Week 2 Waiver Wire Top Fantasy Pickups After Latest NFL Injuries

Oh, the injury bug, a dreaded foe for even the most experienced fantasy football managers. We're only a week into the 2025 NFL season and injuries are already impacting lineup decisions across the fantasy world.

Quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle are already set to miss the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 tilt against the New Orleans Saints. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is hoping that extra rest will allow him to play on Monday night against the rival Los Angeles Chargers.

And these aren't the only noteworthy players on the Week 2 injury report.

The good news is that a few bye-week fill-ins may still be lingering on the waiver wire to provide help.

Here, you'll find a look at this week's top remaining plays, the latest injury buzz and some of the best waiver-wire targets likely to still be available.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Rams QB Matthew Stafford

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
5. Justin Fields, New York Jets
6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
10. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The good news is that managers shouldn't have to worry about injuries involving our top 10 QBs for Week 2. However, Purdy is expected to miss an extended period with "a variant of turf toe," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

This will leave some managers without one of the top streaming quarterbacks of 2025.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looms as a solid replacement, given his talent and strong supporting cast. He'll face an underrated Tennessee Titans defense on the road this week but should be a serviceable replacement for Purdy.

Stafford is still available in more than 60 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Other QBs to consider on the wire this week include Joe Flacco, Daniel Jones and Geno Smith. In terms of long-term value, though, Stafford has the most enticing floor.

Running Back

Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini

Browns RB Dylan Sampson

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
4. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
5. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
6. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
8. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
9. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
10. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

The running back landscape is similar to that at quarterback, meaning no top RB options carry injury concerns. Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (knee) is doubtful, while Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (personal) is listed as questionable.

Though not relevant to this week's remaining matchups, Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on Thursday night. Managers who had him rostered should attack the waiver wire in Week 3.

Unfortunately, there aren't many enticing RBs available on the waiver wire right now. That may change in the coming weeks, but the opening schedule didn't uncover many sleepers.

Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson is still available in over 45 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, while Browns rookie Dylan Sampson is available in roughly 40 percent of Yahoo leagues but 33 percent of ESPN leagues.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell, who is available in 95 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues, is another reasonable waiver option. He had just 23 scrimmage yards in Week 1 but saw 10 touches to Jaylen Warren's 13.

Ollie Gordon II, Kyle Monangai and Miles Sanders don't have much value currently but are decent stash options in deeper leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Jeff Lewis

Chargers WR Quentin Johnston

1. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
4. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
5. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
6. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
8. Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
9. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
10. Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Managers face more injuries at receiver than at QB or RB. The 49ers appear likely to miss Jauan Jennings (shoulder) alongside Purdy and Kittle against the New Orleans Saints this week. Kansas City Chiefs wideout Xavier Worthy (shoulder) is officially doubtful.

New York Giants receiver Wan'Dale Robinson is listed as questionable with a knee injury, while New York Jets receiver Josh Reynolds is out with a hamstring injury.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin (ankle) practiced for the first time this season on Thursday. He could potentially return on Monday night, though managers should limit their expectations for him.

It's worth checking to see if Chiefs wideout Marquise Brown is available in your league, even though he's rostered in over 60 percent of Yahoo leagues and 50 percent of ESPN leagues. He hauled in 10 passes last week and will be up against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that was just torched by CeeDee Lamb.

Quentin Johnston is a more realistic waiver target, rostered in 55 percent of Yahoo leagues but only four percent of ESPN leagues. Johnston caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1.

Other receivers worth targeting on the wire this week include Cedric Tillman, Kayshon Boutte, Joshua Palmer, Rashod Bateman, Calvin Austin III and Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Tight End

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange

1. Tre McBride, Arizona Cardinals
2. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
3. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
4. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
6. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
7. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
8. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
9. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
10. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Injury Report and Waiver Wire Targets

Kittle is on injured reserve, and Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (hip) and Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) aren't ready to return. Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert has also been ruled out with a knee injury.

The biggest name to watch at tight end, though, is Bowers. He's missed practices this week with a knee injury but is still hopeful about Monday night.

The problem is that the Raiders will face the Chargers at 10 p.m. ET on Monday night. That gives him extra time to recover—and Bowers will be a top play if he can go—but it also leaves managers with few last-minute options. Anyone who holds out hope that Bowers can play could end up drawing a blank if he can't.

However, teammate Michael Mayer is available in more than 95 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. Managers who are willing to wait until the week's final game to make a call on Bowers should add Mayer right now as a potential pivot.

Managers unwilling to wait or looking to replace other tight ends should target Juwan Johnson or Harold Fannin Jr. Johnson is available in over 60 percent of Yahoo leagues and 99 percent of ESPN leagues. He also just had an eight-catch, 76-yard outing.

Fannin caught seven passes for 63 yards in Week 1 and is available in roughly 60 percent of Yahoo leagues and nearly all ESPN leagues.

However, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange is the top pickup of the week. He has top-12 potential and is available in more than 70 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy roster information from FantasyPros.