Fantasy Football Week 2: Players To Add and Drop In Fantasy This Week
By Leo Howell
Welcome back to another addition of “One to add, one to drop.”
The goal is to make sure that your team is managed well all season long, as in-season management is just as important as solid drafting. Fansided will bring you weekly columns all through the NFL season to keep you up to date and to keep your fantasy team relevant all season.
So let’s make sure you rule the waiver wire during Week 2 with these players you should add and drop:
QB to Add: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals faced one of their toughest opponents on Sunday in St. Louis against the Rams, and Palmer came through with a pretty solid fantasy day, coming in just over 300 yards with 2 touchdowns.
Palmer faces the Lions and Saints in the next two weeks, which should be strong matchups for him, and will also likely be games featuring plenty of garbage time. Palmer LOVES garbage time.
QB to Drop: Geno Smith, New York Jets
You might have picked Geno up, or put in a waiver claim, after seeing his reasonable success in his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But consider this stat, courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Geno Smith only threw for 25 yards of his 256 while under pass rush pressure, and took 5 sacks. Smith has yet to truly be tested by a defense, and he will face better pass rushes against the Patriots and Bills in the coming weeks.
RB to Add: Joique Bell, Detroit Lions
Mikel Leshoure doesn’t fit the current look in Detroit, but Bell does. Bell provides the same versatility the Lions sought in Reggie Bush, which means Bell will get plenty of chances to recreate his fantastic Week 1.
If you’re in a PPR league, and you aren’t picking up Joique Bell, you want to lose.
RB to Drop: Isaac Redman, Pittsburgh Steelers
Yes, he’s a “starter” but only by default. The Steelers don’t have a running game if Redman is the featured back, because he ruined any good will he had with the team after his Week 1 performance.
If you’re in a deeper league, hang on to him just in case. But in a shallow league, there’s not enough upside to keep Redman on your bench. He’s going to be useless once Le’Veon Bell is healthy, and that’s if there’s any fantasy relevance in Pittsburgh at running back this season at all.
WR to Add: Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins aren’t going to go deep as often as Mike Wallace owners would like. They are going to throw short as often as Brian Hartline owners would like.
Hartline is going to be heavily targeted by the developing quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and if the Fins can’t find a running game, he becomes their running game via the short pass.
Hartline may not score a touchdown per game, but you can count on a handful of catches for a decent amount of yards. He’s probably on your waiver wire, and I believe he’s a flex play for the next few weeks in 12-team leagues and larger.
WR to Drop: Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ offense is not a good place to invest your roster spots in a 10 or 12 team league this season, so if you need to let go of someone to pick up Joique Bell or Brian Hartline, you can let go of Wright.
Jake Locker and Ryan Fitzpatrick aren’t going to provide enough good targets to keep Wright and Kenny Britt owners satisfied. So feel free to own Chris Johnson, and in a deep league you can keep Wright over much lesser options in worse situations, but in a shallow league, get a player with more upside.
TE to Add: Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos
Your league is probably going to have a race to pick up Thomas, and they should.
If you’re lucky enough to get him, enjoy it.
And then trade him if he has another good game.
Thomas certainly got off to a great start, but Peyton Manning is going to use all of his receivers equally. Get value for Thomas after a strong start to his season, and continue to use the tight end you drafted, or any of the other solid options that are likely on your waiver wire.
Outside of Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez and Jimmy Graham, there’s not much difference in most of the remaining starting tight ends.
TE to Drop: Ed Dickson, Baltimore Ravens
If you want a deep pick at tight end, you can do better than Dickson. Some fantasy owners added him thinking he could replace Dennis Pitta, but the truth is that he’s nowhere near the talent of the now-injured Baltimore tight end.
Don’t pick up Dickson, and don’t stash him. Even in the deepest of leagues, there are better options on the waiver wire.