![Fantasy Football: Top waiver targets and your first look at Chris Towers’ Week 2 rankings for every position Fantasy Football: Top waiver targets and your first look at Chris Towers’ Week 2 rankings for every position](https://i2.wp.com/sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2019/09/15/75681edf-993d-4d0b-b7dd-2585914990cc/thumbnail/1200x675/a14e921672dd94e47510c25c454521bf/jeff-wilson-49ers.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Josh Allen vs. TEN
- Patrick Mahomes vs. LAC
- Lamar Jackson vs. MIA
- Justin Herbert @KC
- Jalen Hurts vs. MIN
- Kyler Murray @LV
- Joe Burrow @DAL
- Matthew Stafford vs. ATL
- Russell Wilson vs. HOU
- Derek Carr vs. ARI
- Kirk Cousins @PHI
- Tom Brady @NO
- Aaron Rodgers vs. CHI
- Trey Lance vs. SEA
- Justin Fields @GB
- Trevor Lawrence vs. IND
- Jameis Winston vs. TB
- Tua Tagovailoa @BAL
- Marcus Mariota @LAR
- Carson Wentz @DET
- Jared Goff vs. WAS
- Baker Mayfield @NYG
- Daniel Jones vs. CAR
- Mitchell Trubisky vs. NE
- Mac Jones @PIT
- Matt Ryan @JAX
- Ryan Tannehill @BUF
- Cooper Rush vs. CIN
- Joe Flacco @CLE
- Jacoby Brissett vs. NYJ
- Davis Mills @DEN
- 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.
- Christian McCaffrey @NYG
- Jonathan Taylor @JAX
- Saquon Barkley vs. CAR
- Austin Ekeler @KC
- D’Andre Swift vs. WAS
- Leonard Fournette @NO
- Alvin Kamara vs. TB
- Joe Mixon @DAL
- James Conner @LV
- Dalvin Cook @PHI
- Aaron Jones vs. CHI
- Antonio Gibson @DET
- Derrick Henry @BUF
- Javonte Williams vs. HOU
- Darrell Henderson vs. ATL
- Nick Chubb vs. NYJ
- Cordarrelle Patterson @LAR
- Josh Jacobs vs. ARI
- David Montgomery @GB
- Chase Edmonds @BAL
- AJ Dillon vs. CHI
- Miles Sanders vs. MIN
- Michael Carter @CLE
- Rashaad Penny @SF
- Ezekiel Elliott vs. CIN
- Kareem Hunt vs. NYJ
- Breece Hall @CLE
- Jaylen Warren vs. NE*
- Jeff Wilson vs. SEA
- Damien Harris @PIT
- Rhamondre Stevenson @PIT
- Kenyan Drake vs. MIA
- James Robinson vs. IND
- Nyheim Hines @JAX
- Devin Singletary vs. TEN
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. LAC
- Tony Pollard vs. CIN
- J.D. McKissic @DET
- Zack Moss vs. TEN
- Travis Etienne vs. IND
- Rex Burkhead @DEN
- Jamaal Williams vs. WAS
- Melvin Gordon vs. HOU
- Dameon Pierce @DEN
- Sony Michel @KC
- Isaiah Pacheco vs. LAC
- Eno Benjamin @LV
- Raheem Mostert @BAL
- Kenneth Gainwell vs. MIN
- Alexander Mattison @PHI
- Ameer Abdullah vs. ARI
- Rachaad White @NO
- Mark Ingram vs. TB
- Cam Akers vs. ATL
- Avery Williams @LAR
- Khalil Herbert @GB
- Mike Davis vs. MIA
- Jordan Mason vs. SEA
- Dontrell Hilliard @BUF
- 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.
- Cooper Kupp vs. ATL
- Justin Jefferson @PHI
- Davante Adams vs. ARI
- Ja’Marr Chase @DAL
- Stefon Diggs vs. TEN
- Deebo Samuel vs. SEA
- Tyreek Hill @BAL
- Michael Pittman Jr. @JAX
- A.J. Brown vs. MIN
- D.J. Moore @NYG
- Brandin Cooks @DEN
- Diontae Johnson vs. NE
- Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. WAS
- Michael Thomas vs. TB
- JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. LAC
- Mike Williams @KC
- Darnell Mooney @GB
- Marquise Brown @LV
- Jaylen Waddle @BAL
- CeeDee Lamb vs. CIN
- Julio Jones @NO
- Christian Kirk vs. IND
- Gabe Davis vs. TEN
- Adam Thielen @PHI
- Mike Evans @NO
- Jerry Jeudy vs. HOU
- Courtland Sutton vs. HOU
- D.K. Metcalf @SF
- Elijah Moore @CLE
- Rashod Bateman vs. MIA
- Terry McLaurin @DET
- Allen Robinson vs. ATL
- Hunter Renfrow vs. ARI
- Drake London @LAR
- Tyler Lockett @SF
- Curtis Samuel @DET
- Amari Cooper vs. NYJ
- Tyler Boyd @DAL
- Russell Gage @NO
- Zay Jones vs. IND
- DeVante Parker @PIT
- DeVonta Smith vs. MIN
- Robert Woods @BUF
- Josh Palmer @KC
- Chris Olave vs. TB
- DJ Chark vs. WAS
- Chase Claypool vs. NE
- Brandon Aiyuk vs. SEA
- Greg Dortch @LV
- Robby Anderson @NYG
- Jarvis Landry vs. TB
- Corey Davis @CLE
- Sterling Shepard vs. CAR
- Sammy Watkins vs. CHI
- Nico Collins @DEN
- Garrett Wilson @CLE
- Kyle Phillips @BUF
- Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. NYJ
- Jahan Dotson @DET
- 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.
- Travis Kelce vs. LAC
- Kyle Pitts @LAR
- Mark Andrews vs. MIA
- Darren Waller vs. ARI
- Dallas Goedert vs. MIN
- T.J. Hockenson vs. WAS
- Dalton Schultz vs. CIN
- Tyler Higbee vs. ATL
- Cole Kmet @GB
- Gerald Everett @KC
- Albert Okwuegbunam vs. HOU
- Irv Smith @PHI
- Dawson Knox vs. TEN
- Pat Freiermuth vs. NE
- Zach Ertz @LV
- Logan Thomas @DET
- Hunter Henry @PIT
- Austin Hooper @BUF
- David Njoku vs. NYJ
- Brevin Jordan @DEN
- Mike Gesicki @BAL
- Hayden Hurst @DAL
- Evan Engram vs. IND
- Robert Tonyan vs. CHI
Top-150 Flex Rankings
- Christian McCaffrey @NYG
- Cooper Kupp vs. ATL
- Jonathan Taylor @JAX
- Saquon Barkley vs. CAR
- Justin Jefferson @PHI
- Austin Ekeler @KC
- Davante Adams vs. ARI
- Ja’Marr Chase @DAL
- Deebo Samuel vs. SEA
- D’Andre Swift vs. WAS
- Leonard Fournette @NO
- Alvin Kamara vs. TB
- Stefon Diggs vs. TEN
- Joe Mixon @DAL
- Travis Kelce vs. LAC
- James Conner @LV
- Tyreek Hill @BAL
- Dalvin Cook @PHI
- Antonio Gibson @DET
- Derrick Henry @BUF
- Aaron Jones vs. CHI
- Michael Pittman Jr. @JAX
- A.J. Brown vs. MIN
- Javonte Williams vs. HOU
- Darrell Henderson vs. ATL
- D.J. Moore @NYG
- Brandin Cooks @DEN
- Kyle Pitts @LAR
- Nick Chubb vs. NYJ
- Mark Andrews vs. MIA
- Cordarrelle Patterson @LAR
- Diontae Johnson vs. NE
- Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. WAS
- Michael Thomas vs. TB
- JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. LAC
- Mike Williams @KC
- Darnell Mooney @GB
- Marquise Brown @LV
- Josh Jacobs vs. ARI
- David Montgomery @GB
- Jaylen Waddle @BAL
- Ezekiel Elliott vs. CIN
- Chase Edmonds @BAL
- CeeDee Lamb vs. CIN
- Julio Jones @NO
- Christian Kirk vs. IND
- Gabe Davis vs. TEN
- Adam Thielen @PHI
- Mike Evans @NO
- AJ Dillon vs. CHI
- Miles Sanders vs. MIN
- Jerry Jeudy vs. HOU
- Courtland Sutton vs. HOU
- Michael Carter @CLE
- Rashaad Penny @SF
- D.K. Metcalf @SF
- Elijah Moore @CLE
- Rashod Bateman vs. MIA
- Terry McLaurin @DET
- Nyheim Hines @JAX
- Allen Robinson vs. ATL
- Hunter Renfrow vs. ARI
- Kareem Hunt vs. NYJ
- Darren Waller vs. ARI
- Damien Harris @PIT
- Breece Hall @CLE
- Jaylen Warren vs. NE
- Drake London @LAR
- Rhamondre Stevenson @PIT
- Dallas Goedert vs. MIN
- Tyler Lockett @SF
- Kenyan Drake vs. MIA
- Curtis Samuel @DET
- Amari Cooper vs. NYJ
- T.J. Hockenson vs. WAS
- Jeff Wilson vs. SEA
- Tyler Boyd @DAL
- J.D. McKissic @DET
- Russell Gage @NO
- Zay Jones vs. IND
- DeVante Parker @PIT
- James Robinson vs. IND
- DeVonta Smith vs. MIN
- Dalton Schultz vs. CIN
- Robert Woods @BUF
- Tyler Higbee vs. ATL
- Devin Singletary vs. TEN
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire vs. LAC
- Josh Palmer @KC
- Cole Kmet @GB
- Gerald Everett @KC
- Chris Olave vs. TB
- DJ Chark vs. WAS
- Chase Claypool vs. NE
- Tony Pollard vs. CIN
- Zack Moss vs. TEN
- Travis Etienne vs. IND
- Rex Burkhead @DEN
- Jamaal Williams vs. WAS
- Albert Okwuegbunam vs. HOU
- Brandon Aiyuk vs. SEA
- Melvin Gordon vs. HOU
- Greg Dortch @LV
- Robby Anderson @NYG
- Jarvis Landry vs. TB
- Corey Davis @CLE
- Sterling Shepard vs. CAR
- Sammy Watkins vs. CHI
- Irv Smith @PHI
- Nico Collins @DEN
- Garrett Wilson @CLE
- Kyle Phillips @BUF
- Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. NYJ
- Jahan Dotson @DET
- Treylon Burks @BUF
- Dameon Pierce @DEN
- A.J. Green @LV
- Dawson Knox vs. TEN
- Jakobi Meyers @PIT
- Pat Freiermuth vs. NE
- K.J. Osborn @PHI
- Kenny Golladay vs. CAR
- Bryan Edwards @LAR
- Marvin Jones vs. IND
- Zach Ertz @LV
- Logan Thomas @DET
- Alec Pierce @JAX
- Hunter Henry @PIT
- Isaiah McKenzie vs. TEN
- Austin Hooper @BUF
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. LAC
- Mecole Hardman vs. LAC
- Noah Brown vs. CIN
- George Pickens vs. NE
- David Njoku vs. NYJ
- Brevin Jordan @DEN
- Sony Michel @KC
- Olamide Zaccheaus @LAR
- Isaiah Pacheco vs. LAC
- Eno Benjamin @LV
- Mike Gesicki @BAL
- Raheem Mostert @BAL
- Hayden Hurst @DAL
- Terrace Marshall Jr. @NYG
- Kenneth Gainwell vs. MIN
- Romeo Doubs vs. CHI
- Skyy Moore vs. LAC
- Parris Campbell @JAX
- Evan Engram vs. IND
- Alexander Mattison @PHI
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Week 2 Waiver Wire
Jamey Eisenberg 6 min read
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Week 2 WR rankings
Chris Towers 12 min read
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Week 2 RB rankings
Chris Towers 11 min read
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Week 2 QB rankings
Chris Towers 4 min read
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Week 2 TE rankings
Chris Towers 4 min read