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This is a weekly waiver wire breakdown with rapid reactions from the first slate of games (Thursday + 1:00 p.m. Sunday). The waiver wire can be ominous on Tuesday morning, so we’re dipping our toes in with a Sunday afternoon preview. As always, I’m only including players rostered in fewer than 40% of leagues, in no order.
- Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Week 2 Early Waiver Wire Pickups
Ty Chandler (RB – MIN)
Rostered: 4.6%
I wouldn’t be prioritizing this addition by any means, but if you’re in a deeper league, you could do worse than Alexander Mattison‘s handcuff. Mattison hasn’t looked spectacular this season, and Chandler is the heir apparent. Should there be a changing of the guard for any reason, Chandler’s workload would increase.
Gus Edwards (RB – BAL)
Rostered: 31.9%
Edwards is a better running back than Justice Hill, and the Ravens should learn it sooner or later. Assuming the Ravens don’t add another RB, Edwards will be in a committee with Hill and Lamar Jackson going forward. I’d rather Edwards than Hill, but given Jackson’s style of play and plethora of receiving options, Edwards is matchup-dependent.
Zack Moss (RB – IND)
Rostered: 29.5%
Today’s game script favored the Colts for most of the game, meaning they were playing with a lead and playing safe, running the ball. Who knows how often that will happen going forward, especially if quarterback Anthony Richardson were to miss time. However, Moss is the Colts’ clear-cut RB1, making him a waiver priority for anyone struggling to fill an RB or flex spot.
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)
Rostered: 28.9%
Johnson had two fewer touches (six) than Khalil Herbert (eight) today. Johnson also broke off a pretty nice chunk here: https://x.com/AryePulli/status/1703470410472329324?s=20
He’s a rookie in an ambiguous backfield, making him a promising waiver addition. Given the number of running backs the Bears use, plus Justin Fields‘ propensity to run, Johnson isn’t an immediate start. If you have room to stash, however, pick him up.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN)
Rostered: 12.9%
If you roster Derrick Henry, there’s no excuse not to also roster Spears. Spears was once again involved in the offense, touching the ball 10 times today. He’s as clear-cut a handcuff as there is.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU)
Rostered: 3.8%
On a team that will likely lose as many games as Houston will this season, anything is bound to happen. For that reason, temper your expectations with Dell. However, the bright side is that – as I said – anything is bound to happen. If the Texans are losing games, they might as well get their young talent some reps. I’ll happily roster Dell as a dart throw flex.
Jayden Reed (WR – GB)
Rostered: 13.4%
The 2023 second-round pick caught two touchdowns today, making him a must-mention here. I’m not too high on him, however. The Packers have a variety of young receiving weapons, including Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, Luke Musgrave, Christian Watson, and Aaron Jones. The latter two did not play today. Reed should continue to see work, but I am skeptical of any consistency he could offer.
K.J. Osborn (WR – MIN)
Rostered: 27.8%
Although rookie Jordan Addison has made some explosive plays these last two games, Osborn remains the Vikings’ WR2. Osborn is taking more snaps and running more routes than Addison. Osborn is a starting WR in an offense that’s passed 88 times in two games. I wouldn’t be prioritizing him, however. With Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and Addison healthy, Osborn is in an uphill battle for targets.
Josh Reynolds (WR – DET)
Rostered: 4.4%
He was here last week, and he’s here again. Reynolds is the complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown in Detroit’s offense. He benefits from a creative passing attack and defenses focusing on St. Brown. This week, he caught five passes for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
Nelson Agholor (WR – BAL)
Rostered: 0.1%
Given that Agholor is rostered in one-tenth of one percent of leagues and he led the Ravens in receptions and receiving yards this week, he should be a deep-league target and a deep-league target only. Even without Odell Beckham Jr., I have a hard time believing he will consistently rise above Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews.
Luke Musgrave (TE – GB)
Rostered: 16.8%
There’s a lot going on with Green Bay’s pass catchers, and if you can successfully navigate this situation going forward, you should buy a lottery ticket. Musgrave is on the field and running routes, which is always nice to see from a rookie tight end. He was pick 42 in this year’s NFL Draft, so there’s incentive for the Packers to keep involving him in the offense.
Kylen Granson (TE- IND)
Rostered: 0.2%
Granson has ten targets over two weeks, and it’s time we mention him as an option, albeit exclusively in deep and tight end-premium leagues.
Jordan Love (QB – GB )
Rostered: 39.6%
Love put up 20+ points without top running back Aaron Jones, top receiver Christian Watson, and elite left tackle David Bakhtiari. He deserves to be rostered as a matchup-dependent play.
Desmond Ridder (QB – ATL)
Rostered: 2.3%
Do I think he’s some hidden gem going to win you your league? No. However, he quarterbacks an incredibly run-heavy offense, leading to some fantastic looks on play action. He’s also mobile and confidently handled a few options, one of them into the endzone. The Falcons’ schedule isn’t particularly formidable, so if I need a spot start, especially in a two QB or Superflex league, Ridder is a fine option.
Kansas City Chiefs Defense/Special Teams
Rostered: 9.7%
They held Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to nine points in Jacksonville today. Next week, they host the Bears’ offense, which is notoriously prone to turnovers.
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