Analysis
9/11/23
5 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in both points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
>>READ: Fantasy Takeaways From Each Week 1 Game
Top Waiver Wire Options
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons, RB
The Atlanta Falcons employed shades of the Sean Payton-era New Orleans Saints running back usage, likely influenced by a former Payton understudy, general manager Terry Fontenot. Tyler Allgeier functioned as a Mark Ingram-esque co-starter, bagging a highly productive 15 rushing attempts and three targets.
He was the No. 1 must-add player prior to the developments around Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler’s potential right high-ankle sprain.
Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers, RB
Ekeler has finally found his desired sidekick. Chargers No. 2 RB Joshua Kelley’s 16 rushing attempts (91 yards rushing and one touchdown) tied Ekeler for the team lead. Kelley promisingly took one-third of the green zone backfield snaps.
Update: Ekeler potentially suffered a right high-ankle sprain. Doctors of Physical Therapy Jeff Mueller and Edwin Porras share their thoughts here and here, respectively. Fantasy managers should aggressively pursue Kelley across all formats.
Justice Hill and Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens, RBs
The Baltimore Ravens’ No. 1 RB, J.K. Dobbins, is out for the season following Sunday's Achilles rupture. Coach John Harbaugh treated Justice Hill as the No. 2 running back through the preseason, but both he and Gus Edwards are worth adding to your roster.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams, WR
Puka Nacua elevates from last week’s Stash These Players Now section after dismantling the Seattle Seahawks’ secondary with 21.90 PPR points, good for the WR8 spot on the week.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams, RB
Like Nacua, Kyren Williams also elevates after out-performing nominal Los Angeles Rams starter Cam Akers in nearly every fantasy-relevant metric. Williams is the No. 1 running back on both passing downs and in scoring position.
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars, WR
Zay Jones is the Jacksonville Jaguars’ clear No. 2 behind Calvin Ridley but can be deployed as a matchup-based flex option. Kansas City at Jacksonville is one of two games with a 50-plus-point over/under on FanDuel.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints, WR
New Orleans WR Rashid Shaheed (five receptions on six targets for 89 yards receiving and one touchdown, plus two rushing attempts for 11 yards rushing) is a viable flex play. He faces a Carolina Panthers secondary in Week 2 that just lost starting cornerback Jaycee Horn to a hamstring strain.
Stash These Players Now
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears, RB
Rookie RB Roschon Johnson’s 4.0 yards per rushing attempt led the backfield, and his six receptions led the team. His three pass protection repetitions tied the backfield’s collective sum, and he allowed zero quarterback pressures.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles, RB
Kenneth Gainwell dominated all facets of Philadelphia’s backfield usage but delivered mildly productive results.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs, WR
Kansas City’s second-round rookie tied for the team lead with five targets; he caught three for 29 yards receiving and one touchdown and was one of three Chiefs to earn a green-zone target. Skyy Moore is trending toward bust territory, leaving a lane for Rashee Rice to emerge as a starter.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
Jordan Love showed the requisite tools for QB1 streaming viability last week. His connection with TE Luke Musgrave and rushing ability will be displayed against Atlanta’s lacking linebacker corps.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
New Orleans’ passing game components are all buy-low targets this week. As mentioned above, Carolina lost starting cornerback Horn to a hamstring strain in Week 1.
Defenses
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay’s pass rush will effectively generate pressure on Chicago’s still-developing QB Justin Fields.
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals 
Arizona QB Josh Dobbs presents a get-right opportunity for New York’s defenders.
Looking Ahead to Week 3
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans 
Jacksonville’s offense should get out to an early lead, allowing edge rushers Josh Allen and Travon Walker to get busy.
Tight Ends
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers, TE
Musgrave’s Week 1 box score (three receptions and 50 yards receiving on four targets) fails to accurately reflect the bobbled snap that robbed him of a 40-plus-yard touchdown. Waiver wire competition for him will be temporarily depressed as a result.
Still, he will be 90-plus percent rostered after his Week 2 game against the Falcons’ linebacker corps, which Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst just took for five receptions, 41 yards receiving and one touchdown on a team-high seven targets.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
As detailed in this summer’s Early-Season TE1 Streamers article, the Miami Dolphins’ linebackers provide soft coverage to opposing tight ends. Los Angeles’ tight ends combined for five receptions on six targets for 42 yards receiving and one touchdown, so keep an eye on Hunter Henry.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions, TE
Sam LaPorta established himself as a borderline TE1 last week and now faces a Seattle defense that allowed more than 16 yards per reception to Los Angeles’ tight ends.
Kicker
Riley Patterson, Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks
Waiver wire competition should be minimal after a down week for Riley Patterson. Detroit vs. Seattle’s 49.0-point FanDuel over/under signals a shootout.
Have a question about a player on or off this list? Join our Discord and hop into the waiver wire channel. We’ll answer as many questions as we can on our Tuesday Waiver Wire show.
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