Week 2 of the NFL season often reveals depth chart clearer pictures, snap shares, and who’s getting real usage—not just hype. If your roster needs upgrades or depth, these players are worth scooping up now.
🔍 Top Waiver Wire Targets
These players are rostered in less than ~60% of leagues and have shown flashes.
| Position | Player | Week 2 / Early Stats & Usage | Why They’re Interesting Going Forward |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) | Showed clean first-half execution vs Panthers in Week 2. | Has favorable matchups ahead, and “add where you can” value if your starter is shaky or injured. |
| QB | Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons) | Scored 24.0+ fantasy points in Week 1; good rushing upside. | If WR Drake London’s health is uncertain, Penix may lean more on his legs and quick game. Great QB2 or streamer. |
| RB | Dylan Sampson (Browns) | In Week 2: 12 carries + 8 receptions for ~91 total yards. | Dual-threat RB in both run & pass — valuable in PPR formats. Likely to hold onto fantasy relevance. |
| RB | Trey Benson (Cardinals) | Ran for 68 yards on 8 carries vs Carolina in Week 2. | Preseason hype matches early production. Could see increased role, especially in favorable matchups. |
| WR | Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (Chiefs) | Last week: led Chiefs in targets (and caught ~10 passes for ~99 yards) as the primary receiver with Worthy potentially injured. | High target share in Mahomes’ offense plus injury to other WRs makes him especially valuable for fantasy managers. |
| WR | Wan’Dale Robinson (Giants) | Big game in Week 2: ~8 catches, 142 yards, 1 TD on ~10 targets. | Deep threat ability plus large target share makes him valuable, even if inconsistent. Worth starting in 12-team PPRs. |
| WR | Troy Franklin (Broncos) | 8 catches for 89 yards + TD; led team in targets in Week 2. | Seems locked in as a key option in Bronco offense; buy in before ownership catches up. |
| TE | Jake Tonges (49ers) | In Kittle’s absence, caught all 3 targets (including a TD) vs Steelers or in similar game; early snaps high with favorable red-zone potential. | With George Kittle likely out 3-5 weeks, Tonges has path to being TE1 for 49ers. Good streaming option. |
| TE | Juwan Johnson (Saints) | Big target count (8) in Week 1; continuing to get red-zone/reliable usage in passing game. | Solid floor and upside. If you need a TE and the top ones are gone, Johnson is one of the safer bets. |
⚠️ Injuries & Context to Monitor
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George Kittle’s hamstring status alters 49ers’ TE landscape. Jake Tonges benefits.
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WR injuries in Kansas City (Xavier Worthy) open more target share to Marquise Brown.
💡 Bottom Line
If you need to upgrade your roster:
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Prioritize RBs and WRs who are seeing increased usage (Sampson, Benson, Franklin, Robinson).
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TE streaming is in flux; Tonges and Johnson are big adds.
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At QB, unless you have a stud, look for weekly upside (Lawrence, Penix).
