Fantasy Football: Top waiver targets and your first look at Chris Towers’ Week 2 rankings for every position

The biggest injury news coming out of Week 1 — besides Dak Prescott needing thumb surgery, obviously — revolved around two high-profile running backs, Najee Harris and Elijah Mitchell. We got good news about one and bad news with the other, so before we get to today’s newsletter, here’s the latest:

• Najee Harris (foot) could play this week — Tests on Harris’ foot were negative, and according to reports, there’s a “good chance” he’ll play in Week 2 against the Patriots. I’m skeptical, but the fact that there’s even a chance is great news. Jaylen Warren is still worth adding as insurance seeing as Harris has now suffered a recurrence of his preseason injury, but he isn’t the top priority on waivers. 
• Elijah Mitchell (knee) is on IR and could miss eight weeks — Jeff Wilson is the top priority on waivers, with Mitchell likely out until at least November. He won’t need surgery, but the injury is serious enough that Wilson is likely to get some extended run.

We’ve got more on the top waiver-wire targets in today’s newsletter, and we’ll spend the next few days keeping an eye out for more injury news. One item I saw that is worth keeping an eye on is that Alvin Kamara has a rib injury that bothered him Sunday. That could help explain his lackluster usage, though coach Dennis Allen did downplay the injury. That’s just one thing to watch out for heading into Week 2. 

For more on the latest news, make sure you tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ at noon ET, and for help locking in your waiver-wire claims make sure you tune into the FFT YouTube stream tonight at 8 p.m., where we’ll be taking your questions live for an hour. And, if you want to take one last look back at Week 1 before you move ahead, check out my Week 1 Winners and Losers column here, where I break down every game, including Monday’s surprise Seahawks win over the Broncos. 

Tomorrow, we’ll have Heath Cummings’ previews for each position plus some buy-low candidates coming out of Week 1 if you’re looking to make a trade — email your trade questions to Chris.Towers@ViacomCBS.com for some advice. And here’s what else we’ve got on tap in today’s newsletter: 

• ➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets
• 📈Week 2 Rankings📉

➕Top Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets

This time a year ago, Elijah Mitchell was the guy everyone was blowing their FAAB budget on coming out of Week 1. But the 49ers running back treadmill keeps churning, and Jeff Wilson is now the hot commodity. Jamey Eisenberg’s Waiver Wire column is up and ready for you to get all the help you need, whether you’re trying to figure out how much to spend on Wilson or are looking for something else. Here are the top targets for this first waiver run of the regular season: 

Jamey Eisenberg’s top targets

1. Jeff Wilson, RB, SF (21%) — Wilson isn’t a one-for-one replacement for Mitchell, because he’s not nearly the caliber of runner. But the 49ers offense is designed to run the ball efficiently, and Wilson should get 12-15 carries per week as the lead runner with Mitchell out. That’ll be enough to make him worth starting ahead of the likes of Dameon Pierce and Damien Harris, in all likelihood. I wouldn’t blow my FAAB budget for him, but a 30% bid, if you need a running back, seems reasonable. 
2. Jaylen Warren, RB, PIT (9%) — I’m not necessarily saying I don’t believe the reports that Harris is going to be good to go this week, but I’m skeptical, given the recurring nature of this injury. Even if Harris does play, Warren remains worth stashing given the risk of re-injury here. I think a 10% bid is reasonable. 
3. Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (54%) — Higgins’ concussion could give Boyd an opportunity to play a bigger role, and he put up solid numbers in the two games he played without Higgins last season, averaging 17.2 PPR points. Higgins should be back before long, so I wouldn’t make Boyd more than a 5% bid guy — you shouldn’t be that desperate in Week 2. 
   
   
4. Jarvis Landry, WR, NO (43%) — Landry going over 100 yards was one of Week 1’s most surprising developments, but he played basically a full snap share, so there’s clearly a role here. I’m not sure how long Landry is going to be Fantasy relevant, given Chris Olave‘s presence as a (hopefully) ascending player, but he could be a viable starter in the near term. 
5. Sterling Shepard, WR, NYG (34%) — The Giants don’t seem to like Kadarius Toney, and Kenny Golladay looks completely washed up, so Shepard could have a chance to emerge as the go-to option. He only had two catches on four targets, but his long touchdown showed he’s still got some explosiveness coming off that ruptured Achilles. Like Boyd and Landry, he’s like a 5% bid guy for me. 

One (more) target for each position

• QB: Marcus Mariota (18%) — If I absolutely needed a starter at QB in Week 2, I’d probably lean toward Jameis Winston (73%), but if he isn’t available, Mariota is a perfectly accepted replacement. His 12 carries in Week 1 give a good sign of what his weekly floor and upside can be, especially as Drake London and Kyle Pitts continue to develop. 
• RB: Jordan Mason (2%) — If you don’t need a Week 2 starter, Mason is a nice low-dollar alternative to Wilson. He was active in Week 1 ahead of Tyrion Davis-Price after an excellent preseason and training camp, and he could be next in line for the 49ers. There’s a non-zero chance he’ll have a role next week alongside Wilson. 
• WR: Curtis Samuel (5%) — If you’ve been reading this newsletter since the preseason, you know I’ve been targeting Samuel as a sleeper, and I was thrilled to see how he was used in Week 1 — 80% route participation, seven backfield snaps, 11 targets, and four carries. He won’t have that role every week, but the Commanders made a point of getting him involved early and often, and he’s a talented playmaker when healthy. There’s top-24 upside here. 
• TE: Gerald Everett (59%) — Albert Okwuegbunam was involved enough (six targets) Monday that I don’t necessarily regret making him my favorite late-round tight end, but I do wish I had Everett in more spots. With Keenan Allen out this week, Everett could take on an even bigger role coming off an opener that saw him find the end zone. 

📈Week 2 Rankings📉

React, don’t overreact. That’s the whole goal coming out of Week 1, but it’s so much easier said than done. Here’s my first go at Week 2 rankings for every position, and if you want more, I’ve written about over 80 players at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end, and those will be updated throughout the week. These are all for PPR leagues:

Quarterbacks

You drafted Dak Prescott as a top-10 quarterback for your Fantasy Football team with the hope that, outside of his bye week, you wouldn’t really have to worry about the position. However, Prescott suffered a thumb injury in Week 1 that will likely keep him out for the next month and a half or more, and suddenly, you’re scrambling … For more on my thoughts on the QB position for Week 2, head here. 

1. Josh Allen vs. TEN
2. Patrick Mahomes vs. LAC
3. Lamar Jackson vs. MIA
4. Justin Herbert @KC
5. Jalen Hurts vs. MIN
6. Kyler Murray @LV
7. Joe Burrow @DAL
8. Matthew Stafford vs. ATL
9. Russell Wilson vs. HOU
10. Derek Carr vs. ARI
11. Kirk Cousins @PHI
12. Tom Brady @NO
13. Aaron Rodgers vs. CHI
14. Trey Lance vs. SEA
15. Justin Fields @GB
16. Trevor Lawrence vs. IND
17. Jameis Winston vs. TB
18. Tua Tagovailoa @BAL
19. Marcus Mariota @LAR
20. Carson Wentz @DET
21. Jared Goff vs. WAS
22. Baker Mayfield @NYG
23. Daniel Jones vs. CAR
24. Mitchell Trubisky vs. NE
25. Mac Jones @PIT
26. Matt Ryan @JAX
27. Ryan Tannehill @BUF
28. Cooper Rush vs. CIN
29. Joe Flacco @CLE
30. Jacoby Brissett vs. NYJ
31. Davis Mills @DEN
32. Geno Smith @SF

Running backs

On his 68-yard run in Week 1, Saquon Barkley hit a top speed of 21.1 mph, the second-fastest speed by any ball-carrier last week. That was the fastest speed he’s hit on a carry since 2019 – back before his torn ACL, back in the days when Barkley was arguably the league’s premier big-play artist at the RB position … For more on my thoughts on the RB position for Week 2, head here. 

1. Christian McCaffrey @NYG
2. Jonathan Taylor @JAX
3. Saquon Barkley vs. CAR
4. Austin Ekeler @KC
5. D’Andre Swift vs. WAS
6. Leonard Fournette @NO
7. Alvin Kamara vs. TB
8. Joe Mixon @DAL
9. James Conner @LV
10. Dalvin Cook @PHI
11. Aaron Jones vs. CHI
12. Antonio Gibson @DET
13. Derrick Henry @BUF
14. Javonte Williams vs. HOU
15. Darrell Henderson vs. ATL
16. Nick Chubb vs. NYJ
17. Cordarrelle Patterson @LAR
18. Josh Jacobs vs. ARI
19. David Montgomery @GB
20. Chase Edmonds @BAL
21. AJ Dillon vs. CHI
22. Miles Sanders vs. MIN
23. Michael Carter @CLE
24. Rashaad Penny @SF
25. Ezekiel Elliott vs. CIN
26. Kareem Hunt vs. NYJ
27. Breece Hall @CLE
28. Jaylen Warren vs. NE*
29. Jeff Wilson vs. SEA
30. Damien Harris @PIT
31. Rhamondre Stevenson @PIT
32. Kenyan Drake vs. MIA
33. James Robinson vs. IND
34. Nyheim Hines @JAX
35. Devin Singletary vs. TEN
36. Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. LAC
37. Tony Pollard vs. CIN
38. J.D. McKissic @DET
39. Zack Moss vs. TEN
40. Travis Etienne vs. IND
41. Rex Burkhead @DEN
42. Jamaal Williams vs. WAS
43. Melvin Gordon vs. HOU
44. Dameon Pierce @DEN
45. Sony Michel @KC
46. Isaiah Pacheco vs. LAC
47. Eno Benjamin @LV
48. Raheem Mostert @BAL
49. Kenneth Gainwell vs. MIN
50. Alexander Mattison @PHI
51. Ameer Abdullah vs. ARI
52. Rachaad White @NO
53. Mark Ingram vs. TB
54. Cam Akers vs. ATL
55. Avery Williams @LAR
56. Khalil Herbert @GB
57. Mike Davis vs. MIA
58. Jordan Mason vs. SEA
59. Dontrell Hilliard @BUF
60. D’Onta Foreman @NYG

Wide receivers

If Week 1 of the NFL season is anything to go by, this is about to be a very special season for wide receivers. Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, Davante Adams, and Ja’Marr Chase were probably the first four drafted in most leagues, and all four had at least 28.9 PPR points in Week 1; early-rounders like Stefon Diggs, Michael Pittman, A.J. Brown, all topped 20 points, too … For more of my thoughts on the WR position for Week 2, head here. 

1. Cooper Kupp vs. ATL
2. Justin Jefferson @PHI
3. Davante Adams vs. ARI
4. Ja’Marr Chase @DAL
5. Stefon Diggs vs. TEN
6. Deebo Samuel vs. SEA
7. Tyreek Hill @BAL
8. Michael Pittman Jr. @JAX
9. A.J. Brown vs. MIN
10. D.J. Moore @NYG
11. Brandin Cooks @DEN
12. Diontae Johnson vs. NE
13. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. WAS
14. Michael Thomas vs. TB
15. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. LAC
16. Mike Williams @KC
17. Darnell Mooney @GB
18. Marquise Brown @LV
19. Jaylen Waddle @BAL
20. CeeDee Lamb vs. CIN
21. Julio Jones @NO
22. Christian Kirk vs. IND
23. Gabe Davis vs. TEN
24. Adam Thielen @PHI
25. Mike Evans @NO
26. Jerry Jeudy vs. HOU
27. Courtland Sutton vs. HOU
28. D.K. Metcalf @SF
29. Elijah Moore @CLE
30. Rashod Bateman vs. MIA
31. Terry McLaurin @DET
32. Allen Robinson vs. ATL
33. Hunter Renfrow vs. ARI
34. Drake London @LAR
35. Tyler Lockett @SF
36. Curtis Samuel @DET
37. Amari Cooper vs. NYJ
38. Tyler Boyd @DAL
39. Russell Gage @NO
40. Zay Jones vs. IND
41. DeVante Parker @PIT
42. DeVonta Smith vs. MIN
43. Robert Woods @BUF
44. Josh Palmer @KC
45. Chris Olave vs. TB
46. DJ Chark vs. WAS
47. Chase Claypool vs. NE
48. Brandon Aiyuk vs. SEA
49. Greg Dortch @LV
50. Robby Anderson @NYG
51. Jarvis Landry vs. TB
52. Corey Davis @CLE
53. Sterling Shepard vs. CAR
54. Sammy Watkins vs. CHI
55. Nico Collins @DEN
56. Garrett Wilson @CLE
57. Kyle Phillips @BUF
58. Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. NYJ
59. Jahan Dotson @DET
60. Treylon Burks @BUF

Tight ends

Did any tight ends fundamentally change how we should view them in Week 1 of the Fantasy season? As you can see by my Week 2 rankings for the position, the answer is, “Not really” … For more at tight end, head here. 

1. Travis Kelce vs. LAC
2. Kyle Pitts @LAR
3. Mark Andrews vs. MIA
4. Darren Waller vs. ARI
5. Dallas Goedert vs. MIN
6. T.J. Hockenson vs. WAS
7. Dalton Schultz vs. CIN
8. Tyler Higbee vs. ATL
9. Cole Kmet @GB
10. Gerald Everett @KC
11. Albert Okwuegbunam vs. HOU
12. Irv Smith @PHI
13. Dawson Knox vs. TEN
14. Pat Freiermuth vs. NE
15. Zach Ertz @LV
16. Logan Thomas @DET
17. Hunter Henry @PIT
18. Austin Hooper @BUF
19. David Njoku vs. NYJ
20. Brevin Jordan @DEN
21. Mike Gesicki @BAL
22. Hayden Hurst @DAL
23. Evan Engram vs. IND
24. Robert Tonyan vs. CHI

Top-150 Flex Rankings

1. Christian McCaffrey @NYG
2. Cooper Kupp vs. ATL
3. Jonathan Taylor @JAX
4. Saquon Barkley vs. CAR
5. Justin Jefferson @PHI
6. Austin Ekeler @KC
7. Davante Adams vs. ARI
8. Ja’Marr Chase @DAL
9. Deebo Samuel vs. SEA
10. D’Andre Swift vs. WAS
11. Leonard Fournette @NO
12. Alvin Kamara vs. TB
13. Stefon Diggs vs. TEN
14. Joe Mixon @DAL
15. Travis Kelce vs. LAC
16. James Conner @LV
17. Tyreek Hill @BAL
18. Dalvin Cook @PHI
19. Antonio Gibson @DET
20. Derrick Henry @BUF
21. Aaron Jones vs. CHI
22. Michael Pittman Jr. @JAX
23. A.J. Brown vs. MIN
24. Javonte Williams vs. HOU
25. Darrell Henderson vs. ATL
26. D.J. Moore @NYG
27. Brandin Cooks @DEN
28. Kyle Pitts @LAR
29. Nick Chubb vs. NYJ
30. Mark Andrews vs. MIA
31. Cordarrelle Patterson @LAR
32. Diontae Johnson vs. NE
33. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. WAS
34. Michael Thomas vs. TB
35. JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. LAC
36. Mike Williams @KC
37. Darnell Mooney @GB
38. Marquise Brown @LV
39. Josh Jacobs vs. ARI
40. David Montgomery @GB
41. Jaylen Waddle @BAL
42. Ezekiel Elliott vs. CIN
43. Chase Edmonds @BAL
44. CeeDee Lamb vs. CIN
45. Julio Jones @NO
46. Christian Kirk vs. IND
47. Gabe Davis vs. TEN
48. Adam Thielen @PHI
49. Mike Evans @NO
50. AJ Dillon vs. CHI
51. Miles Sanders vs. MIN
52. Jerry Jeudy vs. HOU
53. Courtland Sutton vs. HOU
54. Michael Carter @CLE
55. Rashaad Penny @SF
56. D.K. Metcalf @SF
57. Elijah Moore @CLE
58. Rashod Bateman vs. MIA
59. Terry McLaurin @DET
60. Nyheim Hines @JAX
61. Allen Robinson vs. ATL
62. Hunter Renfrow vs. ARI
63. Kareem Hunt vs. NYJ
64. Darren Waller vs. ARI
65. Damien Harris @PIT
66. Breece Hall @CLE
67. Jaylen Warren vs. NE
68. Drake London @LAR
69. Rhamondre Stevenson @PIT
70. Dallas Goedert vs. MIN
71. Tyler Lockett @SF
72. Kenyan Drake vs. MIA
73. Curtis Samuel @DET
74. Amari Cooper vs. NYJ
75. T.J. Hockenson vs. WAS
76. Jeff Wilson vs. SEA
77. Tyler Boyd @DAL
78. J.D. McKissic @DET
79. Russell Gage @NO
80. Zay Jones vs. IND
81. DeVante Parker @PIT
82. James Robinson vs. IND
83. DeVonta Smith vs. MIN
84. Dalton Schultz vs. CIN
85. Robert Woods @BUF
86. Tyler Higbee vs. ATL
87. Devin Singletary vs. TEN
88. Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. LAC
89. Josh Palmer @KC
90. Cole Kmet @GB
91. Gerald Everett @KC
92. Chris Olave vs. TB
93. DJ Chark vs. WAS
94. Chase Claypool vs. NE
95. Tony Pollard vs. CIN
96. Zack Moss vs. TEN
97. Travis Etienne vs. IND
98. Rex Burkhead @DEN
99. Jamaal Williams vs. WAS
100. Albert Okwuegbunam vs. HOU
101. Brandon Aiyuk vs. SEA
102. Melvin Gordon vs. HOU
103. Greg Dortch @LV
104. Robby Anderson @NYG
105. Jarvis Landry vs. TB
106. Corey Davis @CLE
107. Sterling Shepard vs. CAR
108. Sammy Watkins vs. CHI
109. Irv Smith @PHI
110. Nico Collins @DEN
111. Garrett Wilson @CLE
112. Kyle Phillips @BUF
113. Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. NYJ
114. Jahan Dotson @DET
115. Treylon Burks @BUF
116. Dameon Pierce @DEN
117. A.J. Green @LV
118. Dawson Knox vs. TEN
119. Jakobi Meyers @PIT
120. Pat Freiermuth vs. NE
121. K.J. Osborn @PHI
122. Kenny Golladay vs. CAR
123. Bryan Edwards @LAR
124. Marvin Jones vs. IND
125. Zach Ertz @LV
126. Logan Thomas @DET
127. Alec Pierce @JAX
128. Hunter Henry @PIT
129. Isaiah McKenzie vs. TEN
130. Austin Hooper @BUF
131. Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. LAC
132. Mecole Hardman vs. LAC
133. Noah Brown vs. CIN
134. George Pickens vs. NE
135. David Njoku vs. NYJ
136. Brevin Jordan @DEN
137. Sony Michel @KC
138. Olamide Zaccheaus @LAR
139. Isaiah Pacheco vs. LAC
140. Eno Benjamin @LV
141. Mike Gesicki @BAL
142. Raheem Mostert @BAL
143. Hayden Hurst @DAL
144. Terrace Marshall Jr. @NYG
145. Kenneth Gainwell vs. MIN
146. Romeo Doubs vs. CHI
147. Skyy Moore vs. LAC
148. Parris Campbell @JAX
149. Evan Engram vs. IND
150. Alexander Mattison @PHI