Injuries, injuries and more injuries! Week 2 saw many top players go down to the injury monster and the position that was hit hardest was at running back. The likes of Adrian Peterson, Danny Woodhead, Ameer Abullah among many others, all left their games with an ailment. One person’s loss is another person’s time to shine however, so on this week’s waiver wire, there are several people who might be able to get their opportunity to show us what they have, and hopefully help out your fantasy squad. Check ’em out here!
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Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
Make sure that Matt Ryan isn’t available in your league.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons. I was surprised as hell to see Matt Ryan owned in only 48% of fantasy leagues on ESPN. Ryan threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 against Tampa Bay and followed it up with a 396 yard, three touchdown performance against Oakland this week. The Falcons’ running game hasn’t quite clicked yet and that has led to a pass heavy game flow the first few weeks of the season. Not only that, but Ryan gets the swiss cheese, secondary of New Orleans in Week 3. He does have four tough games from Week 4-7 (Carolina, @Denver, @Seattle and San Diego), but you’re likely picking him up as your QB2 anyways. If you need a quarterback for Week 3, make sure Matt Ryan isn’t hanging out there on your waiver wire any longer.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick is a gamer. Last season Fitz quietly posted almost 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and finished as a borderline QB1. Despite missing a good part of training camp to a contract dispute, the bearded one has started off the season strong again in 2016. He threw for two touchdowns in Week 1 against a tough Cincinnati defense and then lit up the Buffalo defense for 374 yards this past Thursday evening. He has great weapons in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, a good receiving, running back in Matt Forte, and an emerging threat in Quincy Enunwa. He may not be a flashy name, but he’s a very solid QB2 who can help you out as injuries build and bye weeks approach.
Other Quarterbacks to consider. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens. Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins.
Waiver Wire Running Backs
If Adrian Peterson missed an extended amount of time, Jerick McKinnon could proved nice fantasy value.
Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings. The biggest injury of Week 2 has to be none other than Adrian Peterson going down to a torn meniscus on Sunday night’s matchup against the Packers. It could have been much worse, but the hall of famer is still likely to miss several weeks and that brings an opportunity for Jerick McKinnon to shine. McKinnon will likely share time with the “Ass Man”, Matt Asiata, but he’s a far superior athlete and a better pass catcher as well. I’m a little worried that Asiata will steal the work around the goal line, but McKinnon should get enough work between the twenties and in the passing game to be a flex option with upside, in PPR leagues. In deeper leagues and non-PPR leagues, Asiata is an option as well, but I would go for the upside of McKinnon in most leagues.
Fozzy Whittaker, Carolina Panthers. Admittedly, I’ve never been a big fan of Jonathan Stewart. He only received five carries in Week 2 against the 49ers before going down to hamstring injury, but in Week 1 against the Broncos, he looked slow, lifeless and had the looks of a back that should get closer to ten carries a game rather than twenty. In relief of Stewart however, Fozzy Whittaker has looked very explosive and in Week 2, he put up 100 yards on 16 carries and now is averaging 5.9 yards per carry during this short season. Mike Tolbert is likely to try and vulture some touchdowns, but Whittaker should get enough volume to be a flex option for the few weeks that Stewart sits out with his sore hammy.
Other Running Backs to consider. Shane Vereen, New York Giants. Dwayne Washington, Detroit Lions. Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins. Alfred Morris, Dallas Cowboys.
Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Phillip Dorsett, Indianapolis Colts. Phillip Dorsett didn’t have a great game in Week 2 against the talented, Denver Broncos defense, but he’s a big play threat that is ready to be unleashed. The Colts will likely have to pass a ton this season to stay in games and with fellow Colts’ receiver, Donte Moncrief having an MRI to assess a possible shoulder injury, Dorsett could be in for a serious uptick in targets if Moncrief were to miss any time. He’s a better fantasy option in standard, rather than PPR leagues, but he currently should be owned in both formats in all twelve team leagues.
Tyrell Williams, San Diego Chargers. In the preseason, the Chargers lost wide receiver, Stevie Johnson to a season ending injury. In Week 1, they lost their elite, wide receiver Keenan Allen to another season ending injury. Now in Week 2, the injury bug struck again as 2015-80 reception, running back Danny Woodhead went down for the year. The Chargers just can’t catch a break! Someone has to catch the ball and Tyrell Williams has the ability to have some very nice weeks for the Chargers. There are a lot of targets to go around in San Diego and if Williams plays up to his athletic ability, he could be a excellent fantasy, wide receiver in 2016.
Quincy Enunwa, New York Jets. My guy, Quincy Enunwa! Enunwa has come out of nowhere to be a legitimate threat for the Jets’ offense. He plays a hybrid, wide receiver/tight end role and with no legitimate threat at tight end, he has shown he can help the Jets move the ball down the field. After two weeks, he’s leading the Jets with 13 receptions and with Brandon Marshall potential missing some time with a PCL injury, Enunwa could continue to shine for Gang-Green.
Other Wide Receivers to consider. Victor Cruz, New York Giants. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals. Markus Wheaton, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Waiver Wire Tight Ends
Clive Walford, Oakland Raiders. Clive Walford was a favorite sleeper at the tight end position for many fantasy football pundits, including myself. He came on strong at the end of the 2015 season many though he would carry that momentum into the 2016 season. Week 1 was a little disappointing as Walford caught only three receptions for 25 yards, but he followed that up in impressive fashion as he caught six of seven targets for 50 yards and score in Week 2 against the Falcons. If you need help at the tight end position, Clive Walford should be one of your first targets on the waiver wire in Week 3.
Jacob Tamme, Atlanta Falcons. In a bit of surprise to me, Jacob Tamme has become a big part of the Falcons offense. He has had eight targets in each of the first two weeks of the season and turned that in to 11 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdowns. Julio can’t do it all, so it appears that Tamme has a chance to become a nice target for Matt Ryan. He doesn’t have the upside of some tight ends, but he’s a solid option that you can plug in that won’t kill you.
Other Tight Ends to consider. Dennis Pitta, Baltimore Ravens. Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts.
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