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An thrilling Week 1 of the NFL season culminates with Monday night time’s sport, right here on ESPN with our broadcast staff consisting of Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters. Not solely am I excited to look at that sport, however I’m ecstatic that fantasy soccer is again. In reality, my pleasure about penning this season’s waiver wire column is even larger.
It is a easy premise. In every week’s column, I’ll spotlight gamers accessible in over 50% of ESPN leagues who deserve roster spots, significantly in 10-team leagues. Likewise, if a participant belongs on a deeper league roster, however not a 10-teamer, I am going to level it out. I am at all times comfortable to assist these collaborating in bigger leagues.
Working Week 2’s waiver wire is very often essentially the most difficult determination a fantasy supervisor has to make all season. Sure, having precise sport efficiency to base our opinions on permits for a extra correct gauge of how gamers look and the way they’re going to match into their roles this season. On the draw back, we’ve got a pattern of just one sport for every staff, so whereas some Week 1 standouts have sustained some success, we have additionally seen a ton of idiot’s gold.
With that in thoughts, let’s check out the beneficial ESPN Fantasy waiver wire provides for Week 2.
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Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts (24% rostered in ESPN leagues): There have been each execs and cons in Ryan’s first regular-season sport below middle for the Colts. Primarily based on the veteran quarterback’s statistical resume, this sport is perhaps an outlier. Since 2016, Ryan has averaged 18.3 fantasy factors per sport. Surrounded by an abundance of offensive playmakers, the veteran quarterback has a superb matchup towards the Jaguars’ secondary in Week 2. Ryan is an efficient QB2 choice for fantasy managers taking part in in superflex or 2-QB codecs.
Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders (16.6%): Wentz racked up 27.7 fantasy factors towards the Jaguars in Week 1, demonstrating nice rapport with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. Towards a questionable Lions secondary, he may repeat this efficiency in Week 2. Wentz is a superb streaming choice, if you happen to want one — and given the best way accidents are already impacting the 2022 season, you nicely would possibly.
Darrell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams (46.1%): The Rams selected to roll with Henderson at operating again, a shocking transfer since most fantasy managers anticipated Cam Akers to be the starter. Within the Rams’ season opener towards the Payments, he had 18 touches, in comparison with simply three for Akers. Henderson performed on 54 snaps to Akers’ 12. Henderson will be considered as a flex choice with RB2 upside towards the Falcons in Week 2.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears (25.2%): All offseason, Herbert was hailed as a greater match for the Bears’ operating scheme below the brand new teaching workers. Fantasy managers noticed a glimpse of that on Sunday towards the 49ers. Regardless of having half of the makes an attempt as David Montgomery, it was Herbert who led the staff in speeding yards. It isn’t out of the realm of chance for him to finally emerge because the chief of the Bears’ committee. Do not forget that final season, Herbert performed on 83% of Chicago’s offensive snaps in three begins whereas Montgomery was out — averaging 23.3 alternatives (speeding attempts-plus-targets) and 15.4 fantasy factors. Even with Montgomery staying wholesome, Herbert ought to get extra taking part in time because the season goes on.
Eric Moody particulars why Khalil Herbert is a superb match within the Bears’ offense and mentions he is a participant to look at on the waiver wire this week.
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions (36.0%): Each Williams and D’Andre Swift noticed double-digit speeding makes an attempt within the season opener, however they weren’t closely utilized as receivers. Sadly, it is a pattern that seems to have carried over from final season. However, Williams averaged 14 touches in 13 lively video games final season. Williams is certainly on the flex radar and, if Swift have been to ever miss vital time, his ceiling could be even increased.
Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers (3.5%): Elijah Mitchell left Sunday’s sport as a consequence of a knee harm and didn’t return. The second-year operating again is now more likely to miss time. There’s a variety of uncertainty after Wilson on the 49ers’ RB depth chart, making him the most secure choice proper now. Every of Wilson’s 4 begins in 2021 noticed at the least 13 speeding makes an attempt. Mitchell averaged 18.8 touches per sport final season. Now, Wilson will not probably be tasked with taking up your entire workload as there isn’t a doubt Deebo Samuel will probably be given some speeding makes an attempt. Nonetheless, at the least for now, Wilson will be thought-about a flex choice.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (1.3%): If starter Najee Harris misses the Steelers’ Week 2 sport towards the Patriots due to a knee harm, Warren might be thought-about a volume-based RB2. The undrafted rookie impressed the Pittsburgh teaching workers throughout each coaching camp and the preseason. Whereas Harris missed many of the lead-up to the season as a consequence of a Lisfranc sprain, he was anticipated to dive proper in and decide up his common of twenty-two.4 touches per sport from final season. That is not essentially the case, and Warren ought to now be given a excessive proportion of these touches, with Benny Snell Jr. filling in as a change-of-pace choice.
Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders (8.4%): Samuel completed Week 1 towards the Jaguars with an astounding 11 targets — and two speeding makes an attempt, too. He completed the sport with 72 whole yards and a landing. It was Samuel’s seventh sport during which he noticed double-digit targets. He is undoubtedly on the flex radar in Week 2 towards a Lions secondary that allowed 155 receiving yards to A.J. Brown in Week 1.
Robbie Anderson, Carolina Panthers (37.5%): Anderson led the Panthers in targets, receptions and receiving yards in Week 1 towards the Browns. Carolina had solely 27 passing makes an attempt for the sport, so we’re optimistic that Baker Mayfield‘s landing cross to Anderson traveled 46 air yards. Panthers quarterbacks have been horrendous throwing deep final season, so having Mayfield below middle is a large improve on this space. Fantasy managers in deeper codecs ought to completely add Anderson, who performed on 100% of the snaps in Week 1.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns (1.7%): Contemplating the quantity of assured cash in Amari Cooper‘s contract, it was shocking to see Peoples-Jones main the Browns in routes run, targets (11) and receiving yards (60) in Week 1. He was one of many solely vivid spots in Cleveland’s passing sport. Jake Trotter of ESPN reported in late July that the Browns have been on the lookout for Peoples-Jones to “fill a big role” reverse Cooper — and it seems as if they weren’t mendacity. For these in deeper codecs, Peoples-Jones is an efficient flex choice.
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars (1.1%): Jones was in a fantastic place heading into the season to turn into Trevor Lawrence‘s second-favorite receiver as a result of, outdoors of Christian Kirk, there was little competitors. He was focused 9 instances and completed with 65 receiving yards in Week 1 towards the Commanders. Take into account him to be a waiver goal in deep leagues.
Corey Davis, New York Jets (3.0%): Davis caught 6 of 9 targets for 77 yards and led the Jets in each receptions and receiving yards in Week 1. Davis will proceed to be a key element of New York’s passing sport, regardless of the eye paid to Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson this offseason. Davis is firmly on the flex radar.
Julio Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (43.4%): Writing about Jones in a waiver wire column feels bizarre, however right here we’re. On movie, he regarded nice in his first regular-season sport with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. In line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Jones reached the seventh-fastest high velocity (20.62) of anybody in Week 1. He additionally led Tampa Bay in air yards Sunday night time. Jones immediately finds himself on the flex radar — with upside, now that Chris Godwin will probably be sidelined with a hamstring harm.
DJ Chark, Detroit Lions (49.5%): Amon-Ra St. Brown led the Lions in targets with 12 towards the Eagles, however Chark was proper behind him with eight. Throughout his time with the Jaguars, Chark averaged solely 6.1 targets per sport. It’s probably that the Lions must play from behind so much this season. (What else is new?) As such, Chark ought to see a gradual dose of targets in 2022 and stays an upside flex choice for fantasy managers.
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Area Yates evaluates Greg Dortch’s position on the Cardinals and says he could proceed to be productive whereas DeAndre Hopkins is out of the lineup.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (49.8%): Higbee was focused 9 instances towards the Payments in Week 1. This at the moment ties him for the league lead at this place. Higbee amassed 61 receptions and 560 receiving yards final season and for a Rams staff with out a lot broad receiver depth and he may nicely play an enormous position within the Rams passing sport going ahead.
Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals (19.5%): Hurst ran routes on a excessive variety of cross performs on Sunday towards the Steelers, resulting in seven targets. The Bengals’ passing sport revolves round its excellent trio of broad receivers, however Hurst is well-positioned to prosper beneath and benefit from favorable matchups. It’s smart to select him up in case you have any uncertainty on the at all times malleable TE place.