A little further down the page is a list of potential free agents who could be available on your Week 2 waiver wire. I’ve included players who are owned in fewer than 60 percent of Fantrax leagues.
Before we get to the Week 2 Waiver wire, though, I’ve included a list of key injuries to offensive and defensive players that we’ll be monitoring as the week progresses. The biggest of course being Aaron Rodgers who left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, only to come back and lead the Packers to a victory. The Packers say they are waiting for more results regarding Rodgers’ injury and that he’s questionable in Week 2. Owners may want him to sit out as the Vikings are on the schedule and have had the best of Rodgers of late.
Key Week 2 Injuries
Aaron Rodgers (sprained knee) – did not practice Wednesday
Leonard Fournette (hamstring) – did not practice Wednesday
Doug Baldwin (sprained MCL) – week-to-week
Greg Olsen (broken foot) – ‘out a significant chunk of time’
Delanie Walker (ankle) – placed on season-ending IR
Davante Adams (shoulder) – did not practice Wednesday
Devonta Freeman (knee) – did not practice Wednesday
Rex Burkhead (concussion) – sidelined Wednesday
Marquise Goodwin (deep thigh bruise) – did not practice Wednesday
DeSean Jackson (concussion) – did not practice Wednesday
Marcus Mariota (elbow) – expected to start Sunday
Ted Ginn (knee) – sidelined Wednesday
Kenneth Dixon (knee) – placed on IR until at least Week 11
Jeremy Hill (knee) – placed on season-ending IR
Jermaine Kearse (abdomen) – practiced in full Wednesday
LeGarrette Blount (knee) – reportedly OK
IDP
Keanu Neal (knee) – out for the season
Deion Jones (foot) – placed on IR. Expected back at some point.
Joe Haden (hamstring) – considered week-to-week
Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder)
Trumaine Johnson (concussion)
Trae Waynes (knee)
Randy Gregory (concussion)
Week 2 Waiver Wire (under 60% Owned on Fantrax)
T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars – 46%
The Jaguars are reportedly optimistic about Leonard Fournette’s hamstring injury, according to Ian Rapoport. Even still, T.J. Yeldon should be owned in most 12-team leagues, especially in PPR formats. It’s a no-brainer when you consider nobody ran the ball more than Jacksonville last season. This is a team that wants to keep the football on the ground and adding Andrew Norwell in the offseason proved that.
Yeldon won’t be as productive as Fournette if he has to fill in for him full-time, but take his 14 carries and 17 touches in Week 1 into consideration. Yeldon had some value in deep PPR leagues coming into the season, having had 25 plus receiving yards in six games in 2017. He also had four contests where he had at least four grabs and he walked away with a receiving touchdown in Week 1. You don’t need to break the bank because Fournette seems fine, but this isn’t the first injury he’s dealt with over his professional career.
Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos – 10%
Phillip Lindsay got the OK from Terrell Davis, and he did not disappoint.
I just got off the phone with Broncos rookie RB Phillip Lindsay who ask for my permission to rock the #30. Permission granted. Outstanding young man! It was time to dust off the ole three O. Good luck. #MakeItYours
— Terrell Davis (@Terrell_Davis) September 4, 2018
Royce Freeman came into his first NFL game with a lot of hype and even though he didn’t disappoint it was another rookie who stole the show. Lindsay played 26 snaps compared to Freeman’s 29, and they both had 71 rushing yards on 15 carries, but it was Phillip who picked up three targets. Lindsay caught two of the three balls thrown his way, including one for a touchdown. He became just the third undrafted player to put up 100 total yards and a touchdown in their debut. Freeman and Lindsay may just continue to share the backfield, but one thing is for certain: Devontae Booker and his 19 snaps are sitting in the back seat. If you own Le’Veon Bell or had Jerick McKinnon, spending $15-20 FAAB is not out of the question. Freeman is still the Denver back you want but Linsday should have some value in PPR formats.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 59%
If you read my sleepers piece, Chris Godwin is already on your team and you’re happy he found the end zone, Sunday. I had him ranked higher than DeSean Jackson heading into the season, which looked like a mistake as D-Jax was very impressive with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Having said that, Jackson suffered a concussion and has battled injuries over the past couple seasons. Godwin came on strong last season, and will be involved regardless of Jackson’s health. TB will be throwing often this season as the defense looks pretty soft as expected.
Quincy Enunwa, New York Jets – 32%
Quincy Enunwa had some very impressive games as a sophomore in 2016 (four with 80 plus yards) and you can add Monday night’s game to his resume. The wideout led the Jets with 10 targets, six catches and 63 yards while adding a touchdown. It was his first game since suffering a neck injury during training camp last season, which forced him to miss all of 2017. In 2016, Enunwa was a red zone threat receiving 15 targets with Brandon Marshall hogging 21. Jermaine Kearse (abdomen) was sidelined, but it shouldn’t matter if he returns as it looks like Enunwa has the inside track to slot work and already has a connection with Sam Darnold who looked good.
Ryan Grant, Indianapolis Colts – 31%
Grant was in the sleeper article, too. He led the Colts with eight catches and his nine targets were the third most, just two behind T.Y. Hilton. Grant had a breakout season as the fourth and fifth option in the Washington offense. He’s the number two wideout in Indy and he’ll be productive in PPR formats with Hilton getting all the attention each week.
Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers – 48%
It’s very possible that Davante Adams, Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are all successful this season. The trio combined for 26 targets, 19 catches, 299 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears. Allison had five grabs on eight targets for 69 yards. You saw what Aaron Rodgers was able to do on one leg, right? Rodgers alone is enough reason to hang on to Allison. He makes for a nice bench piece and bye-week fill-in.
John Brown, Baltimore Ravens – 53%
The Ravens game against the Bills was such a cakewalk, it’s hard to take much away from it. All three of Bailtmore’s new wideouts scored a touchdown: Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead. In fact, all three of their running backs did as well. This is going to be a spread out offense and one that will rely on their run game as well as defense. That said, it was Snead who led the way with six targets, four catches and 49 yards. He’s likely available on the week 2 waiver wire if Brown isn’t, but neither will be trust worthy from week-to-week. I’ll give the edge to Brown as long as he can stay healthy. He’ll be a deep threat for Joe Flacco and was a red zone option for him in their first game together.
Brandon Marshall, Seattle Seahawks – 25%
Doug Baldwin reportedly suffered a Grade 2 partial MCL tear and will likely be sidelined for weeks. In his first game with Seattle, Brandon Marshall led the team with six targets and a touchdown. Marshall had three catches and if he can stay healthy, he’ll compete for targets each week. He may even end up as the number one option for Russell Willson. Tyler Lockett also gets a boost as does Rashaad Penny. The rookie wasn’t productive with his seven carries on the ground but he caught four of his five targets. Will Dissly is an interesting name (literally) to keep an eye on, but maybe the biggest takeaway is that Denver still struggles to cover the tight end.
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans – 11%
Delanie Walker is sidelined for the rest of the season due to an ankle injury, leaving Jonnu Smith as the starting tight end for the Titans. Smith showed flashes last season, catching 18 balls for 157 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. It was hard to see his true potential with Walker involved, but we’ll get every opportunity to see it now. The loss of Walker, should excite Corey Davis owners, but it’s quite possible Smith could emerge as the number two or three option in the passing game and a red zone option for Marcus Mariota. Or, Blaine Gabbert. Let’s hope it’s Mariota. I lost Walker, and I’m not running to the wire to spend up or waste a high waiver priority on Smith. I’d much rather Jared Cook and Eric Ebron but I’ll take Smith over Ben Watson. You have to remember, it’s the TE position after all. Set the waiver wire alarm for 3 AM ET, and try and grab him for free off the wire rather than losing a high priority. What? You’ve never done that? I get wanting to secure him with the loss of Greg Olsen and Walker.
Phillip Dorsett, New England Patriots – 22%
Phillip Dorsett had one of the more surprising stat lines of the week as he hauled in all seven of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. Pretty impressive when you consider Dorsett only had 12 catches in 15 games last season. Dorsett’s productive performance is the type many were looking for out of Chris Hogan who had one catch for 11 yards. Hogan’s five targets were the fourth most on the team, behind Dorsett, James White and Rob Gronkowski. Having Tom Brady as Dorsett’s QB certainly makes him appealing, but there will be a lot going on there when Julian Edelman returns. New England also just signed Corey Coleman, which will make it even tougher for Dorsett to churn out repetitive good weeks. Dorsett is more of a DFS play for me.
Cole Beasley, Dallas Cowboys – 30%
It’s not time to panic on Allen Hurns, but I wouldn’t expect much from him or this offense. It’s the Ezekiel Elliott show. Hurns finished fifth on the team with three targets and he only caught one of those balls. Cole Beasley led the way with eight looks, seven catches and 73 yards. He has value in deep PPR formats. Michel Gallup was hardly noticeable, but it’s worth being patient with him.
Jalen Richard, Oakland Raiders – 9%
You can call it game script if you want, but Jalen Richard had nine catches on 11 targets against the Rams. He had five carries and 24 rushing yards compared to Doug Martin’s four carries on 20 yards. Richard has some value in deep, deep, PPR formats. On games where Amari Cooper is shut down by a top corner (could be often), Cook and Richard may see a lot of volume. It’s clear Richard is going to be a player in this offense when this team is down in football games. Which could also be often.
Dante Pettis, San Francisco 49ers – 23%
Dante Pettis is more of a deep league grab or at least worthy of a watch. Pettis finished fourth on the team with five targets and although he only caught two of them, one was good for a touchdown. Pettis had 61 yards in his NFL debut against a very good Minnesota defense. Marquise Goodwin left the game early and is considered day-to-day. Pettis will never get more looks than George Kittle or Pierre Garcon, but he’s worth monitoring in a Kyle Shanahan offense. Goodwin is dealing with a deep thigh bruise and has had some bad luck when it comes to injuries. The speedy wideout has suffered six concussions over his NFL career, and five of them have come since 2016.
Bruce Ellington, Houston Texans – 6%
Bruce Ellington is probably nothing more than a deep league add, but he did finish second on the Texans with eight targets, four catches and 37 yards. We know how explosive this offense can be, but Will Fuller is part of that. If he’s not on the field, Houston suffers but Ellington benefits.
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