Week 2 Waiver Wire Breakout Fantasy Football Pickups from Sunday's Box Scores

The first Sunday of play in the 2025 NFL season provided fantasy managers with several surprises and disappointments, as well as a look at a few breakout performers who could very well play significant roles in determining their league champion.

On the heels of Sunday's games, and a look forward to the high-stakes match-ups in the weeks to come, these are a few Week 2 waiver wire options to consider based on Sunday's scores.

All fantasy stats via FantasyPros.com.

Hollywood Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Fernando Llano

The big-play potential of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice led to Hollywood Brown being the forgotten Chiefs receiver in fantasy entering this year. Still, a dislocated shoulder to the former and the latter's suspension catapulted him into fantasy relevancy.

He responded, too, catching 10 balls for 99 yards. That was good for 19.9 PPR league points, and those numbers should improve in the coming weeks, especially with Worthy's status uncertain as he seeks a second medical opinion.

With defenses sure to key in on Travis Kelce and attempt to take the future Hall of Fame tight end out of the equation, opportunities will open up for Brown. If he can avoid injury, do not be surprised if he becomes the fantasy standout he has been predicted to be dating back to his arrival in the league.

Brown is available in 86 percent of Yahoo and 50 percent of ESPN leagues, making him readily acquirable. For now.

Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Arguably the most surprising performance in all of Week 1 was that of Daniel Jones, who balled out against Miami, turning in one of the better fantasy performances of his career.

Jones completed 22-of-29 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown, then added seven carries for 26 yards and two rushing scores.

How much of that was the quarterback's play and how much of it can be attributed to a Dolphins team that was outplayed and out-schemed remains to be seen, but Jones was accurate, did not hesitate to air the ball out, and affected game on the ground.

There are tough defensive match-ups on the horizon vs. Denver, Tennessee, and the Los Angeles Rams, but Jones is a quarterback to consider stashing as a backup and paying attention to his play in the coming weeks.

Especially if your starter struggled Sunday, not unlike his opponent, Tua Tagovailoa for Miami.

Jones is rostered in just five percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, meaning he should be more than available to managers intrigued by what they saw in Week 1.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

The eyes of the football world were on Aaron Rodgers in his debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. He rewarded the attention with a four-touchdown effort that saw him complete 73.3 percent of his passes for 244 yards.

He was not the same MVP fantasy managers may be used to, hurling the ball 40 yards downfield. Still, he was alert, made smart decisions, found open receivers, and most importantly, capitalized on scoring opportunities.

Rodgers meshed well with Arthur Smith's offense and has consistently thrived in playaction schemes throughout his career. If the Steelers can get the run game going, which it struggled mightily with in New Jersey Sunday, the sky is the limit for a Pittsburgh team that has not been synonymous with offensive output in reason years.

Rodgers has winnable games against Seattle and New England on the horizon before a big, Week 4 showdown with familiar foes Minnesota.

The four-time NFL MVP is available in 13 percent of Yahoo and five percent of ESPN leagues, but will not remain that way if he can replicate his performance against the Jets.

Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo

Make no mistake about it: James Conner is still the lead back in Arizona. Still, Sunday saw the re-emergence of Trey Benson, last year's third-round draft pick.

Benson carried eight times for 69 yards against the Saints, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. One of those carries was for 52 yards, but he still made the most of the opportunities he got with the offense.

He added one reception for six yards.

His 8.5 points in PPR leagues may not wow any manager, but he has big-play potential. If the team struggles offensively, or Conner cannot get in the groove, do not be surprised to see Benson get increased looks as the Cardinals look to keep pace in a loaded NFC West, featuring potent offenses in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Even if you look at the seven rushes for 17 yards outside of his one, big burst, Benson is a great handcuff option for Conner, who is 30, in his eighth NFL season, and has yet to play every game in a season.

The Florida State product is available in 61 percent of Yahoo and 47 percent of ESPN leagues.