The Best Waiver Wire Adds For Fantasy Football Week 2

What a Week 1. Major injuries. Major upsets. A ton of unexpected players going off. A ton of unexpected players struggling…oh wait, that’s every week in the NFL. LFG!

WR Puka Nacua (LAR) 10% Rostered

Nacua is a guy I’ve been talking about all offseason, and I even had him as my Sick-Call-of-the-Week on the Armchair Fantasy Show Friday night. With Cooper Kupp out for at least the first four games, Nacua will have a large role for at least those games — and potentially longer. It would be a little harder to trust if he had one big play, or if he got invlolved during junktime in the 4th quarter, but he was involved heavily from the jump and ended up with 10 catches on 15 targets for 119 yards – @GeoffLambert77

WR Rashee Rice (KC) 53%

Say hello to Pat’s new WR1. In week 1 he caught three balls for only 29 yards, however, he secured a touchdown. Pat will throw a ton of those and who is to say Rice won’t catch the most out of all the receivers? If starting any of them then you should feel confident relying on Rice as your WR4 or even WR3 in some cases. With his upside to develop chemistry with Pat, he makes for a perfect definition of a suitable bye-week replacement. Probably won’t be the highest priority for Wavier so a middle priority should be able to win him. I would recommend spending 5% of your FABB budget on him – @QuinnFloydG

RB Roschon Johnson (CHI) 30%

Seems fitting that I would be the guy to tell you to pick up Roschon Johnson off waivers. Maybe you wouldn’t have to fight for him on the waiver wire this week if you just listened to me in the first place and drafted him with one of your last picks in all your leagues. Well, here’s your chance to redeem yourself and grab him now before it’s too late. 

I’ve been screaming all off-season that Roschon is the best RB in the Bears’ offense, and he proved it in his first game as a rookie. Not only did Roschon average 4 yards per carry compared to Herbert and Foreman’s 3 yards, but he also scored his first career touchdown!!! Roschon also led the team in receptions with 6 catches for 35 yards.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for what is to come for Roschon’s talent in the NFL. I’m sorry if you’re in a league with me, you won’t be able to pick him up because he’s already on all my rosters. I highly recommend grabbing Roschon now before it’s too late and missing out on the Bear’s best RB. I’m repeating what I’ve been saying all off-season,… “Roschon is going to take over this Bears backfield”, but may be sooner than I thought. Don’t miss out!!! – @JamiePerog

RB Gus Edwards (BAL) 20%

On the heels of the devastating Achilles injury to starting RB J.K. Dobbins, that’s going to open up opportunities behind him. While Gus “The Bus” isn’t likely to help you with receptions (unless new OC Todd Monken truly is a miracle worker), he’s demonstrated the ability to be a solid if unspectacular RB with a nose for the endzone (9 TDs over his last season and a half’s worth of games).

Sure, the TDs in week 1 went to Justice Hill and the Ravens will probably bring in some more RB depth, but Gus is another year removed from his ACL injury and at a position where opportunity and volume are king – Edwards has the ability to get exactly that on an offense where the needle is still pointing squarely UP and he could easily end up as a solid RB2 for you for the remainder of the year in all formats – @TFSDoc

TE Luke Msgrave (GB) 28%

In a fantasy, TEs are either tremendous and you have to pay up or you’re streaming week to week. Well, to all streamers and the non-Kelce/Andrews/Hockenson owners, enter Rookie TE Musgrave. He came out of camp with obvious chemistry with Jordan Love and with injuries already plaguing the Packers’ offense, he could end up giving you great numbers week to week. In Sunday’s game versus the Bears, he caught 3 of 4 passes for 50 yards posting 8 PPR points.

I believe he will continue to fill the role of TE1 for the team and with his athletic build and freakish speed, he could move up the TE rankings fast. Love showed us that he can sling it, but he will face tougher defenses and will need that dump-off man especially if Aaron Jones misses any time with the hamstring injury he suffered versus the Bears. I think for now he is a stash in shallow leagues but a grab in deeper leagues. It’s been a while since the Packers have had a sure start TE. I like Musgrave’s opportunity to be that this season – @luvtractor3

WR Rashid Shaheed (NO) 13%

Shaheed’s value in redraft is coming dangerously close to his value in best ball. After garnering less than three targets per game in 2022, Shaheed began 2023 catching 5 of 6 targets for 89 yards and 1 TD. What is more impressive is Shaheed’s versatility, as he has two rushing attempts and contributed on special teams as a returner. Shaheed is more than just a deep threat, he is a versatile weapon that should be rostered when injuries and bye weeks strike – @FatherDynasty

WR Kendrick Bourne (NE) 2%

Is Kendrick Bourne born again? Two years ago, Kendrick Bourne had his best statistical season in every category except receptions. He became a favorite target of Mac Jones and he gave you 7 weeks of double-digit fantasy points. Not bad for someone who wasn’t drafted in many leagues. Last season saw him take a significant step back.

He provided 1 single week in which he finished as a WR3 or better, and that was in week 16 where you’re not putting him into your playoff lineups. Fast forward to this season and he’s kicking off the year with a bang! What’s the difference between 2022 and 2021/2023? The Patriots have an actual offensive coordinator. Bourne led all WRs in the game with 11 targets and finished the game with 6 catches for 64 yards and 2 TDs. He also played 91% of New England’s offensive snaps. Barring every single WR exceeding those numbers on Monday Night Football, Bourne should finish the week as the WR6-7 overall.

This is a player that I’m completely fine throwing a waiver claim in on and stashing at the end of my bench while having the confidence to start him in a flex spot more often than not. If you want to play the “game script” game, Bourne and the Patriots play Miami twice, Dallas, and Buffalo within the next 7 weeks. There’s potential for shootouts or playing catch-up in those games. Stash ‘Bourne’ and we’ll see what his true ‘Identity’ is – @JerryWilkeFM

RB Kenneth Gainwell (PHI) 34%

We should have listened to the drumbeat coming out of Philly in the offseason. While those close to the Eagles sang the praises of the returning Gainwell, fantasy analysts everywhere steadfastly insisted the lead back would be one of D’Andre Swift or Rashaad Penny. Cut to Week 1: Penny, a healthy scratch, and Swift getting extremely minimal work.

Meanwhile, Kenneth Gainwell dominated snaps and touches, and while he didn’t blow anyone away with his production, he will be a flex-worthy starter as long as he leads backfield touches for this Eagles offense. He has definite PPR upside with his role in the passing game, and if he’s available in your league, I would make him the priority add this week – @nrahul11

RB Justice Hill (BAL) 0%

There was already a buzz in the preseason that a) Hill was moving past Gus Edwards as the second RB on the team because b) he is a better fit for a Todd Monken system that favors Hill’s play style and skill set more. With JK Dobbins (a big my guy this year) out for the season, I don’t expect either back to reach the injured starter’s touch total.

However, Hill’s two TDs were encouraging, and I want RBs who can catch passes (remember that targets are worth more than twice a rush); he checks that box better than Edwards. Hill is not a big back (5’10” 197 lbs.) but he is not a Deuce Vaughn or De’Von Achane and is slightly bigger than teammate Keaton Mitchell (5’8″ 191 lbs.). Look, this is likely going to be a true committee between the three Ravens I’ve already mentioned, and maybe even Melvin Gordon (who was elevated from the practice squad).

It’s also not out of the question that Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, or someone else not currently on the roster is added. But for now, I’ll bet on the guy that we think is the best receiver and has the most well-rounded skill set of the bunch, and who looks to be the first option for long-down-and-distance and/or two-minute drill. If you’re playing in a totally non-PPR league (just yards and TDs), get out – but also prioritize Edwards over Hill – @FFjunkie_ 

TE Hunter Henry (NE) 7%

Tight ends are hard to pick and all of the good ones are hurt. Hunter Henry was TE1 for week one of the season. Mac Jones threw the ball 54 times on Sunday so this may be unsustainable but Bill O’Brien may utilize the position better than the weird offensive coordinator situation that preceeded him. Worth a grab to find out – @MeLlamoMoron

TE Hayden Hurst (CAR) 12%

Hayden Hurst was a fun stash in my best balls this summer. He is easily Bryce Young’s favorite target. He was also TE2 for the week. Rookies always look to their tight ends so this feels more sustainable long term to me and is a must grab at a weak position – @MeLlamoMoron

Other Top Waivers Adds

RB Melvin Gordon (BAL) 0%

RB Kyren Williams (LAR) 6%

RB Joshua Kelley (LAC) 7%

WR Jakobi Meyers (LV) 51%

WR Romeo Doubs (GB) 45%

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