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Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is in the books, and as we all know, fantasy championships aren’t won on draft day—they’re won on the waiver wire. Injuries, unexpected busts, and surprise breakouts are all part of the game. Whether you’re contending for a title or rebuilding for the future, smart waiver pickups can shape your roster for years to come. The Week 2 waiver wire column is built for deep dynasty leagues. Each week, we will break down waiver players under 50% rostered that could make an immediate impact or become valuable assets down the stretch.
All rostership percentages will be based on 12-Team SF PPR dynasty leagues. Please note: At the time of this publication, all free agents were at or under 50% rostered in Sleeper dynasty leagues.
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Week 2 Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets
Drew Lock | Seattle Seahawks | 4% Rostership | 5% FAAB
Well, it didn’t take long for the injury bug to affect our dynasty rosters. Drew Lock entered the game early on Wednesday Night Football (that’s still weird to say) after Sam Darnold left the game with an injury and did not return. Darnold underwent tests later that night that ruled out a hip fracture. He went in for an MRI Thursday morning, and the team’s medical staff is still trying to determine how much time he will miss. It appears that Darnold’s injury is not season-ending, but Lock will start for Seattle until Darnold returns. Lock played well in Darnold’s absence, finishing with 200 total yards and a touchdown against a tough New England defense. In superflex leagues, you can never have too many options at quarterback, and dynasty managers become desperate, so when one becomes available, you need to pounce.
Cooper Rush | Atlanta Falcons | 24% Rostership | 2-3% FAAB
Cooper Rush was called in to duty late in the week when Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out with an oblique injury. Rush completed 12-of-22 passes for 143 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions in the Falcons’ 20-13, Week 1 loss to the Steelers. While I do not have much confidence in Rush, if he does have to start again for the Falcons, he has a good Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who gave up 59 points to the Chicago Bears.
Carson Wentz | Minnesota Vikings | 7% Rostership | 5% FAAB
Kyler Murray sustained a concussion late in the first quarter of the Vikings win over the Green Bay Packers. Carson Wentz took over for Murray throwing for 3 touchdowns (2 of which went to Justin Jefferson). If Murray misses Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, Wentz will get the start again at quarterback. Wentz had some success last year with Minnesota going 2-3 while averaging 243.2 passing yards and throwing 6 touchdowns to 5 interceptions.
Week 2 Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups
Chris Brooks | Green Bay Packers | 47% Rostership | 3-5% FAAB
In the absence of Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks and MarShawn Lloyd split the running back duties. Neither running back was very effective on the ground as Brooks saw 7 carries for 29 yards to Lloyd’s 13 carries for 37 yards. I expect a similar workload split moving forward.
Emari Demercado | Dallas Cowboys | 35% Rostership | 2-5% FAAB
With Malik Davis landing on IR, Emari Demercado has emerged as the handcuff to roster for Javonte Williams. It appears the injury to Davis is significant and Demercado is the next man up.
George Holani | Seattle Seahawks | 46% Rostership | 7-10% FAAB
Hopefully, you were able to secure George Holani on your roster, as he was my top waiver-wire add in Week 1. While Holani was only able to rush for 29 yards on 8 carries, he did see 46% of the team’s snaps and served as the Seahawks’ primary back on third and fourth downs. Holani may have more opportunities in a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Until Zach Charbonnet is able to return, Holani is a must-add for your dynasty rosters, as it is clear Seattle wants to work two running backs in their offense.
Kendre Miller | New Orleans Saints | 33% Rostership | 2-3% FAAB
Alvin Kamara practiced in full last week, but the Saints opted to give him at least seven more days to get fully healthy. Kendre Miller got the backup duties to Travis Etienne and saw 9 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. Miller is a name to monitor if Kamara continue to misses time.
Samaje Perine | Cincinnati Bengals | 41% Rostership | 5-7% FAAB
Samaje Perine is still under 50% rostership and will continue to be a mainstay on this list until he crosses the threshold. The clear handcuff to Chase Brown, Perine was even utilized in the passing game in the Bengals Week 1 win over Tampa Bay catching all 3 of his targets for 30 receiving yards. Hopefully, this will be the last time Perine cracks my list as managers adjust their rosters.
Raheim Sanders | Cleveland Browns | 9% Rostership | 5% FAAB
Raheim Sanders entered the game after Dylan Sampson was ruled out with a knee injury. Nicknamed “Rocket,” Sanders caught three passes filling the Brown’s receiving back role and showcased some burst by taking those receptions for 25 total yards. Sanders is an intriguing handcuff to pick up off waivers, pending Sampson’s health moving forward.
Sione Vaki | Detroit Lions | 10% Rostership | 2-3% FAAB
Sione Vaki handled all the carries to running backs not named Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 1. With Isiah Pacheco on IR, Vaki appears to have the lead on Jacob Saylors for running back touches.
Week 2 Waiver Wire FAAB Guide
| Player | Pos. | Team | Rostered | Recommended FAAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Holani | RB | SEA | 46% | 7-10% |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | CIN | 43% | 5-7% |
| Samaje Perine | RB | CIN | 41% | 5-7% |
| Drew Lock | QB | SEA | 4% | 5% |
| Carson Wentz | QB | MIN | 7% | 5% |
| Kendrick Bourne | WR | ARI | 20% | 5% |
| Demarcus Robinson | WR | SF | 7% | 5% |
| Raheim Sanders | RB | CLE | 9% | 5% |
| Chris Brooks | RB | GB | 47% | 3-5% |
| Roman Wilson | WR | PIT | 26% | 3-5% |
| Emari Demercado | RB | DAL | 35% | 2-5% |
| Mack Hollins | WR | NE | 16% | 3% |
| Cooper Rush | QB | ATL | 24% | 2-3% |
| Kendre Miller | RB | NO | 33% | 2-3% |
| Sione Vaki | RB | DET | 10% | 2-3% |
| Demario Douglas | WR | NE | 43% | 2-3% |
| Xavier Hutchinson | WR | HOU | 35% | 2-3% |
| Kalif Raymond | WR | CHI | 6% | 2-3% |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | ATL | 32% | 2% |
| Colby Parkinson | TE | LAR | 43% | 1% |
Week 2 Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups
Kendrick Bourne | Arizona Cardinals | 20% Rostership | 5% FAAB
Another name from last week’s article was Kendrick Bourne. Quick, and without looking, who led the Arizona Cardinals in receiving yards, targets, and receptions amongst the wide receiving crew in Week 1? Kendrick Bourne. At 31 years old, Bourne has shown he still has something left in the tank on a team that will face many negative game scripts.
Jahan Dostson | Atlanta Falcons | 32% Rostership | 2% FAAB
The Atlanta wide receiver room is a situation to monitor. Jahan Dotson operated as the second receiver for the Falcons, running a route on 20 of the team’s 29 dropbacks. He also played 38 snaps, while Olamide Zaccheaus played just 18. The Falcons’ passing offense was horrendous, but it’s something for fantasy managers in deeper leagues to monitor when Michael Penix eventually gets back onto the field.
Demario Douglas | New England Patriots | 43% Rostership | 2-3% FAAB
A.J. Brown suffered a high ankle sprain that ultimately landed him on the Injured Reserve. With Brown sidelined, we will likely see a wide receiver-by-committee approach and more use of the tight ends in the passing offense. Once Brown exited the game, the Patriots’ receiver usage was as follows:
- Romeo Doubs: 10 routes, 12 snaps
- Mack Hollins: 9 routes, 16 snaps
- DeMario Douglas: 8 routes, 11 snaps (Led the team in targets and tied with Rhamondre Stevenson in receptions)
- Kyle Williams: 2 routes, 5 snaps
Use this information however you see fit, but Douglas has also been a sneaky PPR receiver in the past when utilized.
Mack Hollins | New England Patriots| 16% Rostership | 3% FAAB
Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs will serve as the team’s primary outside receivers until A.J. Brown is healthy. Hollins led the Patriots in receiving yards with 51 and appeared to be the more reliable target for Drake Maye, as Doubs had a crucial drop late in the game that ultimately ended in a Maye interception in the end zone to seal the win for the Seahawks. Hollins’ role should increase in the offense while Brown is sidelined.
Xavier Hutchinson | Houston Texans | 35% Rostership | 2-3% FAAB
Xavier Hutchinson deserves some attention. While his stat line was rather unimpressive (3 receptions for 32 yards), his target share did raise an eyebrow. Hutchinson was third on the team in targets (6) and had a higher snap share than Reddit darling Kayshon Boutte.
Kaliff Raymond | Chicago Bears | 6% Rostership | 2-3% FAAB
Another name from my Week 1 Waiver Wire article was Kaliff Raymond. I mentioned that Raymond had impressed the coaching staff and his teammates during the offseason and looked comfortable reuniting with Ben Johnson in Chicago. Clearly, Raymond was comfortable as he kicked his shoes off and decided to stay a while in Carolina. Raymond saw 9 targets for 8 receptions for 84 receiving yards, leading all Bears pass catchers.
Demarcus Robinson | San Francisco 49ers | 7% Rostership | 5% FAAB
Once rookie De’Zhaun Stribling went down in Thursday’s win against the Los Angeles Rams, DeMarcus Robinson contributed in a big way, playing 63% of the snaps and catching a 39-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy. Later in the game, Robinson saw another endzone target from Purdy as well. While Robinson is behind Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle on the pecking order for targets, those names have been prone to injuries throughout their career. If Stribling misses significant time, Robinson will have a role in this offense.
Roman Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers | 26% Rostership | 3-5% FAAB
Last week, I mentioned Aaron Rodgers’ trust with Roman Wilson as the team’s WR3. It appears that was not smoke and mirrors, as Wilson saw 6 targets from Rodgers. Wilson’s day and stat line would have looked a lot different if he had been able to secure a 44-yard touchdown throw by Rodgers.
Week 2 Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups
Mike Gesicki | Cincinnati Bengals | 43% Rostership | 5-7% FAAB
Another name that was on my Week 1 Waiver Wire column was Mike Gesick. Gesicki is used as a big slot receiver in the Bengals offense and is the third option in the Bengals passing game. In Cincinnati’s win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gesicki led the team in receptions (5), targets (7), and receiving yards (78) while also finding the endzone. While I don’t expect these performances to become the normal for Gesicki, he needs to be rostered, especially in tight end premium leagues.
Colby Parkinson | Los Angeles Rams | 43% Rostership | 1% FAAB
The Rams utilized four tight ends in their loss against the San Francisco 49ers. Colby Parkinson led the group in snap % with 77 and caught 1 reception on 2 targets for 6 yards. Tyler Higbee ended up with 18 receiving yards on 2 receptions but did have a costly fumble. Davis Allen had just one catch before exiting with a head injury, and Terrance Ferguson didn’t catch his only opportunity. Ferguson still seems like the tight end to roster going forward, but one could argue Parkinson’s snap % will also keep him on the field.
- Colby Parkinson 47 snaps, 19 routes ran, 2 targets
- Terrance Ferguson 31 snaps, 14 routes ran, 1 target
- Davis Allen 21 snaps, 4 routes ran, 1 target
- Tyler Higbee 12 snaps, 5 routes ran, 2 targets
Over 50% Rostered | Week 2 Fantasy Football
Other players who are great waiver wire additions but have over 50% rostership include: Braelon Allen, Keenan Allen, Elic Ayomanor, Jack Bech, Kaelon Black, Jacoby Brissett, Ray Davis, Greg Dulcich, Terrance Ferguson, Pat Freiermuth, Tre Harris, Gunnar Helm, Justice Hill, Cole Kmet, Bryce Lance, Michael Mayer, Seth McGowan, Adonai Mitchell, Keaton Mitchell, David Njoku, Jaylin Noel, Eli Raridon, Brian Robinson, Dalton Schultz, Devin Singletary, Geno Smith, Devaughn Vele, Malik Washington, Deshaun Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Kyle Williams, and Jaylen Wright.
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