Week 2 Waiver Wire: Allen Hurns, Ahmad Bradshaw Highlight Pickups to Know

Let the rush to the fantasy football waiver wire begin.

Unexpected rookies, forgotten veterans and names that sent even the most hardcore fantasy players to Google for details broke out in Week 1 of the 2014 NFL season, setting up a chaotic waiver-wire battlefield.

It will surely be a messy battle, so owners better come armed to the teeth with info in order to make the best possible decisions. A strong pickup can pay dividends for weeks to come, while a misfire might end up back on the market this time next week.

Below, let's outline some of the biggest names to know on the Week 2 wire.

Allen Hurns, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

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Say hello to the No. 1 scoring wideout from Week 1 before Monday Night Football.

Allen Hurns captured the imagination of fans around the globe and did not loosen his grip until the final gun in Philadelphia.

With star wideout Cecil Shorts watching from the sideline in sweatpants due to injury, it was the undrafted rookie Hurns, not second-round pick Marqise Lee, who seized the opportunity and never looked back.

Hurns' final stat line, which obviously led the team, read four receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. The scores came in the first quarter, and, as ESPN Stats & Info reveals, they made for a historic debut:

The wildest part about Hurns' debut?

It doesn't feel like a fluke.

The former Miami (Fla.) star caught 14 passes for 232 yards and a score on 136 snaps over the course of the preseason. He earned a roster spot for good reason. He was a big part of the game plan Sunday for good reason. He's going to push to be the No. 2 across from Shorts in two-wide sets for good reason.

It would be silly to expect No. 2 production from Hurns each week. But he's here to stay, and as a matchup-based play each week, owners would be hard-pressed to find a better option on the wire so early in the season.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Indianapolis Colts

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A red flag just shot up in the minds of those who have been burned by veteran running back Ahmad Bradshaw in the past.

It's true. The former Marshall star, now 28 years old, has been a hobbled mess for a large chunk of the past three years and change. He has not played in a full 16-game season since 2010. He played in just three games last year.

But right now, Bradshaw is healthy and productive. He also happens to be in a great situation thanks to the presence of ultra-bust Trent Richardson on the depth chart in front of him.

On Sunday, Bradshaw took three carries for 15 yards while Richardson bumbled his way to 20 yards on six totes. More importantly, the veteran emerged as a reliable target for quarterback Andrew Luck out of the backfield, catching five passes for 70 yards, second only to wideout Reggie Wayne's 98 yards.

Sooner rather than later, Bradshaw's every-down ability and speed, which can compensate for horrible play from the offensive line, will make him the lead back in Indianapolis. It's a thought process NFL.com's Michael Fabiano, among others, agrees with:

Bradshaw's injury risk dwarfs that of most backs, but he is worth owning for the time being, as more touches are surely coming in the future.

Thanks to his ability on the ground and through the air, Bradshaw may quickly become a matchup-proof option for owners, which makes him a priority on the wire.

Terrance West, RB, Cleveland Browns

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Let's dip back into the rookie pool, as injury afforded Cleveland Browns third-round pick Terrance West an opportunity in the lead role Sunday on the road against Pittsburgh. 

Let's just say he ran away with it. 

Cleveland free-agent acquisition Ben Tate, to the surprise of no one, left the game with an injury after just six carries. For a player who has never played in a full 16 games or handled more than 181 carries in a season, the loss was not a shock.

West was then gifted the lion's share of the carries—16 to be exact—which he turned into 100 yards. The breakout performance came a few days after coach Mike Pettine told the rookie in a meeting that he wanted to see more consistency so he could compete for a third-down role.

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“We’re pleased with where Terrance is, but it’s something…he just needs to continue to get better,” said Pettine, per Kevin Jones of ClevelandBrowns.com. “Some guys kind of say, ‘OK, I made it. I’m on the roster,’ but to me, they need to accelerate, not decelerate.”

The timetable has been accelerated.

It should be noted that Isaiah Crowell scored two touchdowns, but Pettine admitted afterward that Crowell was not even in the game plan. The plan was for a Tate-West rotation, so even if the veteran remains sidelined, the bulk of the work will go West's way.

West's value obviously dips when Tate returns, but he is a gold mine for the time being. Really, he's still a sound flex starter at a minimum with Tate healthy, especially now that the coaching staff trusts him to handle the load.

Honorable Mentions

Name	Position/Team	Reason
Jake Locker	QB, Tennessee Titans	Continues to look great when on the field. But can he stay healthy?
Chris Ivory	RB, New York Jets	Less popular name, more production.
Justin Forsett	RB, Baltimore Ravens	Ray Rice out. Bernard Pierce fumbled and benched. Usage equals production. Simple.
Travis Kelce	TE, Kansas City Chiefs	Slowly but surely, the more talented TE will take over in Kansas City.

All average draft positions courtesy of ESPN.  All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.