Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 2

Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season is complete, giving us all plenty of information to move forward. I’ve highlighted my top waiver-wire targets who are rostered in fewer than 50% of Fantrax leagues. To accommodate different league formats and roster sizes, I’ve provided plenty of options to consider stashing before the season kicks off.

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Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 2

Kaelon Black – RB, 49ers

The 49ers selected Kaelon Black in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, which was a surprise pick vs. what other backs were available, but San Fran was very high on his profile. This meant the high potential for Black to be the Christian McCaffrey handcuff…but actually meant Black splitting touches 15-15 with the veteran. Black rushed 14 times for 65 yards (4.6 YPC) and caught a five-yard pass. Stand-alone potential here beyond being a high-upside handcuff. The 49ers may be aiming to preserve CMC.

Tyler Shough – QB, Saints

Tyler Shough had a rough start in Week 1, in a game in which he threw two interceptions and fumbled, but he truly turned his performance around for a big week. Shough finished 35/56 for 410 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, rushed for another eight yards, and scored 23.2 Fantasy Points. Volume paired with clear upside here, just like we saw last season as a rookie. The Shough-to-Chris Olave connection also looks like one of the strongest in football.

Keenan Allen – WR, Colts

Keenan Allen caught all six targets for 32 yards in his debut for the Colts. In early September, it was reported that Allen would not face any discipline for his DUI charge. Alec Pierce is now dealing with a hand/wrist injury we will need to monitor. Allen started hot for the Chargers last season and can be a very reliable outlet for Daniel Jones as a Colt this season. Historic Fantasy Football producer.

Antonio Williams – WR, Commanders

Antonio Williams caught all four targets for 64 yards (16.0 YPR) and a touchdown for 16.4 Fantasy Points in his NFL debut. Even with veterans Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs on the roster, Williams led the team in receiving yards and Fantasy Points on the day. Williams was selected in the third round as a dynamic playmaker and looked great in Week 1. It may be tough competing weekly with McLaurin and Diggs, but the talent is clearly there, and he looked well connected with Jayden Daniels.

Michael Mayer – TE, Raiders

Brock Bowers’ surprise knee surgery was horrible news for Fantasy Football managers, right before the season started. Michael Mayer, a former second-round selection by the Raiders, was a highly touted prospect who may just be a lot of teams’ TE1 in the NFL. Mayer caught six of his seven targets for 32 yards in Week 1 for 9.2 Fantasy Points. Not an electric week, but leading the Raiders in targets means a ton here for me.

Caleb Douglas – WR, Dolphins

In Caleb Douglas’ NFL debut, he led the Dolphins in both receptions (five) and receiving yards (94) on seven targets earned. Douglas’ 18.8 yards per catch showed some upside in making the big plays, and the Dolphins’ first wide receiver rookie of their three in 2026 showed out for a solid 14.4 Fantasy Points in Week 1.

Tre Harris – WR, Chargers

Tre Harris caught three of his six targets for 20 yards in Week 1. The sophomore did not have a major week, but what was encouraging was the fact that he finished second on the team in targets. Ladd McConkey took a huge hit and exited the game early. Should McConkey miss any time, Harris’ role would be even further boosted, but even if not, he could be on the rise. Especially tying Quentin Johnston in targets but doing more with his.

Tyler Allgeier – RB, Falcons

Tyler Allgeier out-touched rookie Jeremiyah Love 19 to 13 in Week 1, despite Love scoring more Fantasy Points. Love had been dealing with an ankle injury coming into this game, so this made sense. Allgeier totaled 71 yards and nine Fantasy Points in Week 1. Moving forward, Allgeier should continue to play a role in this Cardinals offense and, at minimum, will be a solid handcuff to roster as Love gets healthier.

TJ Hockenson – TE, Vikings

TJ Hockenson caught four of his five targets in Week 1 for 36 yards and a touchdown, for 13.6 Fantasy Points. Hock finished second on the team in targets in a blowout win. It has been some time, but Hockenson was once a very Fantasy-dominant tight end, even as a Viking. Escaping JJ McCarthy as the starting quarterback and being healthy in general can mean a bounce-back for Hockenson.

Mike Gesicki – TE, Bengals

Mike Gesicki caught five of his seven targets in Week 1 for 78 yards (15.6 YPR) and a touchdown, which was 18.8 Fantasy Points. Gesicki finished above both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in all receiving categories, which will not be sticky week-to-week but shows he is important. The passing volume from Joe Burrow should be strong weekly, and the connection to Gesicki looked solid in Week 1.

Rashod Bateman – WR, Ravens

Rashod Bateman was targeted just one time in Week 1, but surrounding factors may boost his role heading into Week 2. WR1, Zay Flowers, sustained a hamstring injury that kept him out of the second half of Week 1. While considered “not serious”, we have to monitor this. Rookie Ja’Kobi Lane also suffered a fractured wrist, which will cost him multiple weeks. As long as Bateman does not face any sort of legal trouble from his Summer incident, then Bateman can be a viable add. Mostly if Flowers is out.

Devaughn Vele – WR, Saints

Devaughn Vele caught seven of his nine targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 for 19.9 Fantasy Points. Vele tied for second on the team in targets in a game where Tyler Shough threw 56 times. There is volume to be had in New Orleans, especially for Vele, who is taking on the vacated WR2 role while Jordyn Tyson is on the IR.

Denzel Boston – WR, Browns

Denzel Boston caught a 460yard touchdown in Week 1, which was Deshaun Watson’s only touchdown pass for the day. The rookie finished with two receptions for 59 yards (29.5 YPR) and a touchdown for 13.9 Fantasy Points. No other Brown finished with more than five targets, so roles are wide open in Cleveland. Whether we can trust these roles is another story.

Emmett Johnson – RB, Chiefs

Emmett Johnson flashed his dual-threat upside in Week 1 with two catches for 44 receiving yards. The rookie totaled 10 touches and 68 yards on the night. Kenneth Walker III finished Week 1 with 26 touches, as the clear lead back. But there may be more big wins that script Johnson into work to preserve KWIII, and as a handcuff if he ever fell into the job he would have major upside as an explosive playmaker for KC.

Kayshon Boutte – WR, Texans

Kayshon Boutte was traded for by the Texans this offseason following the ACL tear of Jayden Higgins. Boutte’s efficiency numbers and big-play ability were on display for the Patriots last season. Catching one of his two targets for 21 yards shows he can make big plays, but is not super encouraging. My thought process here is that he is still getting accustomed to the Houston system and building a connection with CJ Stroud, and that he will grow into that WR2 role still.

Mike Washington Jr. – RB, Raiders

Mike Washington Jr. rushed seven times for 41 yards (5.9 YPC) in his NFL debut. This comes after the rookie had a solid preseason, especially in the actual preseason games. Washington remains a smart handcuff stash in Fantasy Football, not only due to his personal explosive profile but also because of Ashton Jeanty’s 29-touch usage in Week 1.

Malik Washington – WR, Dolphins

Malik Washington led the Dolphins with eight targets in Week 1. Washington only caught three of those targets and finished with a fumble, but he did produce 57 yards (17.7 YPR) on the day. While Washington’s weekly upside may be in question, he may end up being the most reliable target for Malik Willis beyond dump-offs to De’Von Achane.

Malachi Fields – WR, Giants

Malachi Fields caught two of his four targets in Week 1 for 25 yards. Nothing spectacular here, but Fields looked like the true WR2 over Darnell Mooney for Jaxson Dart. Fields can continue to grow during his rookie season into this role and can be stashed while he does.

Braelon Allen – RB, Jets

Braelon Allen finished Week 1 with 10 rushing attempts for 40 yards (4.0 YPC). Breece Hall finished with a hefty 24 touches, and the Jets managing a lead could have added to Allen’s volume, but he looked good with what he got. Allen even had a big 20+ yard touchdown called back due to a holding penalty. Allen is at minimum a good handcuff to stash, who can earn some complementary work.

Mack Hollins – WR, Patriots

In deeper leagues, you can take a look at Mack Hollins. Hollins caught four of his five targets for 51 yards in Week 1, leading the team with a 19-yard reception. AJ Brown just hit the IR and is projected to miss about six weeks due to his high-ankle sprain, so an outside wide receiver is going to need to step up for Drake Maye.