Fantasy: Top waiver wire pickups for Week 2

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

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Quarterbacks

Tyler Shough, Saints

Shough struggled out of the gate against the Lions but turned things around in the second half. He finished with 410 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions - good for QB6 on the week. Shough has been a top-10 quarterback in four of his last six starts dating back to Week 14 of last season.

Next week may not be the best time to start Shough, considering the Saints visit the Ravens. However, his following two starts are at home against the Raiders and Falcons. Beyond that, New Orleans has plenty of other games on the schedule in which Shough can be started, especially in November when the Saints face the Browns, Panthers, Bears, and Bengals. Don't spend big on Shough, but he's a great option to stash if you're uncertain about your current starter.

Other QBs to pick up:

• CJ Stroud, Texans (29%): If you don't feel great starting Trevor Lawrence on the road in Denver or Justin Herbert after he laid an egg in Week 1, consider Stroud, who gets the Bengals at home in what should be a good matchup. The Texans' offense posted 31 points versus the Bills, with Stroud completing 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

• Bryce Young, Panthers (14%): Young had a monstrous game against the Bears in what's likely to be the highest-scoring game of the season. He threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns while punching in another on the ground. Jalen Coker gives the Panthers a second legitimate receiving threat, which in turn elevates Young's floor. Carolina goes to Atlanta in Week 2 and Cleveland for Week 3 before hosting the Lions in Week 4. Young will be a fringe starter in 12-team leagues in all three of those games.

Running backs

Kaelon Black, 49ers

Black's usage in Week 1 may have been the most surprising of any player in the league. He handled 14 carries (compared to Christian McCaffrey's 10), earned one target, and recorded a 34.9% usage rate while playing on 43% of the 49ers' snaps. San Francisco may be looking to lighten McCaffrey's load after giving him 450 total touches last season. If that's the case, Black becomes incredibly interesting as a member of Kyle Shanahan's offense. He's a must-add if you roster McCaffrey, and he's worth a bid in deeper leagues.

Other RBs to pick up:

• Woody Marks, Texans (49%): The Texans' offense looked good Sunday, and Marks showed he has a significant role in Houston's split backfield despite David Montgomery's huge game. Marks out-snapped Montgomery 40-39 and ran 20 routes compared to the latter's 14.

• Tyjae Spears, Titans (39%): Although Tennessee's struggles were on display in Week 1, Spears split time with Tony Pollard, playing only one fewer snap. He also serves as the passing-down back on a team that's expected to be trailing in a lot of games.

• Kendre Miller, Saints (1%): Miller is a deep-league add who's only worth a roster spot as long as Alvin Kamara remains out. On Sunday, Miller split carries with Travis Etienne Jr. at nine apiece and stole a red-zone touchdown from him. Perhaps his involvement is more of a negative for Etienne's output than it is an indication of a second worthwhile fantasy back in New Orleans.

• Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals (51%): We're bending the rules slightly to highlight Allgeier, who should be rostered in far more leagues given his usage in Week 1 alongside an active Jeremiyah Love. Plus, if Love gets hurt again, Allgeier immediately becomes a weekly starter.

• Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (50%): The injured fourth-year back is worth an add if you have an open IR spot.

Wide receivers

Deebo Samuel, 49ers

Samuel barely sneaks under the 50% threshold, but if he's available in your league, he should be one of the top pickups of the week. De'Zhaun Stribling's injury creates more opportunities for the veteran in a 49ers offense that looked very sharp in Australia. Samuel had seven targets, catching six of them for 46 yards and a touchdown while also being involved in the run game.

Devaughn Vele, Saints

As long as Jordyn Tyson is out of the Saints' lineup, Vele has to be considered a weekly flex option. He earned nine targets against the Lions, catching seven for 69 yards and a score. New Orleans sent Denver a fourth-round pick last season to get Vele, but he failed to get significant opportunities and then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 15. The Ravens aren't an easy opponent in Week 2, but the Saints' schedule gets much easier afterward.

Other WRs to pick up:

• Denzel Boston, Browns (28%): It's hard to get excited about the Browns' pass-catchers, but Boston was on the field for 94% of Cleveland's offensive snaps. He hauled in a huge 46-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter - a junk-time score that may become a weekly occurrence for the lowly Browns.

• Caleb Douglas, Dolphins (12%): Someone has to catch passes in Miami, and that could be rookie Caleb Douglas. The third-round pick played 90% of the Dolphins' snaps and recorded five catches on seven targets (25.9% target share) for 94 receiving yards, the most in an NFL debut since Puka Nacua in 2023.

• Antonio Williams, Commanders (2%): There was hype around Williams when the Commanders drafted him in April, but it fizzled out after they signed Stefon Diggs. However, the rookie caught all four of his targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in his first game and could see even more volume if tight end Chig Okonkwo misses time with a hamstring injury.

• Tre' Harris, Chargers (4%): Ladd McConkey suffered a chest injury and could miss time. If that's the case, Harris becomes a viable starter until McConkey returns. The Chargers were disappointing across the board in Week 1, but their worst game is likely behind them.

• Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles (16%): Wicks was on the field for 91% of the Eagles' offensive snaps, turning the opportunity into two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. He's clearly operating as Philadelphia's WR2, a position that's been fantasy-relevant for years under Nick Sirianni.

• Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals (0%): The performance may end up being an anomaly, but Bourne led all Cardinals receivers with eight catches on eight targets for 75 yards in Week 1. For reference, Marvin Harrison Jr. has yet to record an eight-catch game over 30 appearances in Arizona. Bourne is worth a flier in deeper leagues, just in case this wasn't a one-off.

• DeMario Douglas, Patriots (1%): With A.J. Brown sidelined, the Patriots' passing attack will look similar to how it did last year. Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins are in line to take over as the outside deep threats, leaving the underneath work to Douglas, who led New England with a 79% route share and seven targets versus Seattle.

Tight ends

David Njoku, Chargers

Njoku emerging as the Chargers' top tight end in Week 1 was surprising. Charlie Kolar was expected to be the guy, but Njoku outperformed him and Oronde Gadsden. The former Browns pass-catcher brought in all five of his targets for 58 yards while running more routes (19) than Gadsden (7) and Kolar (13). If McConkey misses significant time, Njoku will be an important piece in Mike McDaniel's passing attack.

Other WRs to pick up:

• Michael Mayer, Raiders (26%): As long as Brock Bowers is sidelined, Mayer is startable. He received seven targets against the Dolphins, catching six of them for 32 yards. Once Bowers returns, Mayer could be worth stashing to see how his role changes. The Raiders recently paid him, so they clearly value his presence.

• Kenyon Sadiq, Jets (14%): The Jets rookie scored a touchdown on a jet sweep in his debut. The play demonstrated the first-round pick's versatility and New York's efforts to get the ball in his hands. Sadiq also had three catches for 21 yards. Rookie tight ends are often difficult to trust, but he's worth adding and stashing to see if he can break out quicker than expected.

Defenses

Week 2 streamers

• Buccaneers (4%) vs. Browns
• Packers (15%) @ Jets
• 49ers (10%) vs. Dolphins
• Chiefs (12%) vs. Colts