Here's my top recommended waiver wire and streaming targets ahead of the coming week. Waiver Wire targets are designed to be multi-week roster-worthy options while streaming options are designed to be one-week lineup options based on matchup, injuries, and/or situation. To be eligible as a waiver wire or streaming option, the player must be available in over 60% in ESPN leagues.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
Kenneth Gainwell (RB - Philadelphia Eagles) - Rinse and repeat last week's analysis. Everything we had heard about him from camp was true; he was Philadelphia's definitive RB1, drawing 14 of 16 carries and 18 of 22 touches among Eagles RBs while commanding a 62% snap share. His upside will be capped due to Jalen Hurts' rushing abilities but his dominance over the other Eagles' RB workloads and some involvement along the goal line (3 carries inside the 10) prove promising. A likely RB3/FLEX option, but coming off the waiver wire, that's very valuable.
Puka Nacua (WR - Los Angeles Rams) - Wow, just wow! I was high on Nacua and had him featured on my top waiver targets last week, but by no means was I expecting anything close to this. Nacua let his name be known, shockingly serving as Matthew Stafford's go-to WR with Cooper Kupp out, drawing an absurd 15 targets, 10 catches, and 119 yards in Week 1. Don't expect that utilization going forward, but at the very least, Nacua has shown that he may be a FLEX-worthy option in PPR formats on volume alone for as long as Cooper Kupp is out (which we have zero certainty on when he'll be back).
Gus Edwards (RB - Baltimore Ravens) - In case you missed it, Ravens' RB J.K. Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles in the Week 1 game against Houston, ceding work to the duo of Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. Neither back jumped off the screen yesterday with Edwards going 8 for 32 yards and Hill going 8 for 9 yards (though adding two short-yardage TDs). The snap count between the two was nearly identical following Dobbins' injury (52% for Hill, 48% for Edwards). I'd anticipate a committee approach, a veteran RB being added (i.e. Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette), or Jonathan Taylor possibly brought in, but for now, I'd slightly lean in favor of Edwards between the Ravens' RBs simply off of Harbaugh's history of leaning into Edwards.
Justice Hill (RB - Baltimore Ravens) - Same story as above: Dobbins injury, even split in snaps and work, Edwards being efficient, Hill finding the endzone. I'm anticipating either a committee approach or another RB added, but until then, we must value the Ravens' RBs as they are. I'm not throwing a ton in terms of FAAB at either, but between the two, Hill is a more upside-over-security option while Edwards is the other half.
Sam LaPorta (TE - Detroit Lions) - LaPorta looked not great, but still solid in his debut (5 targets, 5 catches, 39 yards) and that's more than enough to be valuable at a TE position that is already causing stress in fantasy this year. He drew an 81% snap share, a 72% route participation, and a 14.2% target share - none of that screams exceptional, but it is a very promising start in his first game. With the disaster of the TE position in recent years (and the injury plague already spreading at the position this year), LaPorta as a fringe-TE1/high-TE2 looks like a potentially significant move, even if it's just to create more scarcity at the position for your league-mates.
Zack Moss (RB - Indianapolis Colts)
Chuba Hubbard (RB - Carolina Panthers)
Kyren Williams (RB - Los Angeles Rams)
Josh Reynolds (WR - Detroit Lions)
Hayden Hurst (TE - Carolina Panthers)
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
Quarterbacks:
Jordan Love (at Atlanta Falcons)
Kenny Pickett (vs Cleveland Browns)
Brock Purdy (at Los Angeles Rams)
Runningbacks:
Zack Moss (at Houston Texans)
Kenneth Gainwell (vs Minnesota Vikings)
Gus Edwards (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Wide Receivers:
Puka Nacua (vs San Francisco 49ers)
Romeo Doubs (at Atlanta Falcons)
Zay Jones (vs Kansas City Chiefs)
Tight Ends:
Sam LaPorta (vs Seattle Seahawks)
Hayden Hurst (vs New Orleans Saints)
Zach Ertz (vs New York Giants)
Defense/Special Teams:
New York Giants (at Arizona Cardinals)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs Chicago Bears)
Indianapolis Colts (at Houston Texans)
Kickers:
Greg Zuerlein (at Dallas Cowboys)
Riley Patterson (vs Seattle Seahawks)
Anders Carlson (at Atlanta Falcons)