Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 2

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks John Fisher / Getty Images Sport / GettyJordan Love, Packers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at ATL	31%	$1

Love had a strong performance in the opener, despite Romeo Doubs being on a snap count and Christian Watson sitting out due to hamstring issues.

The 24-year-old passer threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 12 yards on the ground. He'll finish the week as a top-five fantasy quarterback.

It's a great start to the post-Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay and a sign that he could become a regular fantasy option, especially once his receiving corps is back to full health.

In a week filled with uninspiring streamers on the waiver wire, Love is worth taking a chance on.

Brock Purdy is just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky streaming options: Derek Carr at CAR (38% rostered), Baker Mayfield vs. CHI (10% rostered), Mac Jones vs. MIA (8% rostered), Sam Howell at DEN (22% rostered), Ryan Tannehill vs. LAC (7% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Jimmy Garoppolo at BUF (16% rostered), Matthew Stafford vs. SF (29% rostered), Kenny Pickett vs. CLE (37% rostered), C.J. Stroud vs. IND (9% rostered), Bryce Young vs. NO (18% rostered), Desmond Ridder vs. GB (5% rostered), Josh Dobbs vs. NYG (1% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Zach Wilson (0% rostered), Taylor Heinicke (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Kyler Murray (25% rostered)

Running backs Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyJoshua Kelley, Chargers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at TEN	15%	$9

Austin Ekeler expressed a desire to have a running mate in the Chargers' backfield, and that's exactly what he got in the opener. Kelley rushed 16 times for 91 yards and a touchdown, putting him in the mix for a surprising top-12 fantasy result in Week 1.

We've since learned Ekeler is dealing with an ankle injury, and his status for this week is unknown, according to head coach Brandon Staley.

While a matchup with the Titans' run defense isn't the most favorable, Kelley would be a strong fantasy RB2 if Ekeler were ruled out for any amount of time.

Even with Ekeler in the lineup, Kelley proved he can be a weekly flex option behind the Chargers' strong offensive line - making him well worth an add this week.

Gus Edwards/Justice Hill, Ravens

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at CIN	20%/3%	$9/$7

With J.K. Dobbins out for the season due to an Achilles tear, the Ravens plan to roll with their current roster, including Edwards, Hill, and veteran Melvin Gordon. They also have undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell, who's currently on injured reserve and forced to sit out at least the first four games.

Normally, we would be more aggressive in bidding for the backs with a chance to take over as the starter in Edwards and Hill, but there are a lot of potential outcomes here and very few result in a fantasy star.

Though Edwards has been the most productive option in recent seasons, he offers very little in the receiving game. He will likely form a committee with the more explosive Hill handling the bulk of the pass-catching duties. It's possible Gordon could also factor in.

Fantasy managers shouldn't rule out a move for a new lead back via trade (Jonathan Taylor) or free-agent signing (Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt).

Securing the starter in Baltimore would be valuable for fantasy and Edwards is our bet to handle the most touches moving forward. However, keep your expectations in check with Edwards capping out as a RB3/flex play with RB2 upside and Hill as a pure flex.

Kyren Williams, Rams

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. SF	5%	$9

One of the most shocking developments from Week 1 was Kyren Williams playing 65% of the Rams' snaps while projected starter Cam Akers handled the other 35%.

Even with the Rams in a positive game script, Williams was more productive on the day by turning his 15 touches into 52 yards and two scores. Akers managed an ineffective 29 yards on 22 carries but did add a touchdown of his own.

It's also worth noting that most of Akers' touches came late in the game when the Rams had the advantage - making it safe to speculate whether Williams has unseated him as the more valuable backfield option.

While we might not know for sure until we see Sean McVay's gameplan against the tough 49ers' run defense this week, fantasy managers should be scooping up Williams as a potential new real-life starter and fantasy RB3/flex play.

Kenneth Gainwell, Tyler Allgeier, Jaylen Warren, and Tank Bigsby are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Tyjae Spears (15% rostered), Roschon Johnson (15% rostered), Sean Tucker (4% rostered), Jerome Ford (9% rostered), Ty Chandler (8% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options (if healthy): Zack Moss at HOU (7% rostered)

Flex options: Chuba Hubbard vs. NO (15% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Kendre Miller at CAR (16% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: D'Onta Foreman (28% rostered), Salvon Ahmed (1% rostered), Trayveon Williams (0% rostered), Matt Breida (0% rostered), Mike Boone (0% rostered), Rico Dowdle (2% rostered)

Other backups to roster: De'Von Achane (47% rostered), Keaontay Ingram (2% rostered), Zamir White (7% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (18% rostered), Devin Singletary (24% rostered)

Deep stashes: Leonard Fournette (4% rostered), Kareem Hunt (11% rostered), Isaiah Spiller (1% rostered), Jordan Mason (0% rostered), Craig Reynolds (0% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1% rostered), Emanuel Wilson (0% rostered), Anthony McFarland Jr. (3% rostered), Jake Funk (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Jeff Wilson (26% rostered)

Wide receivers Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyPuka Nacua/Tutu Atwell/Van Jefferson, Rams

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. SF	6%/3%/37%	$15/$5/$1

Matthew Stafford appears to be the healthiest he's been in a couple of seasons and carved up the Seahawks' defense without the help of Cooper Kupp - who remains on IR.

Stafford focused in on Nacua (15 targets) and Atwell (eight targets), helping both young wideouts post 119 receiving yards each. Nacua accomplished the feat with 10 receptions, while Atwell did it in six.

It was a career day for Atwell, a former second-round pick from 2021 who has failed to make his mark across two NFL seasons. He now has the path to emerge as a WR4/flex in the first month.

Nacua is a fifth-round rookie who earned a ton of praise this offseason and now looks like Stafford's favorite target until Kupp returns. He can be considered a WR3/flex option.

Meanwhile, Jefferson's stat line was a bit of a letdown in the opener, but he led the receiving corps in snaps and tied for the lead in routes run. The veteran will have better days in the coming weeks, but he's a distant third behind his teammates in terms of waiver wire bidding.

Romeo Doubs, Packers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at ATL	31%	$9

After an offseason of reports suggesting Doubs had improved his game and developed strong chemistry with quarterback Jordan Love, the second-year wideout wasted no time making his presence felt in the opener.

Despite playing limited snaps due to a preseason hamstring injury, Doubs still caught two touchdowns and helped the Packers to the win.

With no timetable for Christian Watson's return to the lineup, Doubs could continue to establish himself as Love's top option in the coming weeks.

If he's still available in your league, you should make a strong push to acquire him this week.

Nico Collins and Jakobi Meyers are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Zay Jones vs. KC (30% rostered), Rashee Rice at JAX (36% rostered), Rashid Shaheed at CAR (16% rostered), Darius Slayton at ARI (4% rostered), Kendrick Bourne vs. MIA (2% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs. SEA (1% rostered), Robert Woods vs. IND (4% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Darnell Mooney at TB (38% rostered), DJ Chark vs. NO (14% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Jonathan Mingo vs. NO (19% rostered), Jayden Reed at ATL (12% rostered), Marvin Mims vs. WAS (36% rostered), Curtis Samuel at DEN (10% rostered), Allen Lazard at DAL (49% rostered), Calvin Austin III vs. CLE (1% rostered), Josh Downs at HOU (1% rostered), Tyler Boyd vs. BAL (44% rostered), K.J. Osborn at PHI (10% rostered)

Other receivers to roster: Jameson Williams (31% rostered), Jalin Hyatt at ARI (19% rostered),

Deep stashes: Demario Douglas vs. MIA (0% rostered), Trey Palmer vs. CHI (1% rostered), Allen Robinson vs. CLE (2% rostered), Nick Westbrook Ikhine vs. LAC (0% rostered)

Tight ends Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyHunter Henry, Patriots

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. MIA	16%	$7

Offseason reports about Henry proved true in Week 1 as he became a safety net for Mac Jones, catching five of his six targets for 56 yards and a score.

With so many injuries already impacting the tight end position for fantasy, Henry could be a waiver wire savior for those in need of help in their lineups.

A potential shootout with the Dolphins in Week 2 could also help boost his numbers, but he should be included in the low-end TE1 conversation from now on.

Juwan Johnson is just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streamer options: Luke Musgrave at ATL (19% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Hayden Hurst vs. NO (11% rostered), Jake Ferguson vs. NYJ (38% rostered), Logan Thomas at DEN (2% rostered), Zach Ertz vs. NYG (5% rostered)

Risky streamer options (if starter is out): Noah Gray at JAX (12% rostered), Isaiah Likely at CIN (34% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Tyler Conklin at DAL (7% rostered), Durham Smythe at NE (0% rostered), Irv Smith Jr. vs. BAL (11% rostered), Donald Parham Jr. at TN 90% rostered), Adam Trautman vs. WAS (0% rostered), Cade Otton vs. CHI (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options (if healthy): Greg Dulcich vs. WAS (36% rostered)

Deep stashes: Cole Turner (0% roster), Darnell Washington (1% rostered)

DefensesWeek 2 streamers

Team	Next Up	Rostered
Giants	at ARI	7%
Browns	at PIT	10%
Packers	at ATL	32%
Buccaneers	vs. CHI	21%
Colts	at HOU	2%

Favorable upcoming schedules: Browns DEF (11% rostered), Jaguars DEF (38% rostered), Chiefs DEF (45% rostered), Seahawks DEF (20% rostered)

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