Fantasy Football Week 2 Waiver Wire: Make sure James Conner is owned

The first week is basically in the books and it’s time to turn our attention to Week 2 and who you need to add on the Waiver Wire!

Unfortunately, we did have one major injury this past weekend as it would appear Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker is going to be out for the a significant amount of time, if not the entire season. Tight end is pretty thin as it is but we’ll see if we can’t find some players to help you out. The other big name injury happened to Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette as he left with a hamstring injury. The Jaguars are claiming it’s not serious but you shouldn’t take that at face value right now. As a general rule, we’re going to try to highlight players about 55 percent or under so they should be available in a good chunk of leagues. That rule is going to be bent here a little bit for the first couple weeks as players that are higher than 55 percent but should be universally owned. Let’s dive in with streaming quarterbacks we can use this week off the waiver wire!

Quarterback, Week 2

Case Keenum – Denver Broncos, versus Oakland Raiders

Yahoo – 25 percent   ESPN – 12.9 percent 

Pending the results from Monday night football, Keenum could very well enter Week 2 as high as 5th in passing yards after the first set of games. Yes, he had more yards than such names as Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins. It’s very hard for me to believe the Raiders defense is going to be any better than last year when they allowed the third highest quarterback rating in football and gobs of explosive passing plays. If you played Andy Dalton last week and aren’t too excited to play him against the Ravens on a short week, Keenum is the perfect guy to fill in for your squad this week. Keenum and Emmanuel Sanders looked great together as Sanders ran a lot of routes out of the slot. In addition, Sanders played 11 more snaps than Demaryius Thomas which helps Keenum even more. Another 300 yard performance isn’t off the table here.

Tyrod Taylor – Cleveland Browns, at New Orleans Saints 

Yahoo – 12 percent     ESPN – 36.9 percent

Some of the analysis is as simple as go look at the stat line Ryan Fitzpatrick just dropped on the Saints. The other side of the analysis is even though Taylor didn’t post the best stat line in real life, he still paid off for fantasy with his legs. That was a good thing too since he looked indecisive in the pocket and held the ball too long. He only completed 15/40 attempts but his air yards was over 10 yards per attempt in those 40 passes. That means he was trying to stretch the field and didn’t even really involve Josh Gordon yet. This game is in the dome and is going to be a shootout with Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas on the other side. Taylor is going to have to attempt another 35 plus passes in all likelihood and the Saints defense shouldn’t be feared at the moment. There shouldn’t be rush to snag him after the poor passing game but the ceiling is crazy high for Tyrod again this week.

Also Consider – Alex Smith – Washington Redskins, vs Indianapolis Colts, Mitchell Trubisky – Chicago Bears, vs Seattle Seahawks

Running Back, Week 2

Note – If you haven’t had your first run of waivers yet, make sure James Conner is owned. There’s no telling when Le’Veon Bell is coming back to the Steelers. Don’t let him slide through the cracks.

T.J. Yeldon – Jacksonville Jaguars, vs New England Patriots 

Yahoo – 15 percent     ESPN – 8 percent 

The Jaguars may not be worried about Fournette and his hamstring injury but I really don’t care about that at the moment. Yeldon is a priority add because of the opportunity he would inherit in this offense if Fournette can’t go this week(and he doesn’t have the cleanest track record with injuries). Last season, the Jaguars ran the highest amount of run plays at 51 percent through 19 games. That percentage raised a hair in the playoffs but they still called run on the highest percentage in football last year. Yeldon was a solid back last year in limited work with a 5.2 yards per carry and a 7.5 yards per reception. He also took over the lead back role and saw 61 percent of the snaps this past week against the Giants. We say it all the time, opportunity trumps talent level constantly. Jacksonville wants to limit the amount of times Blake Bortles throws the ball and play defense. Yeldon will get all the work he can handle and Corey Grant is a target in deeper leagues for a bench option.

Austin Ekeler – Los Angeles Chargers, at Buffalo Bills 

Yahoo – 17 percent     ESPN – 11 percent 

Ekeler has long been a personal favorite of mine since James Koh and Adam Rank featured him on their Danger Zone segment because all this player does is produce with the ball. Yes, he only got 10 touches. Yes, he only played 22 of a possible 82 snaps. However, the second year player has a career average of 5.8 yards a carry and a whopping 11.4 yards per reception. He likely isn’t as small as some think, being listed at 5’10” and 200 pounds. That’s only one inch shorter and five pounds lighter than Christian McCaffrey. When he’s on the field, he’s getting used and while Melvin Gordon is the clear alpha there is still some standalone value for Ekeler every week.

If anything happens to Gordon, Ekeler should be in line for more touches even if he’s not getting loaded up with 20 carries. He has the luxury of residing in what’s a great offense and has a top flight quarterback in Philip Rivers. This is the type of player that should be owned right now and players would spend most of their FAAB(free agent acquisition budget) and their waiver priority if he had a bigger share. We talk about league winners and getting them before the rush starts. Ekeler can be that guy this year. If you need immediate help, Yeldon might be the better option but if your running back corps is looking fine through Week 1, give Ekeler your top priority.

Javorius “Buck” Allen – Baltimore Ravens, at Cincinnati Bengals 

Yahoo – 3 percent     ESPN – 13.4 percent 

With Kenneth Dixon now injured and not expected to play for a little while, this Ravens backfield is down to two, Alex Collins and Buck Allen. They’re also playing in two days so while I fully believe that Collins is still the main running back in the offense, it’s a stretch to think that Allen isn’t going to be involved in the passing game. Not only that, but if you look at 2017 and combine rushing attempts with targets in the red zone and Allen has the edge on Collins 38-28 which was a surprise. Now, the Ravens offense is wildly different than last season from a talent perspective around quarterback Joe Flacco. Even with the upgraded talent, Allen is going to see some work this week and is someone that can be a flex option if you absolutely need it.

Phillip Lindsay – Denver Broncos, vs Oakland Raiders 

Yahoo – 4 percent     ESPN – 1.9 percent

When there’s a running back who gets 15 carries and goes over four yards a carry, we need to be interested. On top of that, Lindsay saw three targets in the passing game and while this is going to hurt Royce Freeman‘s owners, there is no real reason to think that Denver won’t continue to split the running back reps pretty evenly. It’s hard to say Lindsay didn’t earn it considering he and Freeman were deadlocked in carries and yards. The difference was the passing game since Freeman wasn’t targeted. Do I want to start Lindsay next week? Not particularly since this is going the be a time share and we’re not sure if it’s going to stay that even. He’s still a player you want on your bench as the situation plays out. Pending Monday Night Football results, the Broncos had the sixth most rushing yards this past week. It’s amazing what a competent quarterback can do.

Also Consider – Nyheim Hines/Jordan Wilkins – Indianapolis Colts, at Washington Redskins, Frank Gore – Miami Dolphins, at New York Jets, Aaron Jones – Green Bay Packers, at Minnesota Vikings

Wide Receivers, Week 2

Some might be more excited for the Seattle receivers than I am because even though Doug Baldwin is out indefinitely, I’m not confident putting either Brandon Marshall or Tyler Lockett in my lineup.

Geronimo Allison – Green Bay Packers, at Minnesota Vikings 

Yahoo – 12 percent      ESPN – 9.2 percent 

He might not be the best option for those players looking for immediate help at the position since the Packers are headed into Minnesota with Aaron Rodgers potentially nursing a knee injury. Still, this is a receiver that drew eight targets from Rodgers and had one of the signature plays of the young season. He made a spectacular catch on an absolute dime thrown by Rodgers over 60 yards in the air for a touchdown. Those type of plays go a long way as far as rapport and trust between quarterback and receiver. Allison is hooked up with one of the best quarterbacks we’ve ever seen and Jamaal Williams wasn’t inspiring in the running game. This offense right now begins and ends with the right arm of Rodgers and Allison averaged 14.1 targeted air yards and accounted for a 33.1 percent of the team’s targeted air yards. That is something that every fantasy player should want.

Chris Godwin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, vs Philadelphia Eagles

Yahoo – 30 percent    ESPN – 33.9 percent 

I understand why DeSean Jackson looks more appealing from a box score perspective. He racked up 105 yards more than Godwin and scored one more touchdown. However, Godwin played 70 percent of the snaps to just 30 percent of Jackson and Jackson left in the fourth quarter with a concussion. If Jackson can’t play, Godwin should have an even larger share of the pie and even though it’s not the best matchup against the Eagles, he will be hard to turn away from this week. Godwin had an 18.2 aDOT in this matchup and is a clear deep threat. Tampa has a talented corps of receivers and maybe Ryan Fitzpatrick has a little bit of magic left in that big beard.

Ryan Grant – Indianapolis Colts, at Washington Redskins 

Yahoo – 3 percent     ESPN – 9.7 percent

The early returns on the Colts defense aren’t exactly great and in turn, Andrew Luck threw 53 passes this past Sunday. Grant was third on the team in snap percentage and tied for third in targets behind only Jack Doyle and T.Y. Hilton. There’s not too much from the metrics since Luck really didn’t let it rip downfield here but you don’t need a lot of metrics to love a receiver when Luck is throwing him the ball. We have no reason to doubt Luck’s health at this point and if 319 yards on 53 attempts is a “bad” game, I’m looking for cheap ways to get in on this offense.

John Ross – Cincinnati Bengals, vs Baltimore Ravens 

Yahoo – 25 percent      ESPN – 52.1 percent 

Typically, one catch for three yards on two targets isn’t something that I’m terribly excited about. Even last night, I thought Ross wasn’t quite there yet. It wouldn’t be a surprise since this was only his second NFL game but the deeper stats were a little more encouraging. He was on the field for over 70 percent of passing plays for the Bengals and he didn’t suddenly get slower. The Bengals are going to need a player that can stretch the field alongside A.J. Green and Ross is certainly that player. As he gets more experience, the points seem like they’re going to follow.

Quincy Enunwa – New York Jets, vs Miami Dolphins

Yahoo – 6 percent      ESPN – 9.2 percent 

Enunwa looks like he might be a must in any type of PPR league. He and rookie quarterback Sam Darnold look like they’re on the same page early and he’s probably going to see the bulk of the targets as Darnold matures on the field. That’s exactly what we saw Monday night as Darnold only threw the ball 20 times but targeted Enunwa on 10 of those attempts. Robby Anderson did have the highlight reel 41 yard touchdown but that was his lone target. A rookie quarterback who shows us that kind of favoritism needs to be paid attention to. Enunwa is much more attractive in any type of PPR setting but he’s very valuable on the Jets roster. Until further notice, Enunwa should hold more value than Robby Anderson.

Also Consider – Phillip Dorsett – New England Patriots, at New York Jets, Tyler Lockett/Brandon Marshall – Seattle Seahawks, at Chicago Bears, John Brown – Baltimore Ravens, at Cincinnati Bengals, Cole Beasley – Dallas Cowboys, vs New York Giants and Dante Pettis – San Francisco 49ers, vs Detroit Lions

Tight End, Week 2

This is the spot where owners are going to need the most help since we lost Delanie Walker for the season and Greg Olsen didn’t look promising since he was in a boot and on crutches during the game. The unfortunate part is there is not a lot to write home about at this position but we’ll try to unearth some gems. If you stayed up late, Jared Cook for the Raiders absolutely worked the Rams. He’s a perfectly fine option this week, especially in Denver. It should be noted that Cook has pulled this before. He has. monster game and makes you believe and then disappears the next three weeks. I’d rank him third or possibly fourth on this list.

George Kittle – San Francisco 49ers, vs Detroit Lions 

Yahoo – 76 percent     ESPN – 37.1 percent 

I’m not sure why the ownership percentage is so slanted towards Yahoo but Kittle needs to be owned in every single league by Wednesday morning. Kittle led the team in targets, yards, had 118 air yards and almost had a longe touchdown catch. This might not be an every week performance since receivers Marquise Goodwin and Pierre Garcon combined for just three targets but Kittle had a huge 13.1 aDOT. Jimmy Garoppolo clearly trusts Kittle and is going to lean on him all year long. There’s upside here for a top 5-8 tight end this season and there’s no reason fro him to be un-owned at this point. I wouldn’t even hate you if you tried to snag him even if you have a Gronk, Ertz or Kelce.

Jonnu Smith – Tennessee Titans, vs Houston Texans 

Yahoo – 1 percent     ESPN – 0.2 percent 

This is mostly just a hope the second year player can step right into the role that Walker had in this offense. Walker saw seven targets before he left with his injury and while Corey Davis is going to lead the team in targets, Smith could inherit a nice secondary role. Just be aware that Smith has a career 19 receptions through 17 games. He’s a huge man at 6’3″ and 248 pounds with solid speed but we just don’t truly know what type of player we have on our hands.

Ricky Seals-Jones – Arizona Cardinals, at Los Angles Rams 

Yahoo – 29 percent      ESPN – 7.0 percent 

The end results for Seals-Jones may not look promising since he only hauled in three receptions for 19 yards but the other stats tell a more hopeful story. He was on the field for 36 of the 40 pass attempts for Sam Bradford, which is a great start. He saw 17.4 percent of the targets, which is high for a tight end. Lastly, he dropped a touchdown pass which would have wildly swung the perception of how his week went. The matchup next week isn’t ideal, especially with Bradford looking pretty rough this week. However, owners are going to be desperate right now for a tight end. Seals-Jones has potential and is a large part of the offense. Sometimes, that’s all you can ask for.

Eric Ebron – Indianapolis Colts, at Washington Redskins

Yahoo – 34 percent    ESPN – 16.4 

If none of these options are for you, consider taking a look at Ebron. He’s been a punchline through a lot of his career since things never quite worked out in Detroit but he’s in a solid offense and has a role. Five targets for a tight end is nothing to sneer at and Ebron actually had the highest aDOT of any receiving option of any Colt this past week, including T.Y. Hilton. The Colts defense is shaky so Ebron still should be involved in the passing game every single week. You can make a strong argument that he’s the number two option for a tight end needy owner this week.

Ben Watson – New Orleans Saints, vs Cleveland Browns 

The Browns bled points to tight ends last year and even though they kept Pittsburgh tight end Jesse James in check, I wouldn’t put too much stock into that. Watson saw five targets this past week and while the game script should be better against Cleveland, Watson still has a chance at a touchdown. I think this might be more of a one week band-aid as opposed to a season long option, but keep it in mind if you’re out in the cold this week at the position.

Also Consider – Will Dissly – Seattle Seahawks, at Chicago Bears

D/ST, Week 2

Chicago Bears, vs Seattle Seahawks 

Yahoo – 48 percent    ESPN – 38.9 percent 

Going against Russell Wilson is never going to be comfortable, but the Bears defense played extremely well in Green Bay and were a dropped interception away from winning that game outright. They created four sacks, a fumble and an interception for a touchdown which inflated the score a little bit. Denver was able to sack Wilson six times this past week and create two turnovers of their own. I think even though the Bears might give up some points, they create enough turnovers and bring Wilson down to make it worth your while.

New York Giants, at Dallas Cowboys 

If you can’t tell already, pickings are going to be very slim for streaming defenses this week. Maybe some injuries pop up during the week that change the complexion of some matchups but for now things will be dicey. Dallas looks like they’re severely lacking in skill position players after just one game but the depth chart would tend to agree. Allen Hurns has never been anything to fear and Michael Gallup is just a rookie. It’s a little surprising that Dallas didn’t add anyone after losing their top two targets in the off-season but that should benefit the defense of the Giants. Provided they can keep Ezekiel Elliot in check, it’s hard to see a path of success for the Dallas offense.

Also Consider – New York Jets – vs Miami Dolphins

As always, things can change in a hurry. Make sure to follow me @bucn4life and keep up to date about what’s going on and feel free to ask me any questions as you set your wire today!