Sleepers and streamers are what catapult people into the playoffs. Hopefully, these Week 1 wide receiver sleepers and streamers make you look like a genius.
Of course, drafting great players at the start of fantasy drafts is a no-brainer. The thing is, most mistake this for being a great fantasy player. A great fantasy player is always on top of their roster, paying attention to NFL news and being aware of who is being dropped and added to the league.
To clarify, sleepers and streamers are not the same. Sleepers are not starters and more so dart throws into the lineup. You start a sleeper when your back is against the wall and need a potential boom to get a win.
Streamers, are players you would not start every week. These players will be started depending on matchups, injuries, and what the defense is better or worse at.
Week 2 Wide Receiver Sleepers and Streamers
Wide Receiver Sleepers
Darnell Mooney @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DJ Moore becoming the Chicago Bears WR1 this off-season might have been the best thing for Darnell Mooney. In week 1, Mooney was tied for the most targets with Cole Kmet and Roschon Johnson. Moore had just two targets with two catches as Jaire Alexander covered him for most of the game.
In week 2, Moore and the Bears get the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A Buccaneers team who after one week, gave up 46.2 fantasy points to the Minnesota Viking receivers and 242 total yards to their receivers.
Moore will see an uptick in targets. He should started regardless of the week 1 performance. Mooney was tied for the team lead with a 18% target share. A WR19 finish in week 1 has made Darnell Mooney a key sleeper in sleepers and streamers for week 2.
All in all, Darnell Mooney established himself as the Bears WR2. Mooney is a great plug-and-play receiver that needs to be stashed on benches.
Josh Reynolds vs. Seattle Seahawks
To begin with, The Detroit Lions shocked the NFL world with a week 1 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Amon Ra-St Brown established himself as the Lions’ alpha WR1, too. After that, the question was, “Who will be the team’s second option?” Josh Reynolds made it clear, it is him.
Reynolds had four catches for 80 yards in week 1. Josh Reynolds was not in the top 60 wide receiver rankings which can be found here, Reynolds delivered. Furthermore, a WR28 finish has set up Josh Reynolds to be a great waiver wire add ahead of the Lions’ week 2 matchup.
The Lions face a Seahawks team that got carved up by the Los Angeles Rams. Over 240 receiving yards allowed and 46.2 fantasy ppg to the Rams receivers. Matthew Stafford supported the WR8 and WR13 in week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks. Josh Reynolds will deliver another top-30 performance in week 2.
Wide Receiver Streamers
Zay Flowers @ Cincinnati Bengals
First things first, Zay Flowers is the WR1 for the Baltimore Ravens. Mark Andrews is the top option in this offense when he returns. Zay Flowers will still demand volume.
Furthermore, Zay Flowers led all rookies in receiving grade, total yards, yards after contact, and yards after the catch. Zay Flowers saw a 45% target share. That is the most by a rookie in week 1 since Antonio Bryant in 2002.
Flowers has established himself as the best rookie receiver one week into the season and has reached the streamable status going into week 2.
Start Flowers in confidence that Todd Monken will continue designing plays for the rookie, eventually making him a weekly start. Zay Flowers is my favorite receiver in week 2’s sleepers and streamers.
With the Bengals putting up just three points in week 1, Baltimore should expect a high-scoring affair in Week 2 with Flowers being in the middle of producing for the Ravens offense.
Zay Jones vs. Kansas City Chiefs
To begin with, the consensus was always correct. Calvin Ridley never lost a step and is the Jacksonville Jaguars WR1. Now, who can be the WR2 behind Ridley? The clear answer was Christian Kirk, but that looks muggy after Week 1.
In Week 1, Christian Kirk accumulated nine yards on a single catch. Zay Jones was right behind Calvin Ridley in the pecking 0rder of the Jaguars’ weapons. Ridley saw a 34% target share, followed by Zay Jones and his 21% target share. Jones is a very good candidate to stream in what should be one of the better matchups in Week 2.
With the Jaguars facing the Kansas City Chiefs, look for the focus to be trying to stop Calvin Ridley. My prediction is Zay Jones sees another seven-plus targets. A touchdown is hard to predict, but with two of the futures brightest QBs in this matchup, expect a ton of points to be scored, especially after the performance the Chiefs put on in week 1.