Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 2

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

Mayfield is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the opener and has one of the best supporting casts of his career.

Next, he'll take on the Lions, who just allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for over 300 yards against them - and Puka Nacua was out for part of the game.

Get ready for another big stat line from Baker in Week 2.

Streaming options: Geno Smith at NE (32% rostered)

Streaming options (if starter is out): Justin Fields at DEN (14% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Sam Darnold vs. SF (10% rostered), Derek Carr at DAL (10% rostered), Deshaun Watson at JAX (33% rostered), Daniel Jones at WAS (7% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Bo Nix vs. PIT (18% rostered), Gardner Minshew at BAL (5% rostered), Jacoby Brissett vs. SEA (2% rostered), Bryce Young vs. LAC (8% rostered), Will Levis vs. NYJ (17% rostered), Malik Willis vs. IND (0% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Drake Maye (4% rostered)

Running backs

J.K. Dobbins, Chargers

Dobbins stunned the fantasy world by running for 135 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in his first game back from a torn ACL that caused him to miss most of last season. While he didn't look 100%, he had more than enough juice to break some big runs behind a quality Chargers' offensive line.

Arguably more importantly, Gus Edwards was inefficient and didn't look like a real threat to compete in this backfield.

That puts Dobbins in the weekly fantasy RB2 conversation, but don't forget about rookie Kimani Vidal. With Edwards struggling, Vidal might be one Dobbins injury away from significant volume.

Jordan Mason, 49ers

Christian McCaffrey was a surprise inactive on Monday night due to the calf/Achilles injury that kept him out of the preseason.

CMC is also questionable for Week 2's matchup with the Vikings, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

In his absence, Mason lit up the Jets' defense for 152 scrimmage yards and a score on 29 touches.

If McCaffrey remains out, Mason will be a fantasy RB2 with RB1 upside every time he starts.

Jaylen Wright/Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins

De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert were banged up in Miami's win on Sunday and now have to get healthy on a short week with the Bills coming to town Thursday night.

Though Wright was a healthy scratch in Week 1, he would certainly get involved if one or both of Achane and Mostert were to miss this game. And it doesn't take workhorse volume for a running back to produce in Mike McDaniel's scheme.

Wright is the back to target here in case one of his teammates can't suit up, but it's also possible Wilson could factor in - making him a name to remember in deeper formats.

Zach Charbonnet is close to the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

High-upside backups like Tyler Allgeier (34% rostered) and Braelon Allen (11% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Tank Bigsby vs. CLE (5% rostered), Bucky Irving at DET (21% rostered), Jaleel McLaughlin vs. PIT (38% rostered), Ty Chandler vs. SF (33% rostered), Justice Hill vs. LV (4% rostered), Alexander Mattison at BAL (4% rostered)

Risky flex options: Samaje Perine vs. CIN (6% rostered), Ray Davis at MIA (19% rostered), Antonio Gibson vs. SEA (24% rostered), Miles Sanders vs. LA (3% rostered), Khalil Herbert at HOU (31% rostered), Jamaal Williams at DAL (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Emanuel Wilson vs. IND (2% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell vs. ATL (3% rostered), Dameon Pierce vs. CHI (7% rostered), Cordarrelle Patterson at DEN (2% rostered), Ronnie Rivers at ARI (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: MarShawn Lloyd (13% rostered), Kimani Vidal (9% rostered), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (8% rostered), Trey Sermon (1% rostered), Audric Estime (2% rostered), Roschon Johnson (3% rostered)

Deep stashes: Pierre Strong Jr. (0% rostered), Will Shipley (2% rostered), Isaac Guerendo (1% rostered), Eric Gray (1% rostered), Carson Steele (3% rostered), Dare Ogunbowale (0% rostered), Dylan Laube (1% rostered), Emari Demercado (0% rostered), Jordan Mims (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Kendre Miller (9% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (15% rostered), Rasheen Ali (0% rostered)

Wide receivers

Brandin Cooks, Cowboys

Cooks occupied this spot last week, and he's here again after kicking the season off with four catches, 45 scrimmage yards, and a touchdown.

He also accomplished the feat in a tough matchup with the Browns' defense. Easier opponents are on the way and, with tight end Jake Ferguson injured, Cooks could see even more passes thrown his way.

Consider Cooks a worthwhile WR3/flex in your lineup.

Demarcus Robinson/Tyler Johnson, Rams

With Puka Nacua hitting injured reserve, fantasy managers need to figure out who will be stepping up in the Rams' passing attack alongside Cooper Kupp.

Robinson is the first beneficiary after he finished as the WR31 in fantasy points per game over the last six weeks in 2023. He also began this year with a 4-42-0 line.

Johnson's 5-79-0 line was more of a surprise in the opener as he stepped into Nacua's role.

Both players need to be rostered, but I'm treating Robinson as a WR3/flex and Johnson as a WR4/flex until further notice.

Rashid Shaheed, Jakobi Meyers, Jerry Jeudy, Gabe Davis, and Mike Williams are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Allen Lazard at TEN (3% rostered), Adonai Mitchell at GB (32% rostered), Jalen McMillan at DET (5% rostered), Greg Dortch vs. LAR (5% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson at WAS (10% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Josh Downs at GB (26% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Andrei Iosivas at KC (13% rostered),

Dart-throw flex options: Darnell Mooney at PHI (17% rostered), DeMario Douglas vs. SEA (16% rostered), Jalen Nailor vs. SF (0% rostered), Adam Thielen vs. LAC (34% rostered), Alec Pierce at GB (2% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. LV (13% rostered), Devaughn Vele vs. PIT (0% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs. PIT (1% rostered), Quentin Johnston at CAR (7% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud at PHI (2% rostered), Michael Wilson vs. LAR (15% rostered)

Upside rookies to roster: Ja'Lynn Polk vs. SEA (23% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. LAC (16% rostered), Jordan Whittington at ARI (1% rostered), Luke McCaffrey vs. NYG (7% rostered)

Deep stashes: Jalen Tolbert vs. NO (3% rostered), Mack Hollins at MIA (0% rostered), Jalin Hyatt at WAS (1% rostered), Jonathan Mingo vs. LAC (1% rostered)

Tight ends

Isaiah Likely, Ravens

Despite playing fewer snaps and running fewer routes than Mark Andrews, Likely turned in nine receptions, 111 yards, and a score in Week 1, and it could have been even more.

Based on their respective playing time, Andrews isn't going away just yet. It's also possible the injuries that held Andrews out in August contributed to his slow start.

Regardless, Likely proved to be a much-needed playmaker in the Ravens' passing attack and will be counted on this season.

You can expect both players to have their moments this season, but Andrews should be viewed as a mid-range TE1 with Likely now entering the back-end TE1 mix.

Every league has at least a few managers who should consider adding Likely as their starting tight end this week.

Streaming options: Colby Parkinson at ARI (6% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Tyler Conklin at TEN (21% rostered), Tucker Kraft vs. IND (2% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. NYJ (10% rostered), Cade Otton at DET (21% rostered), Noah Fant at NE (32% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Luke Schoonmaker vs. NO (0% rostered), Jordan Akins at JAX (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Hunter Henry vs. SEA (25% rostered), Foster Moreau at DAL (0% rostered), Juwan Johnson at DAL (3% rostered), Noah Gray vs. CIN (0% rostered), Theo Johnson at WAS (1% rostered), Hayden Hurst at CAR (1% rostered), Zach Ertz vs. NYG (6% rostered), Ja'Tavion Sanders vs. LAC (1% rostered), Johnny Mundt vs. SF (0% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Ben Sinnott (7% rostered)

Defenses

Week 2 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Buccaneers DEF (10% rostered), Chargers DEF (12% rostered), Raiders DEF (8% rostered)

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