Week 2 can be one of the most important waiver weeks of the fantasy football season, while there might not be an Alvin Kamara type available this year, there is a chance we have a high-end running back available; that is if you trust Kyle Shanahan one bit. Let’s run through each offensive position and find 4 players who have the potential of getting you a W in week 2 and perhaps the rest of the season.
I will be referencing consensus rosters for each player, which is the average rostered percentage of 3 major platforms (Yahoo, ESPN, and Sleeper)
Quarterback
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers, Consensus Roster Percentage 45.5%.
This investment might not bear fruit for another month or so, or until Jimmy G goes down. It is a rare opportunity to have a waiver shot at a guy who can be a weekly top 5 QB when he is the full time QB. Any Kyle Shanahan QB has some fantasy upside, and throw in some electric rushing ability, lookout. If you have a burner bench spot you’d be wise to hold onto Lance.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins, Consensus Roster Percentage 38.9%.
Tua had a nice showing against an extremely tough New England defense, and reminded people that he can put it in the paint himself with his legs. Add to that he is getting back Will Fuller next week you have to feel good about his upside this season.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings, Consensus Roster Percentage 47.7%.
Captain Kirk might not be the sexiest fantasy QB in the world, but there is no denying he gets the job done. He has either been a QB1 or a borderline QB1 for the past 6 years. With Adam Thielen still playing at a high level, not to mention one of the most exciting young receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson, Kirk has all of the tools to deliver another QB1 season.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints, Consensus Roster Percentage 39.4%.
Sean Payton did a nice job of reminding everyone that he is one of, if not the premier offensive mind in the NFL on Sunday. It doesn’t matter who his quarterback is, he is going to put up numbers. With the pedigree that Jameis has and with the eventual return of Michael Thomas things could be trending toward a QB1 season for Lasik Jameis.
Running Back
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers. Consensus Roster Percentage 5.0%.
Mitchell is admittedly a very risky proposition due to Kyle Shanahan’s stunning decision to make Trey Sermon a healthy scratch on Sunday, but this is a risk I am willing to take. Mitchell and Jamycal Hasty were the only healthy running backs active once Raheem Mostert went down and we watched Mitchell dominate the backfield touches with 19 rushes at a 5.5 ypc clip. Mostert is going to miss 8 weeks and even with Sermon being on the field, there is a chance Mitchell is the lead dog in one of the most valuable backfields in the NFL. Shoot your shot.
Tony Jones Jr., New Orleans Saints, Consensus Roster Percentage 23.2%.
With the somewhat surprising release of Latavius Murray last week Tony Jones immediately steps into the role that made Latavius Murray the RB33 last year. Sean Payton has said in the past that he does not want to give Alvin Kamara that 300+ carry role and I believe that will continue. Tony Jones joins the small club of backup running backs that has RB1 upside via injury and weekly flex appeal regardless of the starter’s status.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles. Consensus Roster Percentage 14.2%.
Eagles offensive line completely clears the way for a Kenneth Gainwell touchdown. pic.twitter.com/UOThyYFo5r
— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) September 12, 2021
Miles Sanders looked like the guy we thought he’d be in the past, but Gainwell has been good enough in camp to relegate Boston Scott to the bench. Gainwell brings not only rushing ability but some serious receiving upside. I wouldn’t call him a flex asset yet but the new Kenny G could prove to be a valuable asset in the coming weeks if he can continue to show that he is more than capable of being the 2 in a 1-2 punch
Mark Ingram III, Houston Texans. Consensus Roster Percentage 14%.
Mark Ingram is quite simply a desperation add as a fill-in for a team that went zero RB in the draft. Don’t let one game against the absolute tire fire of a team in Jacksonville fool you, the Texans are still one of the worst teams in the league, but it is hard to ignore 26 rushing attempts no matter what team that person is on.
Wide Receiver
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants, Consensus Roster Percentage 34.8%.
Sterling Shepard makes the catch and runs it in to put the Giants on the board
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 12, 2021
(via @Giants)pic.twitter.com/gjFK9dtD0d
Sterling Shepard has quietly been one of the most underrated fantasy assets over the past 2 seasons, WR30 in points per game in 2019 and WR27 from week 7 on in 2020. This isn’t a guy who is going to carry you to the playoffs, but if you have a 3 WR league or a multi-flex league Shepard, with the connection he clearly has with Daniel Jones, will be a guy who you can reliably plug into one of those backend starting spots all seasons.
Nelson Agholor, New England Patriots, Consensus Roster Percentage 35.6%
Agholor wasn’t the most targeted receiver in New England, but he is the best and only downfield option this team has. Add the role security he has to him being the highest-paid receiver on a team with a quarterback that will hopefully improve each week you have an equation for continued fantasy success.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals, Consensus Roster Percentage 31.4%
I know there is another Cardinals receiver that caught touchdowns this weekend that should be on this list, don’t worry he’s coming next. Rondale only played around a quarter of the snaps on Sunday, but still managed 4 receptions for 68 yards in limited usage. He is going to continue to carve out a larger role in this offense as their most electric short receiving option which should translate into fantasy success.
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals, Consensus Roster Percentage 12.2%
Kirk had a huge day with 5 receptions for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. He should continue to carve out a larger role in this offense as they realize that AJ Green simply isn’t the player he used to be. If Kyler can continue to play like he did Sunday this is an offense that doesn’t have much of any tight end receiving options and can sustain multiple wide receivers.
Tight End
Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks, Consensus Roster Percentage 38.5%.
Everett didn’t have many targets on Sunday but should continue to see his target share increase as he builds a rapport with Russell Wilson. When you have possibly the most efficient redzone quarterback in the NFL throwing you the ball you have weekly touchdown upside that pretty easily puts you in the TE1 conversation at a position that is mostly a post-apocalyptic hell-scape.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears, Consensus Roster Percentage 27.9%.
Kmet has pretty clearly already taken over the TE1 role from Jimmy Graham in an offense relatively devoid of offensive weapons outside of Allen Robinson. With a quarterback upgrade coming soon, Kmet could have quite a bit of rest of the season upside.
Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers, Consensus Roster Percentage 31.9%.
He’s not. Dead. Yet. Cook had the third-highest target share % for the uber-talented Justin Herbert. As the Chargers play teams that don’t have the defensive pedigree of the Washington Football Team, he should see increased yardage and more looks in the red zone.
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints, Consensus Roster Percentage 5.4%.
This is going to be a weekly hit-or-miss proposition. I would be willing to venture a guess that Jameis Winston doesn’t have a game for the rest of the season where he throws touchdowns at a 25% rate, but with the lack of weapons in this offense until Michael Thomas gets back Johnson should have a shot at a touchdown each week.
