And just like that… we’re back! The first Sunday of the NFL season is officially in the books, and there were some crazy performances across the board. Each Sunday night during the season, I’ll be bringing you early waiver wire suggestions to help you get a jump on the competition! Thanks for joining me as we hit the waiver wire looking for players who can help you out for Week 2 and beyond. Here are the players whose performances earned them a waiver claim heading into Week 2, including a handful of Redskins and a few guys with the last name “Brown.”
Note: All players have less than 30% ownership in Yahoo leagues.
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Wide Receiver
Marquise Brown (BAL): 28% owned
Week 1 stats: 4 receptions, 147 receiving yards, 2 TDs
For the 28% of users who took a chance on Hollywood Brown, you won’t have to compete on the waiver wire this week. Brown’s massive Week 1 performance is sure to make him the hottest commodity on the open market, and for a good reason. He showed that he has fully recovered from the Lisfranc surgery that dropped his draft stock. As a favorite target of big-armed Lamar Jackson (5TD Week 1), Brown should continue to eat in his rookie season.
Next three weeks: ARI, @KC, CLE
Terry McLaurin (WAS): 1% owned
Week 1 stats: 5 receptions, 125 receiving yards, 1 TD
McLaurin made a splash in the offseason and earned a starting spot in Washington’s weak receiving corps. He stood out in his NFL debut, going for a buck twenty-five and a score, finishing tied for second on the team in targets (7). With the running game stalled (28 yards), the ‘Skins chucked the ball 45 times, with McLaurin the primary beneficiary. He needs to be picked up as the likely No. 1 in an offense that should be chasing points all season.
Next three weeks: DAL, CHI, @NYG
A.J. Brown (TEN): 2% owned
Week 1 stats: 3 receptions, 100 receiving yards
Brown finished tied for second in targets (4) Sunday with Dion Lewis and behind Delanie Walker (6). He was the most-targeted Titans wideout, and he managed 100 yards, including a 51-yard grab. With a friendly schedule on the horizon and a rejuvenated Marcus Mariota, Brown makes an excellent addition this week.
Next three weeks: IND, @JAX, @ATL
Danny Amendola (DET): 5% owned
Week 1 stats: 7 receptions, 104 receiving yards, 1 TD
Amendola easily paced the Lions in targets, and the shifty slot man should see a healthy share of looks moving forward. Coming off a big game, his ownership is sure to spike, so add him where you can.
Next three weeks: LAC, PHI, KC
D.J. Chark (JAC): 2% owned and Chris Conley (JAX): 1% owned
Week 1 stats: 4 receptions, 146 receiving yards, 1 TD (Chark), 6 receptions, 97 receiving yards, 1 TD (Conley)
Although it came against a weak KC defense, the performances of Chark and Conley warrant some waiver consideration this week. Chark led the team in receiving yards, and Conley led the team in targets (7). Both out-produced preseason No. 1 Dede Westbrook, and they should be scooped up now with very low ownership.
Next three weeks: @HOU, TEN, @DEN
John Ross (CIN): 6% owned
Week 1 stats: 7 receptions, 158 receiving yards, 2 TDs
With A.J. Green out for a few more weeks, Ross and Tyler Boyd were the primary options for Andy Dalton on Sunday. Ross came up with a huge performance and led the Bengals in targets, receiving yards, and TDs. With Joe Mixon possibly out with an ankle injury moving forward, expect Ross’ role to remain steady. The big-play first-rounder could be in for a breakout season following a monster Week 1.
Next three weeks: SF, @BUF, @PIT
Running Back
Malcolm Brown (LAR): 8% owned
Week 1 stats: 11 rushes, 53 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Brown is the backup to own for the Rams, as he finished with 11 touches to Todd Gurley‘s 15. Though Gurley was much more effective on 14 carries (97 rush yards), Brown was the one who scored both of Los Angeles’ rushing TDs in the contest. He’s less than 10% owned right now, but that number is sure to skyrocket. Darrell Henderson, meanwhile, saw just one carry (o yards) and will likely be dropped en masse.
Next three weeks: NO, @CLE, TB
Chris Thompson (WAS): 12% owned
Week 1 stats: 3 rushes, 10 rushing yards, 7 receptions, 68 receiving yards
Thompson led the Redskins in targets (10) in Week 1, and he finished just three total touches behind starter Derrius Guice. With Adrian Peterson a healthy scratch, it looks like Thompsons should be a highly-used player in this offense. With a shortage of talent at wideout, Thompson’s role as a pass-catcher gives him a high floor, particularly in PPR formats.
Next three weeks: DAL, CHI, @NYG
Raheem Mostert (SF): 0% owned
Week 1 stats: 9 rushes, 40 rushing yards, 1 reception
Tevin Coleman exited Week 1 with an apparently severe ankle injury. Matt Breida got banged up too, with a concussion, and he spent most of last year tagged with one injury designation or another. Meanwhile, Mostert led the backfield in rushing yards Week 1 and is now the backup RB with Coleman out. He’s one Breida injury away from a starting gig. Pick him up now!
Next three weeks: @CIN, PIT, BYE
Giovani Bernard (CIN): 13% owned
Week 1 stats: 7 rushes, 21 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 42 receiving yards
Joe Mixon (ankle) is questionable headed into next week after exiting Week 1 with an injury of unknown severity. Bernard would land a workhorse role if Mixon missed time and should be rostered immediately.
Next three weeks: SF, @BUF, @PIT
Tight End
Vernon Davis (WAS): 2% owned
Week 1 stats: 4 receptions, 59 receiving yards, 1 TD
With the oft-injured Jordan Reed (concussion) watching from the sidelines, the ageless Davis stepped up to score a TD in a surprisingly close Week 1 game. Reed is rarely healthy, and Davis is a great stash and quality streamer when Reed misses time. To make this pickup even sweeter, Davis’ strong play comes on the heels of the recent passing of his grandfather. What a week for the long-time veteran.
Next three weeks: DAL, CHI, @NYG
Other TEs to consider: Blake Jarwin (DAL), C.J. Uzomah (CIN)
Quarterback
Josh Allen (BUF): 32% owned
Week 1 stats: 24/37, 254 passing yards, 1 TD/2 INT, 10 rushes, 38 rushing yards, 1 TD, 2 fumbles lost
This is cheating a little bit, because he’s more than 30% owned, but Allen has to mentioned here. He turned the ball over four times but still managed to save the day with two fourth-quarter TDs to cap off a 17-point second-half comeback win. Allen’s upcoming schedule is exploitable, and his abilities as a rusher give him a high floor, even if he is turnover-prone. This may be your last chance to pick him up.
Next three weeks: @NYG, CIN, NE
Case Keenum (WAS): 2% owned
Week 1 stats: 30/45, 380 passing yards, 3 TDs
Keenum was anointed the starter in the offseason ahead of rookie Dwayne Haskins to the chagrin of many Redskins fans. Keenum dispelled the notion that his excellent 2017 season in Minnesota was a fluke… at least for one week. Keenum had a massive game against a stout Philadelphia defense and needs to be picked up now for any QB-needy owners.
Next three weeks: DAL, CHI, @NYG
Gardner Minshew (JAC): 0% owned
Week 1 stats: 22/25, 275 passing yards, 2 TDs/1 INT
Minshew was nearly perfect in fill-in duty for the injured Nick Foles. Foles fractured his clavicle and is out indefinitely. Minshew’s performance should be taken with a grain of salt given the blowout nature of the contest and the weak Chiefs defense, but he is nevertheless the starter until Foles returns. He could warrant some deep-league, two-QB, or Superflex consideration, even with a tough stretch of games upcoming.
Next three weeks: @HOU, TEN, @DEN
D/ST
Carolina D/ST: 6% owned
The Panthers get two juicy draws over the next two weeks, as they play against the Buccaneers’ and Cardinals’ turnover-prone QBs and struggling offenses. This unit should feast against Jameis Winston and Kyler Murray over the next couple of outings.
Next three weeks: TB, @ARI, @HOU
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Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.