Here are 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 target, streaming option, or stash, the player must be available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues.
See If They're Available:
There are always a few players that don't technically make the cut here as a waiver wire option as they're available in under 60% of leagues, but these players should be on a roster. If they're not on a roster yet, they should be a higher priority than those listed as waiver wire targets below.
Zach Charbonnet (RB - Seattle Seahawks)
This one's a long shot as he likely got scooped up last week with Kenneth Walker missing Week 2, but if you're part of the 31% of leagues where Charbonnet's available, make sure he's an add, especially if you have Walker. We already knew he would get a strong workload without Walker, drawing 19 touches and posting 17.9 points. It remains unclear if Walker will be active next week (he did not practice at all last week) but regardless, Charbonnet should hold some type of role.
Jerry Jeudy (WR - Cleveland Browns)
He just narrowly misses being a "waiver wire option" (59% availability), but he should be a priority if available. He's received 6+ targets each of the first two weeks, going 3-25-1 (11.5 points) in Week 1 and 5-73-0 (12.3 points) in Week 2. He's established himself as a safety valve for Deshaun Watson and should remain a FLEX-worthy option in the meantime as TE David Njoku is sidelined.
Colby Parkinson (TE - Los Angeles Rams)
He didn't do much in Week 2, but his role should be fairly certain going forward with Puka Nacua (IR) and Cooper Kupp (exited Week 2) both sidelined, seemingly for at least a week or two. Parkinson was targeted 5 times (4 catches, 47 yards) in Week 1 but wasn't notably involved in the blowout loss in Week 2. Parkinson could be a fairly stable low-TE1/high-TE2 option over the next several weeks as the Rams' WR situation is dire.
Demarcus Robinson (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
Robinson was already flirting with being a borderline playable option in the absence of Puka Nacua, but now add in an injury to Cooper Kupp (with the likelihood of him missing some time) and Robinson all of a sudden becomes the defacto WR1 in the Rams offense. The stat line didn't jump off the page last week (4 targets, 2 catches, 50 yards) as was the case for the entire Rams' offense, but the workload should be there going forward, especially in the short term.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
These are your players to target on waivers this week - these aren't typically supposed to be a one-week solution but rather a longer-term answer for your team.
Quentin Johnston (WR - Los Angeles Chargers)
Could we finally be seeing the emergence of Johnston as the Chargers' WR1 and fantasy relevance? It appears so as he led the Chargers in every receiving category (targets, catches, yards, TDs, fantasy points) in Week 2, showing a solid rapport with Justin Herbert as the once-anticipated-WR1 in Josh Palmer has posted back-to-back 2-catch performances to open the season. If Johnston is finally emerging, the sky is the limit given what he showed in college and with his draft stock last year (1st round) - he's worth the gamble.
Bucky Irving (RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Rachaad White appears dangerously close to playing himself out of the lead duties in Tampa Bay, posting another horrific day efficiency-wise in Week 2 (1.8 YPC) after a rough Week 1 (2.1 YPC) and noted concerns from the coaching staff this preseason about his efficiency. The workload split (10-7) reflected that with Irving drawing closer to White in carries. At the very least, you get an efficient RB in Irving who has a respectable weekly role in a strong offense, but in a best-case scenario, we could realistically be seeing Irving as the lead rusher in Tampa within the next few weeks, especially with White dealing with a groin injury that caused him to exit Week 2 briefly.
Hunter Henry (TE - New England Patriots)
Henry had a deceiving Week 1 (3 targets, 2-18-0) after quickly recovering from a foot injury that was initially anticipated to leave him inactive for the season opener, perhaps giving us a misinterpretation of his actual role as he recovered. Week 2 we saw him in a more comparable role to his 2023 self, drawing 12 targets (led TEs) for 8 catches and 109 yards (led TEs) as he tallied 18.9 fantasy points (TE2). Without significant other receiving options in New England, Henry seems the go-to guy and has a realistic chance at being a meaningful contributor for fantasy as a low-end TE1. Remember, Henry was the TE13 in points last year through Week 15 (when he suffered his season-ending injury).
Carson Steele (RB - Kansas City Chiefs)
Well, the news just came out that Isiah Pacheco ended up suffering a fractured fibula in yesterday's Week 2 win vs the Bengals. Though the severity hasn't been determined yet, initial reports are suggesting the injury will likely sideline him for 'significant time' this season and almost certainly see him hit IR. One would have to imagine a 1A-1B split going forward in Kansas City with Carson Steele (who handled all of the rushing work after Pacheco's injury) as the primary runner and Samaje Perine likely handling 3rd downs and pass protection work. Steele should be a FLEX option for the foreseeable future, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Chiefs bring back Jerick McKinnon (free agent) given Pacheco (fibula) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (PTSD) being unavailable - a move that would definitely shake up the value and opportunities within the current Chiefs' backfield.
Braelon Allen (RB - New York Jets)
This is more of a "stash" than an option to play now. Allen surprisingly got a third of the carries in the Jets' backfield in Week 2, taking 7 carries for 33 yards and a TD while adding another 2 catches for 23 yards and a TD via the air. He won't have that type of workload or production on a weekly basis, especially with Breece Hall present, but it was a promising sign of what could be. Worst-case, he is an elite fantasy handcuff (perhaps the best one out there right now) but best-case scenario, his performance could spark an increased role in the coming weeks (shades of a Jets' Ladanian Tomlinson/Shonn Greene-type duo with Allen playing the role of the latter?).
Alec Pierce (WR - Indianapolis Colts)
Make it back-to-back weeks with a TD and 16+ fantasy points to start the season for Pierce, who followed up a 3-125-1 (21.5 point) performance in Week 1 with a more stable 5-56-1 on 7 targets (16.6 point) performance in Week 2, including a TD that wasn't from 50+ yards. He appears to have separated himself from rookie Adonai Mitchell as the Colts' WR2 for now and appears to be a fairly solid bench option going forward.
Gabe Davis (WR - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Ty Chandler (RB - Minnesota Vikings)
Mike Gesicki (TE - Cincinnati Bengals)
Samaje Perine (RB - Kansas City Chiefs)
Derek Carr (QB - New Orleans Saints)
Zach Ertz (TE - Washington Commanders)
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
These aren't the same as waiver wire targets. Yes, you are still getting these players off waivers, but these are purely the best options for this week and this week only. Players can be a streaming option and a waiver wire target, which means they're a solid option to play this upcoming week and potentially beyond.
Quarterbacks:
Derek Carr (vs PHI)
Deshaun Watson (vs NYG)
Russell Wilson (vs LAC) - If active and starting
Runningbacks:
Bucky Irving (vs DEN)
Alexander Mattison (vs CAR)
Carson Steele (at ATL)
Wide Receivers:
Quentin Johnston (at PIT)
Gabe Davis (at BUF)
Josh Reynolds (at TB)
Tight Ends:
Hunter Henry (at NYJ)
Zach Ertz (at CIN)
Mike Gesicki (vs WAS)
Defense/Special Teams:
Las Vegas Raiders (vs CAR)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs DEN)
Green Bay Packers (at TEN)
Top Stashes Ahead of Next Week:
These aren't players that you should be playing this week, but rather ones that have greater potential to be a solid option and likely end up being a waiver wire target sometime down the line. You won't see immediate value but these are the guys that possibly could go under the radar and see a notable role shortly.
Jordan Whittington (WR - Los Angeles Rams)
Marshawn Lloyd (RB - Green Bay Packers)
Jerick McKinnon (RB - Free Agent) - Possible return to Kansas City
Brenton Strange (TE - Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jalen Nailor (WR - Minnesota Vikings)
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