Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Leftovers Week 2: QB Streams and More!
Putting in a waiver wire claim for a guy and not getting him is incredibly annoying. Especially when your commissioner won’t listen to you about making FAAB (free-agent acquisition budget) a thing in your league. Sadly, the waiver claim order is never in my favor, and the Waiver Wire Leftovers are all that are available.
If this sounds like an issue you’re facing, then boot up ESPN.com and get your waiver wire open to check for a couple of these steady fantasy players who can add serious depth to your roster. Most of these athletes won’t win you your league, but they should give you a fighting chance.
To qualify for these leftover pieces, a player must be available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. With that being said let’s jump into player on who may be just sitting on your waiver wire.
Waiver Wire – QB Streamers
Do you have faith in your fantasy Quarterback each week?
If you don’t have Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan (to name a few) your answer is probably no, and that’s okay! Fantasy Football is all about the matchups and quarterbacks don’t have to be set in stone all season.
Waiver Wire Leftovers: Alex Smith
Still available in 52% of ESPN leagues Alex Smith is looking to keep building on his hot start in 2017.
The Chiefs will be opening up at home this week against Philadelphia, a defense that looked solid at home against the Redskins. However, Arrowhead Stadium is a whole new ball-game and the Chiefs showed that their offense is no joke against the Patriots in Foxborough.
Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt are legit receiving options and may cause problems to every defense this season with the help of Smith.
Now that was a pretty obvious one after his break out week 1 performance, so lets talk about two more guys who could enjoy their matchups this weekend.
Carson Palmer
Disappointing start for Carson Palmer on Sunday as he had a stat-line of 27/48, 269 yards, 1 TD, and 3 Interceptions.
He should be able to bounce back this week, however, when he matchups up with an Indianapolis Colts team that look as if they were the worst team in football. The Colts young secondary surrendered 300+ yards to Jared Goff and gave up 46 points last Sunday (worst in the NFL).
Jay Cutler
I know, I know. Jay Cutler has been out of football all off-season. He’s washed up. He throws his best passes to the defense. I get it!
Cutler hasn’t been the most fantasy relevant in recent years, but this is a new team. The Dolphins have DeVante Parker, Julius Thomas, Jay Ajayi, and don’t forget Pro-Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry. This team is a huge upgrade from the Bears and unlike his time in Chicago, the offense won’t revolve around him.
The Dolphins open up against the LA Chargers who can put up some points, leaving the Dolphins to throw a little bit more than I think they’re planning on. Cutler knows this offense, and coach Adam Gase’s system, so the transition could be perfect.
He’s not a sexy option and I wouldn’t consider him unless you’re in a deep league or possibly a 2 QB league, but he’s available in 97% of ESPN leagues so the option is always there.
Waiver Wire Leftovers: Tarik Cohen
Tarik Cohen is available in 56% of ESPN leagues and this man is a legitimate PPR option. I’m not going to talk much about him because we saw what he could do in the passing game on Sunday.
Cohen had 13 touches, 8 of those being receptions with one of them going for a touchdown.
PPR Alert: Shane Vareen
Vareen is brought into this scenario every season. Not a player who’s going to blow-up fantasy wise, but the Giants showed again that he’s the pass catching back in New York.
Shane is really only a possible play in PPR so sorry Standard players!
Kerwynn Williams
Kerwynn Williams is still available in 80% of ESPN leagues which blows my mind. He’s not going to be David Johnson by any means but we saw that he should be the one getting the goal-line touches with Johnson missing 8-12 week due to a wrist dislocation.
Williams is worth the stash, especially if you are hurting from the loss of DJ or Danny Woodhead.
PPR Alert: Javorius “Buck” Allen
Speaking of Danny Woodhead. With him taking a backseat for 4-6 week due to a hamstring, Buck Allen becomes extremely interesting. Joe Flacco is a check down monster leading the NFL with 153 targets to running backs since the start of last season.
Allen is definitely worth keeping an eye on as he’s available in 95% of ESPN leagues.
Waiver Wire Leftovers: Kenny Golladay
Still available in 61% of ESPN leagues, Kenny Golladay showed that his name isn’t just going to be involved in preseason hype. He’s a “big body that can move,” says Lions QB Matthew Stafford.
6’4″, 213 pounds while running a 4.5 are pretty impressive numbers. The season just started for the young man and now he has all season to build chemistry with Stafford. Do yourself a favor and go pick him up now!
If your team just needs depth, these might be the players for you.
Nelson Agholor (Available in 78% of ESPN leagues)
8 targets is nothing to turn away from. If you can build chemistry with a young quarterback (Wentz), you can do yourself some serious favors. We’ll see how it plays out!
PPR Alert: Cooper Kupp (Available in 69% of ESPN leagues)
We’ve heard plenty of talk about Kupp in LA before the season started and I personally think he will deliver. He caught 4 passes, one of which went for a touchdown in a game where the Rams were leading the whole game.
Imagine if they’re playing from behind. Something you really shouldn’t have to imagine when it comes to the Rams.
Waiver Wire Leftovers: Jesse James
Available in 80% of leagues, Jesse James proved me wrong this past weekend. I thought the tight end position was up for grabs in Pittsburgh but it turns out James took the trade for Vance McDonald as a challenge!
James went for 2 TDs against the Browns and ended up receiving 8 targets in the contest. If you’re on the good side of Big Ben you can produce solid numbers all years!
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Coby Fleener
I’ve never been a huge fan of Coby Fleener when it comes to fantasy but it’s obvious the Saints are missing Brandin Cooks. Drew Brees home/road splits have been a serious concern the past couple years, however, so he may be able to throw even more than 6 passes Fleener’s way at home.
PPR Alert: Zach Miller
Miller is a great person to keep an eye on this season if you play in a PPR league. He catches a good amount of passes for a tight end, (while being on the Bears) which makes him an instant sleeper just because his location.
Miller was 3 catches shy of the 50 reception mark last season and he only played in 10 games.
He’s currently available in 98% of ESPN fantasy leagues and is a great TE to throw in when your TE1 is on the BYE.
Baltimore Ravens
This weeks Defense/Special Teams stream of the week is a no brainer. The Baltimore Ravens looked great on the road this Sunday, picking off the Red Riffle, Andy Dalton, 4 times and recovering a fumble in a shut-out victory over the Bengals.
This week they play their first home game against the Cleveland Browns!
Next: FanDuel Week 2 NFL Picks
If you’re torn on who to pick-up/drop tweet at us first or tweet at the author @BWrightSports. Also, use the hashtag #WaiverWireLeftovers to let the opponents in your league know they missed some hidden gems.