watson nearly had a big day but he dropped a 75-yard touchdown pass on the very first play.
He ultimately ended up with just two receptions for 34 yards, but he still managed to outproduce the Week 1 darling, Sammy Watkins.
Watson remains one of the best options in a wide open situation at wide receiver, especially if Allen Lazard is forced to miss more time. We expect the rookie to right the ship and eventually return flex value at worst.
Priority level: Medium
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Doubs was the Packers’ standout rookie of the offseason and he played a fairly significant role in Week 1. His four receptions and 37 yards were both second on the team, and his five targets were tied for second.
We like Watson better than Doubs for the long term, but the rookie out of Nevada still warrants waiver consideration.
Priority level: Low
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill is listed as a tight end in 2022, but he’s still up to his old tricks. Sure, Hill only produced one reception for two yards, but he also added a whopping 81 rushing yards, including a 57-yard gain, and one touchdown.
Clearly the Saints are going to keep using Hill as a Swiss-Army knife, and while you can’t always depend on the kind of production Hill had in Week 1, his opportunities as a rusher makes him a better option than most of the tight ends on the waiver wire.
Priority level: Medium
TE Durham Smythe, Miami Dolphins
It was Durham Smythe (38) and not Mike Gesicki (25) to lead the Miami Dolphins’ tight ends in snaps. Neither player did much with their opportunities, though, as both had just one catch, and Gesicki gained just one yard on his, while Smythe had a 14-yard reception.
It appears Gesicki is in for a down season in Miami after back-to-back 700-yard campaigns. We wouldn’t give up on him yet, but Smythe is worth a speculative add as an insurance policy, although he doesn’t have the same playmaking abilities.
Priority level: Low
TE Ian Thomas, Carolina Panthers
We expected this to be the breakout year for Tommy Tremble, but Ian Thomas said “not so fast.”
The veteran tight end tallied 17 more snaps (35-17) and he turned those into two catches for 53 yards, which was the second-highest yardage total on the team.
Not great production, but chances are if you’re scouring the waiver wire for tight end help already, that kind of production looks good to you.
Priority level: Medium
TE O.J. Howard, Houston Texans
O.J. Howard was a late addition for Houston but wasted no time in making an impact with 38 yards and two scores on two receptions.
Howard is a large human being who should have the ability to thrive as a red zone target, but he’s also athletic enough to make big plays happen. Pick him up and start him if you have a bad tight end situation.
Priority level: High
TE Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
We already mentioned the wide open situation in Green Bay’s receiving corps., which has no doubt left Aaron Rodgers looking for targets he can trust.
Tonyan qualifies as someone Rodgers can trust thanks to their experience together. Granted, Tonyan didn’t exactly light the world on fire in Week 1, hauling in three catches for 36 yards, but he was also in his first game back from a serious injury.
We expect more volume and better production moving forward as Tonyan puts more and more time between himself and the injury.
Priority level: High
TE Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
There was a bit of hype for third-year tight end Donald Parham ahead of 2022. With Parham sidelined due to injury in Week 1, Gerald Everett made some noise.
Everett finished with three receptions for 54 yards and found the end zone in his Chargers debut.
It remains to be seen if Everett will get the same utilization once Parham returns, but he’s a definite starting option until that time comes, and he could be in line for even more work with the Chargers potentially having to cover the loss of Keenan Allen in Week 2.
Priority level: Medium
D/ST to stream: Cincinnati Bengals
If you’re living off the waiver wire for a defense from week to week, consider starting the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
The Bengals already have a solid defense, but now they’ll be up against a Dak Prescott-less Cowboys team this coming Sunday. Taking over for Prescott is Cooper Rush, who is terrible and won’t be able to come closer to matching Prescott’s production.
Lock Cincy in as your streaming option in Week 2, and they could be a long-term solution as well.
Priority level: High
