There is no reason to lie. Week 2 does not offer a ton of elite options on the waiver wire, but that does not mean we should just sit on our hands.
There are some interesting receivers to target, and plenty of bench stash backs remain available in the majority of fantasy leagues.
So, with that in mind, let's look at the top waiver wire targets for Week 2 of the 2025 fantasy football season.
As a reminder, recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.
The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.
I will not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because there is a much better resource for researching what you need to bid, thanks to our friends at FAABLab.
Click here to visit FAABLab and get real FAAB values from other fantasy football players!
Finally, I will not be ranking kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don’t care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.
With those caveats out of the way, let’s get to it.
Contents
Best Week 2 Wavier Wire Pickups: Quarterback
- Trevor Lawrence
- Geno Smith
- Jaxson Dart (Superflex)
Best Week 2 Wavier Wire Pickups: Running Back
- Dylan Sampson
- Kenneth Gainwell
- Bhayshul Tuten
- Kareem Hunt
Best Week 2 Wavier Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver
- Quentin Johnston
- Kayshon Boutte
- Elic Ayomanor
- Kendrick Bourne
- Tyquan Thornton
- JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Casey Washington
Best Week 2 Wavier Wire Pickups: Tight Ends
- Juwan Johnson
- Brenton Strange
- Harold Fannin Jr.
- Dalton Schultz
- Michael Mayer
- Jake Tonges
Quarterback Waiver Targets, Week 2
1. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars — Available in 60.8% of ESPN leagues
It did not work out great for us last week, but we are going back to the well with Lawrence in a good matchup against a Bengals offense that should push back more than the Panthers did. That said, it was not a great opener for Lawrence from a real football perspective, either. He was off target on nearly 13% of his throws and really struggled to connect with Brian Thomas Jr. That will need to change for him to hit a fantasy ceiling.
2. Geno Smith, Raiders — Available in 90.9% of ESPN leagues
It is not a great week for streaming options, so let's go with an offense that was shockingly pass heavy in the season opener. The Raiders finished second in neutral pass rate in Week 1 and 8% above their expected pass rate. For his part, Smith was dealing in the season opener, averaging 10.6 yards per attempt with the third-highest air yards per throw. He was second among all quarterbacks with 362 passing yards. He just did not get the touchdowns. The Chargers have a good defense, and we are not sure if Brock Bowers is going to suit up. Those are concerns, but the passing volume in Week 1 keeps Smith in the mix as a streamer.
3. Jaxson Dart, Giants — Available in 95.5% of ESPN leagues
Russell Wilson is going to get another start this week, but it seems like just a matter of time before Dart takes over the starting job. Dart is probably already rostered in most Superflex formats, but it is at least worth a look after the rookie showed extremely well in the preseason.
Watch List: Everything went right for Aaron Rodgers in Week 1, including 4 touchdown passes, and the Steelers were shockingly just 1% under their expected pass rate. Still, it is not a great matchup this week, and I am not sure how often the Steelers will lean into the pass even that much…Matthew Stafford could be a streaming option this week, but the Titans defense offered more bite than expected in the opener, and the total in that game is only 41.5 points…Michael Penix is coming off a solid fantasy game thanks to a rushing score, but playing in Minnesota is not the friendliest matchup, especially if the Vikings can limit play volume. Bears-Vikings featured the fewest combined plays of Week 1. He also could be without his top two receivers…The Seahawks were second to last in neutral pass rate and FOURTEEN PERCENT under their expected pass rate in Week 1. While they are coming off a shocking shootout in Week 1, the Steelers should be willing to oblige the Seahawks with a slow pace…Joe Flacco was sold out by his receivers on multiple occasions in Week 1. A game in Baltimore is probably not the right streaming spot for him, but he had the third-most dropbacks last week.
Running Back Waiver Targets, Week 2
1. Dylan Sampson, Browns — Available in 67.2% of ESPN leagues
Sampson was the No. 1 target on this list last week, and there is not much reason to back off from that after he led the team with 12 carries and recorded 8 targets in the season opener. There are some concerns, though. First, he was targeted on over 50% of his routes, which is likely not sustainable. Jerome Ford actually ran more routes in Week 1. Second, there are reports that Quinshon Judkins could return as early as this week. Those are negatives that keep Sampson from being a slam dunk, big bid waiver add. On the other hand, he was the clear lead back in his first NFL game, and Judkins is a rookie who missed all of camp. I am adding Sampson wherever I can.
2. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers — Available in 98% of ESPN leagues
The Steelers were not lying. Gainwell played 2 more snaps than Jaylen Warren, ran 16 routes to 9 for Warren, and touched the ball just 3 fewer times. I remain skeptical about how many points this Steelers offense will score this season, would still bet on Warren being the lead back assuming health, and rookie Kaleb Johnson is still waiting in the wings. All of that said, Gainwell had a real role in Week 1.
3. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars — Available in 57.8% of ESPN leagues
Tuten is just beyond our normal cutoff, but it feels worth mentioning him with Tank Bigsby no longer playing for the Jaguars. Tuten played just 4 snaps in the season opener — 5 fewer than LeQuint Allen — but the Bigsby trade opens up the secondary role for him behind Travis Etienne. Still, it has to be said, it seems like that role will be a true secondary spot. Etienne handled 64% of the running back carries in Week 1 and ran 15 of the 28 routes by running backs.
4. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs — Available in 87.7% of ESPN leagues
Hunt maintained a nearly even split with Isiah Pacheco in the season opener, and that makes him worth a roster spot in a lot of leagues, especially for teams that just need someone who is going to touch the ball. For a bench stash, though, I would rather take a shot on higher upside handcuffs.
Watch List: Nick Chubb was the clear lead back and showed well enough in the season opener, meaning Dameon Pierce and Woody Marks are just bench holds in deeper leagues…The trade for Tank Bigsby takes away some of the handcuff appeal for Will Shipley, who is also dealing with an injury…Tyler Allgeier remains one of the better handcuffs in the league and will also get touches every week, but the Falcons' running game behind a now questionable offensive line left a lot to be desired in Week 1…Ray Davis was less involved in Week 1 than expected. He is a pure handcuff right now…Kendre Miller was the No. 2 in New Orleans, but Devin Neal also got some work, complicating the handcuff situation.
Deep Cuts: I remain team Kyle Monangai, but he did not get a lot of run in the season opener, which is seemingly good news for Roschon Johnson whenever he is healthy enough to return. Of course, it could also mean we are just getting workhorse D'Andre Swift this year…Miles Sanders had the long run, but he fumbled and was the clear No. 2 behind Javonte Williams…DJ Giddens‘ overall touches were inflated by garbage time, but he is the handcuff behind Jonathan Taylor right now…Keaton Mitchell was a healthy scratch, but I would still bet on him having a role if something happened to Derrick Henry…Tyler Badie saw 6 targets, but he ran just 11 routes and played 12 snaps, so it is unlikely those 6 targets happen again unless his snap share increases. That feels unlikely with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey atop the depth chart…He only got 8 snaps, but Brashard Smith is still someone to watch in the Chiefs' backfield.
Wide Receiver Waiver Targets, Week 2
1. Quentin Johnston, Chargers — Available in 96.2% of ESPN leagues
While he is not worth going massive on in FAAB bidding, Johnston is the clear top waiver add at receiver this week following his 2-touchdown performance in the season opener. The case for him has already been made, so I will offer some caveats. First, Johnston was still the No. 3 option in the passing game, finishing with fewer targets and a notably lower target rate per route than both Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey. Second, the Chargers were fourth in neutral pass rate in Week 1 and well above their expected pass rate. That is not exactly what we expect from a Greg Roman offense, but as we outlined in the Sharp Fantasy Draft Kit on several occasions, it is not a massive surprise. The Chargers transitioned to a more pass heavy attack over the second half of last season, so their Week 1 attack looks like just a continuation of that. If they keep throwing, Johnston clearly has a role in the offense and was a touchdown threat last season — he led the team with 10 targets in the end zone. There are reasons for concern, but there is also a strong case that Johnston was underdrafted all summer.
2. Kayshon Boutte, Patriots — Available in 99.4% of ESPN leagues
DeMario Douglas got the touchdown, but Boutte was the primary receiving threat for the Patriots in the season opener. He ran a route on 83% of New England's dropbacks, tied for the team lead with 8 targets, and turned those into 103 yards on 6 catches. Going back to last season, Boutte now has lines of 6-103-0, 7-117-1, and 5-95-1 in three of his last four games. Stefon Diggs only ran a route on 69.8% of dropbacks, and that will likely increase as he gets healthier. The Patriots were also surprisingly pass heavy in Week 1, finishing third in neutral dropback rate. Still, Boutte is worth an add to see how this shakes out.
3. Elic Ayomanor, Titans — Available in 95.5% of ESPN leagues
The Titans need to find targets behind Calvin Ridley, and it looks like Ayomanor will be that guy after his dominant usage in Week 1. The rookie ran a route on 82.4% of Tennessee's dropbacks and was second on the team with 7 targets, 28% of Cam Ward‘s attempts. The entire passing game struggled in Denver, as expected, and they have another tough matchup against the Rams this week. Ayomanor is a talented young player, though, and appears to have a real role.
4. Kendrick Bourne, 49ers — Available in 99.9% of ESPN leagues
It sounds like Jauan Jennings‘ injury could be minor, and it might not matter because we are unsure if Brock Purdy will play in Week 2. What we do know is that the 49ers are desperate for targets with George Kittle scheduled to miss time, and Kyle Shanahan specifically called out Bourne as someone they were excited to have back. Ricky Pearsall should be the No. 1 receiver, and Christian McCaffrey is going to get a lot of targets. Even so, there will be room behind them if Jennings' injury forces him to miss time.
5. Tyquan Thornton, Chiefs — Available in 99.8% of ESPN leagues
6. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs — Available in 99% of ESPN leagues
Hollywood Brown is rostered in too many leagues for this column, but there are other Chiefs to target on the wire if Xavier Worthy ends up missing time, although that looks like a much bigger if early this week than it did in the immediate aftermath of the injury. Smith-Schuster is the better bet for targets and will have a role even if Worthy returns, but Thornton is the upside bet. 3 of his 4 targets traveled at least 20 air yards in the season opener, and the Chiefs talked all offseason about becoming more explosive in the passing game. That will be tough this week against the Eagles, but plays were there to be made for the Cowboys against Philly last week.
7. Casey Washington, Falcons — Available in 100% of ESPN leagues
Washington is a 100 percent speculative add. It sounds like Drake London‘s shoulder injury is not serious, and Darnell Mooney could return in Week 2. That said, Washington ran a route on 97.9% of Atlanta's dropbacks in Week 1 and finished with 6 targets. Kyle Pitts could just be the de facto WR1 if both London and Mooney are out, but Washington has already earned targets this season and should be on the field.
Watch List: Wan'Dale Robinson, Romeo Doubs, and Josh Palmer are all fine adds for those who need someone to fill a starting spot right now… Marvin Mims did not get the route participation jump I expected, instead running fewer routes than Troy Franklin. Pat Bryant was an afterthought. The injury to Evan Engram could open up more work, especially for Franklin, who ran 50% of his routes from the slot, but the secondary receivers need more consistent playing time to be weekly options…The Raiders' unexpected pass rate and the injury to Brock Bowers open up fantasy opportunities for the secondary receivers in Las Vegas. Tre Tucker scored the touchdown and ran the most routes, but Dont'e Thornton was also on the field for 63.2% of the dropbacks…DeAndre Hopkins scored a touchdown, but he ran a route on just 54.5% of Baltimore's dropbacks…Luther Burden is the clear No. 4 right now in Chicago, behind Olamide Zaccheaus…It remains unclear when Christian Kirk will return from injury, but the Texans could certainly use the help at receiver. Xavier Hutchinson did play a lot of snaps, but he was once again mostly doing cardio.
Deep Cuts: Isaac TeSlaa has an early nominee for catch of the year, but that touchdown was one of his 3 routes all game…He did not get a target, but Tory Horton did run a route on 70.8% of Seattle's dropbacks…I remain skeptical of Pittsburgh's passing offense continuing to look like it did in Week 1, but if it does, Calvin Austin ran a route on 85.3% of the dropbacks and tied for second on the team with 6 targets…Garbage time inflated his numbers, but Malik Washington ran a route on 72.2% of Miami's dropbacks. Jaylen Waddle briefly left with an injury, and Tyreek Hill was visibly upset on the sidelines. There is a non-zero chance Washington is the No. 1 receiver in Miami at some point this season, for whatever that is worth.
Tight End Waiver Targets, Week 2
1. Juwan Johnson, Saints — Available in 98.7% of ESPN leagues
Usage could not have been better for Johnson in Week 1. He ran a route on every Saints dropback, was targeted on 23.4% of his routes, and was second on the team with 11 targets. Johnson, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed were the only players to receive at least a 10% target share. Johnson also ran nearly 50% of his routes from the slot and even 13% of his routes from out wide. The 49ers have traditionally been a tough matchup for tight ends, but Johnson got TE1-level usage in Week 1.
2. Brenton Strange, Jaguars — Available in 79.9% of ESPN leagues
Strange came out hot, catching three passes in the first quarter, but he caught just one more pass the rest of the way. It is possible that the weather delay and the Panthers not being able to push back stunted his production in what was an odd game overall. Unlike Johnson above, Strange has less chance of being the No. 2 option in the passing game (Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter look destined to lead the way), but he has a great matchup this week against the Bengals.
3. Harold Fannin Jr, Browns — Available in 99.1% of ESPN leagues
I will not push back on anyone who wants to take a shot on the upside of the rookie over someone like Juwan Johnson. Fannin's usage in Week 1 was outstanding. He led the team with 9 targets despite running a route on 64.6% of the team's dropbacks. He was targeted on 29% of his routes, which is a big number, especially for a tight end. The Browns were also relatively pass heavy in Week 1, finishing 5% above their expected pass rate. This is not a surprise based on how the offense ran under Joe Flacco when he was last in Cleveland. The concern for Fannin, and why he is not No. 1 for me, is that he still ran fewer routes than three other pass catchers. That includes David Njoku, who was in route on 85.4% of dropbacks. But Fannin's Week 1 usage was as promising as anyone could have hoped.
4. Dalton Schultz, Texans — Available in 93.5% of ESPN leagues
The Christian Kirk injury opened up targets for Schultz in Week 1. He tied for the team lead in targets, but he was only in route on 61.8% of dropbacks, which is a concern. Still, he could easily be the No. 2 target earner behind Nico Collins with the issues the Texans have at receiver right now.
5. Michael Mayer, Raiders — Available in 99.5% of ESPN leagues
Mayer would be higher if we expected Brock Bowers to miss time, but early indications are that Bowers missing the end of Week 1 was more precautionary than anything else. Mayer still played a lot of snaps even with Bowers healthy, and he was targeted on 26.7% of his routes, albeit on a smaller 15-route sample.
6. Jake Tonges, 49ers — Available in 100% of ESPN leagues
George Kittle is going to miss time, and the 49ers are depleted at receiver. That theoretically opens up targets for whoever replaces Kittle, and that was Tonges in Week 1. He ran more routes than Luke Farrell despite playing 14 fewer snaps overall, and he caught the winning touchdown. To be clear, this feels a little like chasing, but Tonges might be able to do a job for those who are truly desperate.
Watch List: Jonnu Smith got 5 targets and scored a touchdown. He was targeted on a third of his routes. Perhaps chasing that is better than taking a shot on Tonges, but he also ran a route on just 52.9% of Pittsburgh's dropbacks…The emergence of Elic Ayomanor puts a damper on Chig Okonkwo‘s chances of being the No. 2 in the passing game, but he still ran a ton of routes in Week 1…The Jets will not throw a ton unless they are forced, so that limits everyone not named Garrett Wilson. Still, Mason Taylor ran a route on 84% of New York's dropbacks in his first taste of NFL action, which is a great sign…Noah Fant caught a touchdown, but he was in route on just 46.4% of dropbacks. Still, he earned 5 targets on those 13 routes, which is promising…Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be the only guy that really gets targets, but AJ Barner did run a route on 79.2% of Seattle's dropbacks, 10 more routes than Elijah Arroyo.
