Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 2.
Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.
Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 2.
The Steelers have all but officially declared that Russell Wilson won’t play against his former team on Sunday because of a calf injury, meaning Fields is set to make his second consecutive start. Earlier this week, I called him one of the top streaming options in superflex or deeper leagues if he was going to be the Week 2 starter. Last week, the former Ohio State star had 11.9 fantasy points despite not having a touchdown against a tough Atlanta Falcons defense.
Many expected the Broncos to have a top-tier defense in 2024. Denver forced two safeties in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, they had mixed results in slowing down Kenneth Walker III and Geno Smith. The veteran quarterback scored 17.8 fantasy points despite totaling only 171 passing yards and one touchdown. More importantly, he had 30 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Broncos. Don’t be surprised if Fields runs all over Denver’s shaky run defense, totaling his sixth career game with over 100 rushing yards.
While fantasy players had high hopes for Zamir White, Mattison was the Raiders’ best running back in Week 1. He ended the week as the RB18, scoring 14.2 half-point PPR fantasy points. The veteran had only five rushing attempts for 19 yards. However, Mattison was the clear-cut passing downs running back, totaling four receptions for 43 receiving yards and the team’s only touchdown in the game. He ran 21 routes compared to nine for Zamir White, including an 11 to nine advantage on first and second down.
Furthermore, his 15.2% target share was the third-highest on the team, including 6.1% higher than Jakobi Meyers (per Fantasy Points Data). With Dylan Laube a healthy scratch last week, Mattison has a firm grasp on the passing game role. That’s excellent news for his fantasy players. Las Vegas is an eight-point underdog on the road against Baltimore. Last week, Justice Hill had a significant role in the passing game, with the Ravens chasing points against the Kansas City Chiefs. Mattison will find himself in a similar situation on Sunday.
Bigsby was a popular sleeper candidate as a rookie, with many calling for him to steal touches and goal-line work away from Travis Etienne Jr. However, the former Auburn star had 50 rushing attempts for 132 yards, averaging 2.6 yards per attempt as a rookie. While Etienne remains the Jaguars’ lead running back, Bigsby had the best game of his career in Week 1. He had 12 rushing attempts for 73 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per attempt. By comparison, Etienne had had 12 attempts for 44 yards (3.7 YPC).
Jacksonville spent the entire offseason talking about getting the second-year player more involved. Both running backs had the same amount of rushing attempts (12) despite Bigsby playing 20 fewer snaps (37 vs. 17). Furthermore, Bigsby had a five-to-three rushing attempt advantage after Etienne fumbled at the goal line. Meanwhile, the Browns only surrendered 18.8 half-point PPR fantasy points to running backs in Week 1. However, that was to Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. Expect the Jaguars to evenly split rushing attempts between Bigsby and Etienne again in Week 2.
Unfortunately, the Rams will be without Puka Nacua for at least the next four games because of a knee injury. Robinson and Tyler Johnson will compete for snaps as the No. 2 wide receiver in the offense until Nacua is healthy. Johnson had 10.4 half-point PPR fantasy points last week, scoring 4.2 more than Robinson. However, Johnson had a 63-yard catch and run, accounting for 65.4% of his fantasy total. Meanwhile, Robinson was the WR12 from Week 13 through Week 17 last year, averaging 13.3 fantasy points per game.
The veteran was a top-12 wide receiver to end last season despite playing alongside a healthy Kupp and Nacua. More importantly, he had a higher first-read target share (13.9% vs. 11.1%) and air-yards share (27.7% vs. 13%) than Johnson last week, ranking second on the team to Kupp in both metrics (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Cardinals surrendered two touchdowns and 33.2 fantasy points to an inexperienced Buffalo Bills receiving score in Week 1. Expect Matthew Stafford to rely on his chemistry with Robinson from last year.
Malik Nabers was a surprised limited participant in Thursday’s practice because of a knee injury. However, Robinson was a borderline must-start flex play before the Nabers appeared on the injury report. He had a solid Week 1 performance, totaling 8.8 half-point PPR fantasy points on a team-high 12 targets. More importantly, the former Kentucky star ran 83.9% of his routes from the slot, posting a 26% target per route run rate from the slot and 34% overall last week, all team-highs (per Fantasy Points Data).
Meanwhile, the Commanders gave up the third-highest yards per route run average (3.09) and the highest receiving first downs per reception rate (17.8%) to slot receivers in Week 1. Furthermore, three of Baker Mayfield’s four passing touchdowns against Washington last week were by a slot receiver. While Daniel Jones is an awful quarterback, Tommy DeVito had three passing touchdowns in the Week 11 contest against the Commanders last season. Robinson has top-20 upside even after Nabers was cleared to play on Sunday against the NFC East division rivals.
Los Angeles will be without Tyler Higbee for the next several weeks because of a torn ACL the veteran suffered late last season. Parkinson signed a significant contract with the Rams in the offseason after showing flashes of potential during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. The veteran was the TE7 in Week 1, totaling four receptions on five targets for 47 receiving yards and 6.7 half-point PPR fantasy points. While he didn’t put up eye-popping numbers, Parkinson was rightfully a popular waiver wire add earlier this week.
The veteran was involved in the passing attack before Puka Nacua left the Week 1 contest with an injury, posting a 17% target per route run rate in the first half. Furthermore, Parkinson’s 43 routes run ranked first among tight ends and seventh overall in the NFL. He finished third on the team in first-read target (11.1%) and first-down per route run rate (7%) last week (per Fantasy Points Data). Fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised if Parkinson becomes Matthew Stafford’s most reliable target behind Cooper Kupp until Puka Nacua returns.
Mike Fanelli is a featured contributor for FantasyPros. He is also a featured contributor for BettingPros, RotoBaller, Pro Football Network, and the Faceoff Sports Network. Mike is also the former Editor in Chief and fantasy football expert for Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_NFL2 and reach out anytime for fantasy football help.
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