Week 2 Waiver Wire: Top Pickups and Drops
Oh, the waiver wire. The great marketplace of potential. The chance you have on a weekly basis to save your season by identifying the right player. The proverbial beach you'll prospect looking for that rare piece of gold.
Nothing is more maddening or addicting that combing the waiver wire for that hidden gem who could change your season, so it's with great pleasure that I unveil my first waiver guide of the season. From my rankings of your top targets on the market this week to a few players you can probably give up on already, my guide should help you navigate the murky waters of waivers this week.
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Top Pickups
1. Justin Forsett, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Ownership: 0.5 percent
Analysis: Week 1 was supposed to be Bernard Pierce's shot to make his mark as the Ravens starting running back. And it was, until he fumbled in the second quarter and was benched.
Enter Forsett. The journeyman scatback took the most of his opportunity, rushing 11 times for 70 yards and a touchdown and adding five catches for 14 yards. That was good for 14 points in standard-scoring leagues but, more importantly, might have been enough to push him into starting status this week.
Consider this from Jamison Hensley of ESPN via Evan Silva of Rotoworld:
Here's the tricky thing when it comes to Forsett—it's hard to imagine Pierce won't eventually earn the starting gig back at some point, while the team also has Lorenzo Taliaferro waiting in the wings. So in adding Forsett, keep in mind that his relevance could be very short-lived as a fantasy option. And if the guy who owns Pierce in your league drops him, he's absolutely worth stashing.
But Forsett is a great play against a Pittsburgh team that just gave up 183 rushing yards and two scores on the ground to the Cleveland Browns. If you need a short-term solution at running back, Forsett is your guy this week.
2. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers
Ownership: 39.3 percent
Analysis: Kelvin Benjamin was able to produce with Derek Anderson under center. Just imagine what he might do when Cam Newton returns to action.
The rookie wideout was targeted eight times on Sunday, catching six passes for 92 yards and a score. Easily Carolina's most dynamic wideout, Benjamin's stock should only rise with the more talented Newton under center. Keep in mind that wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant combined to catch five passes for 32 yards.
Yes, Greg Olsen will continue to be the team's top option in the passing game, but Benjamin has every opportunity to have a huge rookie season. I've been singing his praises as a deep sleeper all summer—after a huge debut, I'm not about to change my tune.
3. Allen Hurns, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ownership: 5.8 percent
Analysis: Well, who saw that one coming?
The undrafted wideout burst onto the season against the Philadelphia Eagles, catching four passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. He certainly looked like a player who deserved a big role with the Jaguars moving forward.
I wrote extensively on Hurns here, so I won't go too in-depth here. But my basic conclusion is that, while Hurns did find himself in a perfect situation to have a huge week—Cecil Shorts was out and the Philly secondary is pretty poor—he's also a player that flashed in the preseason and outplayed fellow rookie Marqise Lee.
The Jags aren't exactly brimming with talent at wideout, so Hurns' big performance should earn him a larger role on the team. In other words, while you shouldn't expect Hurns to replicate his huge performance consistently, there are also plenty of signs indicating that his fantasy relevance could be sustainable.
4. Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans
Ownership: 5.8 percent
Analysis: Jake Locker's talent has never been in question. His consistency, passing accuracy and ability to stay healthy? Yes, those have all been questioned.
But not his talent.
We were all reminded of that on Sunday, when Locker threw for 266 yards and two scores and added 14 rushing yards, good for 19 points in standard leagues. That means that Locker has now had 18 or more fantasy points in four of his last eight starts and 14 or more points in five of them.
He also has talented young receivers in Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter, a reliable target in Nate Washington and an interesting scatback option in Dexter McCluster. For a QB2 target, Locker presents a lot of upside, especially in a week when players like Nick Foles, Tom Brady, Tony Romo and Robert Griffin III disappointed.
Locker is a great add this week.
5. Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ownership: 30.1 percent
Analysis: What a roller coaster we've been riding with Markus Wheaton. He was a popular sleeper pick throughout the summer but generally didn't impress in the preseason, so folks kinda forget about him. Six receptions for 97 yards later, we're all paying attention again.
As the No. 2 option at wideout behind Antonio Brown, Wheaton should produce for owners this year. He doesn't have the touchdown upside of Benjamin or Hurns so he drops a bit on this list, but he's a player worth nabbing if you are weak at wide receiver.
6. Dwayne Allen, TE, Indianapolis Colts
Ownership: 4.4 percent
Analysis: If you watch the Colts closely, one thing has become pretty clear to you—Dwayne Allen is a better player than Coby Fleener.
He certainly proved that on Sunday night. While Allen was catching four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown on five targets, Fleener snared just three passes for 21 yards on eight targets, dropping a pass that led to an interception.
Andrew Luck should—and I cannot stress the should enough—start relying on Allen more heavily than Fleener as the season goes on. He's not as athletic, no, but he's a better blocker and a more consistent player. Yes, the Colts have a lot of mouths to feed in the passing game, but getting Allen his should be a priority for this team. For now, he's a great TE2 stash.
7. Isaiah Crowell, RB, Cleveland Browns
Ownership: 1.6 percent
Analysis: If the Browns didn't give Terrance West the majority of the work when Ben Tate went down for injury—and if West didn't respond with 16 carries for 100 yards—Crowell would probably be No. 1 on this list. Given Tate's injury history and the fact that he didn't even survive the half, relying on the former Houston Texans back is a risky gamble for fantasy owners, after all.
But the Browns did rely on West as the lead guy, and probably will continue to do so. The fact that it was Crowell who scored twice on Sunday on just five carries probably hurts West's fantasy value more than it helps Crowell's going forward. Still, he's worth stashing, especially if Tate is out long-term and West struggles this season.
8. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Ownership: 6.1 percent
Analysis: I know, I know, recommending a player who just caught three passes for 49 yards on five targets probably doesn't get you particularly pumped up. Especially when he didn't see the field much and the other tight end in Kansas City, Anthony Fasano, was targeted more (six targets) and caught a touchdown pass.
But here's the thing—Kelce is way more dynamic in the passing game than Fasano and after the game, Andy Reid essentially admitted (in his own, stubborn way) that Kelce should have been more involved in the game plan, via Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star:
Um, yeah, Andy, I'm pretty sure he could, too.
The Chiefs are devoid of playmakers in the passing game. Kelce is a weapon in the passing game. Logic should dictate that he'll be involved more going forward. He's worth a stash as a TE2 as we all wait for Reid and logic to grab some lunch and figure out a bigger role for Kelce in the offense.
9. Andrew Hawkins, WR, Cleveland Browns
Ownership: 11.7 percent
Analysis: Here's the deal, and it's really, super simple: If Josh Gordon stays suspended, Hawkins is a must-own player and could be an legitimate flex option from week to week. If Gordon's suspension is overturned, Hawkins isn't worth owning. There you have it.
10. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Ownership: 20.0 percent
Analysis: You could essentially take the section on Allen compared to Fleener and apply it here between Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson. Essentially, Richardson got the bigger workload—six carries for 20 yards, three receptions for 31 yards—and the start, but Bradshaw looked far, far better when he was utilized, rushing three times for 15 yards and adding five receptions for 70 yards.
If Richardson continues to underwhelm—and Sunday night suggests he will—Bradshaw should continue to earn himself a bigger role in the offense. His injury history is a concern, sure, but he's also pretty talented and just 28 years old.
The Colts probably aren't going to trust him with a huge workload anytime soon given his durability concerns, but don't be surprised if he continues to earn a bigger proportion of touches out of the backfield and continues to outproduce Richardson. It might not be long now before he's the running back worth owning in Indy.
Honorable Mention: Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ownership: 1.8 percent
Analysis: Bobby Rainey has no value if Doug Martin's injury isn't serious. He's the most valuable player on this list if Martin has to miss time. So yes, keep a close eye on Martin's status and consider stashing Rainey in case the Bucs remain tight-lipped about Martin's injury throughout the week.
Honorable Mention: Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns
Ownership: 24.3 percent
Analysis: Look, the NFL might be overturning his suspension later today. If that happens and you have Gordon on your roster, he could win you the league title this year. It's possible that the NFL will announce his suspension will be upheld before the waiver period ends in your league, however, so monitor the situation for now. But keep in mind that the potential reward here is bigger than you'll get with any other waiver target all season long.
Players to Drop
After Week 1, this is a pretty tough list to compile. I'm generally a believer in waiting to set your lineup on fire until a few weeks into the season. So outside of the obvious drops like injured players or the ones who have finally been suspended indefinitely as they should have been months ago, you won't find me pointing out too many players worthy of dropping that are widely owned just yet.
- I thought Heath Miller was overrated coming into the year and his three receptions for 26 yards in Week 1 didn't convince me otherwise. There are players with higher upsides out there than him.
- If you were hoping Josh McCown could replicate his magic from a year ago, his performance against the Panthers (183 passing yards, two touchdowns, two picks) probably should be the indication you need to let him go.
- I'm not sure I'd drop LeGarrette Blount just yet, but after Le'Veon Bell went off in Week 1, I'm not sure I'd say Blount is a must-own player, either. It appeared coming into the season he might be a player that would get a nice amount of touches and even be a touchdown vulture. After Sunday, he looks more like a handcuff.
- After carrying the ball four times for 19 yards, Jeremy Hill looks like a pretty safe bet to be a backup and not a complementary runner to Giovani Bernard this year. That might change in the future, but for now Hill isn't a must-own guy. If you are looking for any bit of hope you can get on Hill, however, there is this from Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer:
- The St. Louis Rams have no idea how to use Tavon Austin, and he doesn't seem to make the most of the limited opportunities he gets. He's the ultimate weekly lottery ticket, and if you aren't a fan of paying for a prayer, he's not a player you need to roster.
So there you have it. Generally, I'll preach patience over throwing your players overboard after one bad week, but even I'll willingly give up on a few players rather quickly. After all, you can always pick them up again, right?
*All ownership statistics from ESPN leagues.
Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes, too. It's more fun than karate class with Antonio Brown.
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