The fantasy football Week 2 waiver wire will be spicy after a few critical injuries to some big-name players and a few surprise performances by unheralded heroes. It’s only Sunday night, so we don’t have the full extent of most injuries, but right now, it’ll be good to check your waiver wire for these guys.
Check back after Monday Night Football for our complete Week 2 Waiver Wire article, where we break down some of the lesser-known players for deeper leagues. As of now, here are some of the top names to scour your free agency pool as Week 1 comes to a close.
COMPLETE WEEK 2 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS ARTICLE
RB JEFF WILSON JR. (16% ROSTERED) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
New year, same 49ers running back injury luck. Starter Elijah Mitchell went down with a knee injury and did not return to the game. We aren’t sure of the severity yet, but we will update this post once the information breaks. For what it’s worth, PFF injury expert Mario Pilato thinks it’s an MCL sprain, which could keep the running back sidelined from one to six weeks.
In Mitchell’s absence, Jeff Wilson Jr. got all of the running back work with 27 snaps and nine carries off the bench and would be the clear RB1 should Mitchell miss time. With Tyrion Davis-Price inactive, Jordan Mason (2%) was the third running back on the day. It’s clear Mason would be the RB2 behind Wilson and the two could be in some sort of Shanahanigan committee as long as Mitchell is sidelined. But, Wilson is the preferred option of the two right now.
RB JAYLEN WARREN (4%) PITTSBURGH STEELERS
We had a piece late in the preseason highlighting some notable late-round handcuffs to stash, which included Jaylen Warren as Najee Harris’ handcuff. Harris dealt with a lisfranc injury during the preseason and now injured his ankle during overtime of the team’s thriller against the Bengals. Mike Tomlin has traditionally ridden his workhorse into the ground and if Harris is forced to the sideline, Warren will have some serious upside as the team’s RB1. Warren played 100% of the running back snaps after Harris left the game.
As with Mitchell, we’ll keep you updated on the severity of Najee’s injury and the potential timeline.
RB DONTRELL HILLIARD (6%) TENNESSEE TITANS
Not to pump my own tires here, but Dontrell Hilliard is another player who I highlighted as a top handcuff. Hilliard responded by owning the third down work and snagging two scores. Although he only carried the ball twice for eight yards, that’s not why we like him. He only had 12 snaps compared to 44 snaps for King Derek Henry, but Hilliard ran seven routes and hauled in all three targets from Ryan Tannehill. It seems like the Titans are keen to lessen the load on their workhorse and Hilliard will benefit.
RB REX BURKHEAD (12%) HOUSTON TEXANS
It wouldn’t be an early-season waiver wire article without Rex Burkhead. Our worst fears were realized. The Dameon Pierce hype train officially derailed in Week 1 after we were bamboozled by this usage. Burkhead dominated the snap total and was the clear guy for Houston in what should’ve been the ideal script for Pierce. This usage may not last the entire season, but in the meantime, it certainly looks like this is Burkhead’s job for the time being until something changes.
WR JAHAN DOTSON (23%) WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
WR CURTIS SAMUEL (4%) WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
If you listen to the Fantasy Fullback Dive podcast (of course you do), you knew Jahan Dotson was mentioned as the top sleeper you needed to draft by the great Pat Fitzmaurice.
It wasn’t Drake London, Garrett Wilson, or Chris Olave who shined in their first game on Sunday. It was Dotson. The Penn St. product caught three of five targets for 40 yards and two scores against the Jaguars and looked like a day-one baller. Carson Wentz actually looked like a real NFL QB for the first time in a long time, which bodes well for Dotson and Curtis Samuel. The former Buckeye balled out by snagging eight of 10 targets for 55 yards and a score. He also did his best Deebo impression by running the ball four times for 17 yards. If Samuel can stay healthy, which is a big if, he can be a Flex starter on most fantasy rosters.
TE TAYSOM HILL (9%) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The most annoying fantasy football player is back again to haunt us. This time, he has the TE designation but per usual, his points will come by way of the Wildcat. Hill scurried four times for 81 yards and a touchdown and added a reception for two yards… because of course, he did. Hill is a decently valuable stash who could steal some goal-line touchdowns from Alvin Kamara owners. The tight end position notoriously stinks if you don’t have one of the elites, so take a stab at the
OTHERS WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON: Jameis Winston (QB, NOS), Carson Wentz (QB, WAS), Jordan Mason (RB, SF), Dontrell Hilliard (RB, TEN), Josh Palmer (WR, LAC), DeAndre Carter (WR, LAC), Devin Duvernay (WR BAL), OJ Howard (TE HOU),
