Win or lose in season debuts, the wisest fantasy football owners have already moved on to the waiver wire in an effort to improve.
The Week 2 waiver wire doesn’t have as many flashy big names as it has in the past. Big-name players shouldn’t influence how seriously an owner takes the tool, though, as there are plenty of worthwhile adds out there.
Whether it’s a rookie showing up in a big way or an unknown name coming out of the woodwork to play a big role and produce notable fantasy value, this week’s wire still has something of note for every owner.
Week 2 Waiver-Wire Pickup Targets
Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles (11.0 percent owned)
Before his debut, it was best to take a wait-and-see approach with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.
Scratch that.
Wentz finished as a top-10 scorer at quarterback before Monday, totaling 19 points by way of 278 yards and two scores on just shy of 60 percent passing. Joe Giglio of NJ.com explained why the Eagles didn’t have much to lose by trotting the rookie out there:
Granted, owners have more to lose. Wentz‘s epic debut did come against the Cleveland Browns. That speaks for itself, but it doesn’t mean he’s one to ignore.
Wentz makes for a great stash add right now. He’ll have his rookie struggles, but it’s clear predictable matchups with solid production will exist this season.
Quincy Enunwa, WR, New York Jets (0.3 percent owned)
Though fantasy owners might not recognize the name, Quincy Enunwa‘s Week 1 outburst shouldn’t go down as a fluke.
Sunday, the New York Jets played Eric Decker more on the outside of formations, which allowed Enunwa to see snaps in the slot. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick loves to send passes there, so the 2014 sixth-round pick had a big day, catching seven passes for 54 yards and a score, good for 11 fantasy points.
Considering Fitzpatrick attempted 562 passes last year and tossed 31 touchdowns, the new usage for Enunwa is nothing but good news for fantasy owners who already need help at wideout.
Whether you’re trusting Enunwa more in his new role or simply looking to add a new wrinkle, don’t expect this situation to fizzle.
Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers (6.7 percent owned)
Owners might shudder at the thought of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams.
Adams had a quiet rookie season with 446 yards and three scores in 2014. Last year, the Fresno State product became one of the hottest commodities around after Jordy Nelson went down for the year with an injury—he recorded 483 yards and one score.
So yes, it’s tough to look at Adams’ three catches for 50 yards and a score, good for 11 points, and pull the trigger on a claim. Here’s some perspective, though, via NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling:
Adams is clearly the No. 3 wideout in Green Bay, which isn’t such a bad thing so long as Adams can reel in catches. He dropped a deep ball early in Week 1, and had he snagged that, he would have had a bigger line.
It’s a situation worth a stash. Injury could strike, or Adams could simply be at the peak of his development as a deep threat. There are worse ways to navigate the wire.
Jack Doyle, TE, Indianapolis Colts (0.0 percent owned)
If there’s one thing Jack Doyle’s two-touchdown outburst showed owners, it’s that the Indianapolis Colts still love running two tight ends on the field despite three-wideout sets.
Doyle wound up leading all tight ends in scoring before Monday, the 15 points by way of three catches and two touchdowns enough to get the job done. The Colts might love T.Y. Hilton, Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief, but it’s clear where the team will go in the red zone.
Touchdown-based producers aren’t the most fun, but Doyle might slowly morph into a reliable contributor at an unreliable position. With Coby Fleener gone, it’s at least clear Doyle will see chances to contribute each week.
Some weeks will look like duds, but it’s a big issue if owners claiming him intend to start him each week, anyway.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
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