Week 2 Waiver Wire

Alright! Fantasy football is here! Week 1 is over and there have been a few expected players that broke out. Every week this list will consist of  3 QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs and D/ST, and some guys to avoid.

All players will be owned in 60% or less in Yahoo! Leagues.

Quarterback

MUST ADD

1. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Owned in 56% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 346 passing yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT

Looking like him old self, isn’t he? 346 yards, 3 TDs and and INT? I’ll take it. It was San Diego, but he’ll be solid from here on out. 

2. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Owned in 48% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 299 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Finally! Sam Bradford has his weapons, and he definitely utilized them. He threw for almost 300 yards, 299 to be exact, with 2 TDs and an INT. Expect Bradford to put up some good numbers on a weekly basis with guys like Jared Cook helping him out. Like Pryor, he’s a top-15 option.

3. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

Owned in 59 % of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 327 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

He had chemistry with elite wide-out Larry Fitzgerald,  and he also made Andre Roberts look fantasy relevant. He’s good for close to 300 yards a week. His coach, Bruce Arians, loves to throw.

T-3. Terrelle Pyor, Oakland Raiders

Owned in 12% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 217 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 112 rushing yards

I wrote a bit about him in my previous article, “5 Players You Need To Pick Up NOW!” and it will stick. From a real football perspective, no, it was not pretty, but we’re fantasy players. Any QB with rushing ability is a tempting pickup. Pryor’s numbers will remind you of Tim Tebow’s from two seasons ago.

 

AVOID

1. EJ Manuel, Buffalo Bills

Week 1 Stats: 150 passing yards, 2 TDs, 23 rushing yards

Overall, just not a great fantasy day for EJ. The rushing was very limited, and without that, he’s not a viable fantasy asset.

2. Geno Smith, New York Jets

Week 1 Stats: 256 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 47 rushing yards

Granted, the Buccaneers have a pretty good defense, but with limited receiving corps, I don’t see Geno Smith as a viable option unless you’re in a deeper 2 QB league.

 

Wide Receiver

MUST ADD

1. Julian Edelman, New England Patriots

Owned in 25% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 7 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TDs

I did not expect a good game for Edelman. I expected a lot of Kenbrell Thompkins and Zach Sudfeld but that was not the case. He played 83-of-94 offensive snaps, and was in on every 3 WR set. With Amendola dealing with some nagging injuries and Sudfeld doubtful for Week 2 versus the Jets, expect Edelman to have a good game and a good season moving forward.

2. Marlon Brown, Baltimore Ravens

Owned in 5% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 4 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD

He’s the number 2 wide-out now with Jacoby Jones hurt and teams are looking to shut down Torrey Smith, week-in-week-out. He could finish the season with 7-9 TDs. Pick this guy up.

3. Brian Hartline, Miami Dolphins

Owned in 46% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 9 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD

Well, he matched his 2012 TD total! As expected, Joe Haden shut down Mike Wallace and that let Brian Hartline take over. From here on out, any time a big time corner, or extra coverage is assigned to Mike Wallace, Hartline will explode. He is a low-end WR3.

 

AVOID

1. Jerome Simpson, Minnesota Vikings

Week 1 Stats: 7 receptions, 140 yards

If you think Jerome Simpson will repeat this production, register yourself in the nearest insane asylum. NO WAY.

2. Jermaine Kearse, Seattle Seahawks

Week 1 Stats: 2 receptions, 49 yards, 1 TD

So many other options, don’t expect a repeat. He’s, at best, the Seahawks’ fourth receiving option.

 

Running Backs

MUST ADD

1. Joique Bell, Detroit Lions

Owned in 37% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 25 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 5 receptions, 67 yards

He’s mainly a pass catcher, but got quite a few goal-line carries. This game could spell the end of Mikel LeShoure. Even with Reggie Bush being all Barry Sanders-like, he is a bit banged up, and Bell will still rack up good receiving numbers. Great PPR flex option.

2. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos

Owned in 43% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 28 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 37 receiving yards

Yes, the numbers, on paper, don’t look great, but he led the team in RB snaps at 25 and carried the ball 9 times. Hillman has shown fumble troubles, and Montee Ball hasn’t really progressed in pass protection. Moreno is a good runner and has great pass catching ability. He’s the RB to own in Denver.

3. Da’Rell Scot, New York Giants

Owned in 3% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 23 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 51 yards

After fumbling twice, David Wilson was benched. Again. Last season, he was benched indefinitely after fumbling in the opener. The Giants, and Tom Coughlin have said they need David Wilson, but it might take a few weeks to incorporate him back in the offense so he can “become a better ball handler”. Scott is a great pass catcher, and might start Week 2.

 

AVOID

1. Jackie Battle, Tennessee Titans

Week 1 Stats: 21 rushing yards, 1 TD

It was a goal-line poach. Don’t expect Battle to be a big part of this offense, though he might get some goal-line touches.

2. Vonta Leach, Baltimore Ravens

Week 1 Stats: 3 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 1 TD

He’s a full-back. He’ll get some fluky TDs here and there, but not a valid asset in any format.

 

Tight End

MUST ADD

1. Julius Thomas, Denver Broncos

Owned in 56% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 5 receptions, 110 receiving yards, 2 TDs

What a game for the Portland State alum! Although he had a great game, this was probably his ceiling. He is a TE1 moving forward and must be on fantasy rosters.

2. Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles

Owned in 21% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 2 receptions, 56 receiving yards, 1 TD

Clearly the tight end to own in Philly, ahead of both Zach Ertz and James Casey. He was only targeted 3 times though. He’s a TE2.

3. Kellen Winslow, New York Jets

Owned in 6% of Yahoo! Leagues

Week 1 Stats: 7 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD

You either hate him, or love him. I love him. He had 8 targets and was Geno Smith’s number one receiving options. He’s merely a bye week filler, or a TE2, but this was not a fluke.

 

AVOID

1. Garrett Graham, Houston Texans

Week 1 Stats: 4 receptions, 27 receiving yards, 1 TD

His TDs will be sporadic and random. Don’t bet on him weekly.

2. Joseph Fauria, Detroit Lions

Week 1 Stats: 3 receptions, 27 yards, 1 TD

I like him long-term, but for this season, he will see minimal production. This might be his lone TD this season.

 

3 Defenses To Start Week 2

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Oakland Raiders (They’re playing the Jaguars….)

Good luck in Week 2!