We now have two games of actual NFL usage to work with. That still is not enough information to declare every early trend permanent, but it is enough to start separating legitimate opportunity from opening-week noise.
And injuries have accelerated the process.
Caleb Williams is considered week-to-week with a right hamstring injury, while Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow against Dallas and is expected to miss time. Washington has already confirmed Marcus Mariota as its starter while Daniels is unavailable.
Meanwhile, Denver’s backfield suddenly has one of the most important waiver situations of September after both J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey emerged from Week 2 with hamstring injuries. Rookie Jonah Coleman scored his first NFL touchdown in relief and immediately becomes the player everyone should check for.
As always, this board is designed primarily for 12-team PPR redraft leagues, and FAAB recommendations assume a $100 starting budget.
1. Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos
This is the obvious place to start.
Coleman entered Sunday’s win over Jacksonville after injuries altered Denver’s running back rotation and ultimately scored the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown. Both J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are dealing with hamstring injuries, potentially giving Coleman a path to a legitimate Week 3 workload.
Denver also trusted Coleman to help close the game. Sean Payton and Bo Nix praised his decision-making after he helped the Broncos bleed the final minutes off the clock.
We do not yet know whether either veteran back will play Sunday, so there is risk in spending aggressively.
But this is exactly what FAAB is for.
If both backs sit, Coleman could walk directly into a starting role. If one returns, the rookie has still demonstrated enough to remain part of the rotation.
FAAB: 20–30%
Priority: No. 1 overall add
Best fit: Every roster that needs RB depth
2. Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland Browns
Boston has now done something difficult to ignore: he has scored a long touchdown in each of his first two NFL games.
NFL.com’s Week 3 waiver analysis also notes that Boston ranks sixth among qualifying receivers in yards per route run through two weeks.
There will be volatility.
Cleveland’s offense is not suddenly one we want to blindly invest in, and rookie receivers who rely on explosive plays can disappear for stretches.
But Boston’s combination of size, downfield ability and early efficiency gives him a ceiling most widely available receivers simply do not have.
I would rather add him one week early than chase him after a seven-catch breakout.
FAAB: 12–18%
Priority: Top WR pickup
Best fit: WR-needy teams and upside benches
3. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers
Quarterback suddenly matters a lot more this week.
Williams and Daniels managers may both need replacements, and Young has earned the right to be taken seriously.
He threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s 34-3 demolition of Atlanta. Through two games, NFL.com’s advanced metrics also credit him with an 8.9 yards-per-attempt average and a 113.3 passer rating.
Young gets Cleveland in Week 3.
I am no longer treating him as a desperation streamer.
In standard one-QB leagues, he is a legitimate option for managers unhappy with their starter. In superflex, he should already be rostered.
FAAB: 8–12%
Priority: Top quarterback add
Best fit: Williams/Daniels managers and QB streamers
4. Devaughn Vele, WR, New Orleans Saints
Vele appeared in last week’s column, and he belongs here again if your league ignored him.
Through two games without Jordyn Tyson, Vele has accumulated 12 receptions on 16 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown. Chris Olave remains the clear No. 1, but Vele has established himself as the second receiver in an offense throwing the football aggressively.
That matters more than chasing a random touchdown.
Target volume is sticky.
If Vele continues seeing seven or eight opportunities per week, he can settle into the WR3/FLEX conversation in PPR formats.
FAAB: 10–15%
Priority: PPR WR add
Best fit: 12-team leagues
5. Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
This one is about role and efficiency.
Wicks currently ranks seventh among receivers with at least 50 routes at 2.8 yards per route run, and he has narrowly run the second-most routes among Philadelphia receivers behind DeVonta Smith.
That is noteworthy.
Philadelphia did not acquire Wicks to hide him on the depth chart, and the early usage suggests there is enough work available for him to become fantasy relevant.
He will have frustrating weeks.
That comes with playing in an offense containing multiple established weapons.
But the underlying opportunity makes him worth rostering before everyone sees a breakout box score.
FAAB: 8–12%
Priority: Upside WR add
Best fit: Bench depth with starting potential
6. Kaelon Black, RB, San Francisco 49ers
If Black somehow survived last week’s waiver run, fix that.
Christian McCaffrey remains San Francisco’s lead back, but Black has now handled 21 carries for 90 yards through two games. He received seven rushing attempts in Week 2 despite the 49ers cruising past Miami.
That tells me his Week 1 workload was not simply an accident.
Black has some standalone involvement and massive contingent upside.
Those are exactly the running backs we want sitting on fantasy benches.
FAAB: 10–15%
Priority: Premium RB stash
Best fit: Every McCaffrey manager
7. Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Tucker was invisible in Week 1.
Then Week 2 happened.
He erupted for five catches, 119 yards and a 40-yard touchdown in Las Vegas’ win over the Chargers.
We should expect volatility.
That is simply part of Tucker’s profile.
But explosive receivers attached to functioning offenses belong on rosters, particularly when the acquisition price remains reasonable.
Do not chase the 119 yards expecting them every Sunday. Add Tucker because he has demonstrated a path to winning you individual weeks.
FAAB: 8–12%
Priority: Boom/bust FLEX add
Best fit: Managers needing WR upside
8. Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints
Shough may be the most interesting quarterback still sitting on waiver wires.
He followed his huge opener by throwing for 252 yards and a touchdown while adding 23 rushing yards and another score against Baltimore. He has exceeded 20 fantasy points in both games.
Even more impressively, Shough was leading the NFL in passing yards after Sunday’s games.
Next up: Las Vegas.
That makes him an easy streamer and a reasonable longer-term add if this offense continues playing at this pace.
FAAB: 6–10%
Priority: QB streamer
Best fit: One-QB streamers and superflex
9. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Spears is a classic process-over-box-score pickup.
Tony Pollard remains Tennessee’s lead back, but Spears played 37% of the snaps and produced 70 scrimmage yards on only nine opportunities against Philadelphia.
That efficiency could earn him more work.
He already has passing-game ability, and he would carry immediate starting value if Pollard missed time.
There may not be an obvious Week 3 start here.
That does not mean he should remain available.
FAAB: 5–8%
Priority: RB stash/FLEX candidate
Best fit: Deeper PPR formats
10. Emanuel Wilson, RB, Seattle Seahawks
This one is tied directly to Jadarian Price‘s chest injury.
After Price exited Sunday’s game, Wilson finished with 92 rushing yards on 21 carries.
That is real volume.
If Price practices normally this week, Wilson becomes more of a contingency stash.
If Price misses time, Wilson becomes a potential Week 3 FLEX immediately.
Running back availability disappears quickly once injuries begin piling up. Do not wait until Friday if you have room now.
FAAB: 5–8%
Priority: Injury-based RB pickup
Best fit: Deep RB rooms and Price managers
Quarterback Injury Replacements
Marcus Mariota should be added anywhere Jayden Daniels’ manager needs an immediate starter. Washington confirmed Monday that Mariota will take over while Daniels receives further evaluation on his dislocated elbow.
Mariota still offers rushing production and has extensive starting experience. In one-QB leagues, I prefer Young and Shough. In superflex, Mariota becomes a much more aggressive claim.
FAAB: 5–8% in one-QB; 15–25% in superflex.
Tyson Bagent is a much deeper play. Chicago says Caleb Williams is week-to-week and is unlikely to practice early this week, although the Bears have not officially ruled him out for Monday night.
Bagent is primarily a superflex insurance pickup until we know more.
FAAB: 2–5%; substantially higher only in deep superflex leagues.
Tight End Streamers
Juwan Johnson has produced double-digit fantasy points in consecutive games. He caught all four of his Week 2 targets for 66 yards and remains one of Shough’s more reliable options.
Dalton Schultz exploded for 26 fantasy points against Cincinnati and benefited from Nico Collins‘ absence. Some of that performance was matchup-driven, but the target involvement was legitimate enough to make Schultz a useful high-floor pickup if Collins remains unavailable.
Darren Waller is the touchdown gamble. He caught two scores for Carolina against Atlanta and remains a useful red-zone streamer, although I would not chase him aggressively without more target volume.
Pat Freiermuth is the matchup streamer. He has received five targets in each of Pittsburgh’s first two games and gets Cincinnati next, a defense that has already been attacked successfully by opposing tight ends.
Deep-League WR: Kalif Raymond
I did not expect Raymond to be leading Chicago in receiving opportunity after two games.
But here we are.
Raymond leads the Bears with 14 targets, 13 receptions and 124 yards through two weeks.
Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland still give the offense plenty of competition for touches, so I would not overspend.
But production and opportunity count.
Especially in deeper PPR leagues.
Week 3 Waiver Approach
Jonah Coleman is the player worth spending real FAAB on.
Everything after him depends on roster construction.
Need a receiver? Boston offers the ceiling, while Vele offers the steadier PPR profile.
Need a quarterback? Young and Shough have both done enough to be more than desperation streamers.
Need running-back depth? Black, Spears and Wilson are exactly the type of players who can become much more expensive if one depth-chart domino falls.
And remember:
The goal is not to acquire whoever scored the most fantasy points Sunday.
The goal is to acquire next Sunday’s opportunity before the rest of your league recognizes it.
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