Waiver Wire Targets: Week 2

The Fantasy Football season has officially arrived! The first waiver run of the year is arguably the most crucial as the pool of fantasy-relevant players continues to whittle away as the season goes on. Here are the players you should target on the waiver wire heading into Week 2!

*Players listed in order of Roster Percentage on Yahoo

Tyler Allgeier RB (ATL)

• Roster Percentage: 56.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 50.0%

Tyler Allgeier is being widely overlooked as one of the most valuable handcuffs in all of fantasy football. Allgeier proved his weekly stand-alone upside in Week 1, rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns. The second-year running back will maintain weekly utility and would be thrust into a league-winning opportunity should anything happen to Bijan Robinson.

Kenneth Gainwell RB (PHI)

• Roster Percentage: 47.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 25.0%

Kenneth Gainwell appears to be well ahead of newcomers D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny (Healthy Inactive) on the Eagles depth chart. Gainwell out snapped both of his teammates while leading the Eagles backfield in opportunity share. If Week 1 turns into a trend, Gainwell could be staring down the pipeline of a high-upside opportunity share on one of the league’s best offenses.

Romeo Doubs WR (GB)

• Roster Percentage: 31.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 18.0%

Doubs made a big impact in his first game of the season, catching two touchdown passes from Jordan Love. The return of Christian Watson could ultimately cap Doubs' scoring ceiling as the latter profiles best as a short-yardage target but there could be plenty of value in the Packers wideout if the team maintains momentum.

Gus Edwards RB (BAL)

• Roster Percentage: 30.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 28.0%

The loss of J.K. Dobbins makes Gus Edwards a must-add player entering Week 2. Edwards will fight with veteran Justice Hill for the lead role in the Ravens backfield. The team will likely use a committee approach but both of the aforementioned running backs have been serviceable fantasy options in the past.

Roschon Johnson RB (CHI)

• Roster Percentage: 16.0%

• Faab Recommendation: 22.0%

Roschon Johnson stood out in his first game as an NFL pro, leading all Bears’ players with six receptions, tallying 55 scrimmage yards and one touchdown on 11 touches (5 Rush, 6 Receptions). Khalil Herbert and D’onta Foreman failed to get anything going in either the rushing or receiving department. Johnson could perceivably overtake his teammates as the unquestioned RB1 on the offense before the season concludes.

Rashid Shaheed WR (NO)

• Roster Percentage: 16.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 10.0%

Rashid Shaheed continues to fly under the radar as one of the NFL’s best big-play threats. Shaheed will be a difficult asset to manage due to his boom-or-bust player profile but he is certainly worth a speculative add in this week's waivers.

Kyren Williams RB (LAR)

• Roster Percentage: 5.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 18.0%

Kyren Williams was far and away the most productive running back for the Rams in Week 1. Cam Akers managed a disgustingly inefficient 29 yards on 22 carries but saved his fantasy managers with a short-yardage touchdown. Williams, on the other hand, posted 52 yards on 15 attempts with two touchdowns. If Akers continues to plod his way to disastrous results, Williams will be forced into an increased role in an offense desperate for breakout stars.

Puka Nacua WR (LAR)

• Roster Percentage: 6.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 25.0%

Speaking of breakout stars on the Rams offense, Puka Nacua appears poised for monstrous production for the first few weeks of the 2023 season. Puka led the Rams with 15 targets (7 more than the next closest teammate), catching 10 for 119 yards. The Rams' depth chart at receiver is extremely thin behind Kupp, with the mediocre Van Jefferson as the most notable name. Nacua can easily carve out a role as the team’s top receiver during Kupp's absence with continued utility beyond the star wideout's return.

Joshua Kelley RB (LAC)

• Roster Percentage: 4.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 18.0%

The Chargers have been pining for a between-the-tackle thumper to compliment Austin Ekeler from the moment the undrafted superstar broke out. Joshua Kelley was supposed to take that role when he was drafted in 2020 but failed to meet expectations. In his fourth season as an NFL pro, Kelley finally appears ready to take on the role. Week 1 marked a career performance for the Chargers running back as he matched Ekeler with 16 carries, garnering 91 yards and one touchdown. No other running back on the Chargers offense received a single snap. Kelley is not someone I am willing to empty the budget on but he may prove to be more than a handcuff as the season continues.

Justice Hill RB (BAL)

• Roster Percentage: 3.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 13.0%

Justice Hill popped off for two touchdowns after the Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins in Week 1 but was out-snapped and out-produced on the ground by Gus Edwards. Dobbins will remain sidelined for the remainder of the 2023 season, leaving Edwards and Hill to handle the bulk of carries. Edwards has traditionally played in an increased role as the clearcut number two but Hill is still worth a low-cost add for his big-play propensity.

Tutu Atwell WR (LAR)

• Roster Percentage: 3.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 6.0%

After a poor rookie season, it was easy to write off the undersized Tutu Atwell as he entered year two. Atwell made his name known in Week 1, posting six receptions on eight targets for 119 yards. I do not expect Atwell to maintain such production for the entire season but he is worth a cheap add as a stash in case Cooper Kupp is unable to return at full strength.

Kendrick Bourne WR (NE)

• Roster Percentage: 2.0%

• FAAB Recommendation: 8.0%

The Patriots opened up the 2023 season with a surprisingly high-volume air attack, one that greatly benefited Kendrick Bourne as the team’s top target earner. Bourne topped all Patriots players with 11 targets, catching six for 64 yards and two touchdowns. It is worth mentioning that six different Patriots players saw six or more targets, suggesting that the number one pass-catcher could fluctuate from week to week. Bourne has always been a quality producer when utilized and could continue to deliver WR3 performances in this offense.

Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.

You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at Broto Fantasy Football.

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