Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Week 2 Gems

Running Backs

Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 1.9% Rostered

Fantasy gold is running back depth, and Gainwell has sneakily earned a meaningful portion of the backfield in Pittsburgh in Week 1. Gainwell was on the field 52% of snaps, all but one of every three-down plays, and the vast majority of passing-downs, running 7 times and gaining 19 yards, with three brief catches, even though Jaylen Warren was on the field more. There was a monopolization of the red zone by Warren and a minimal part by Kaleb Johnson. The presence of sneaky PPR value means that Gainwell is worth a pickup in deeper formats so long as he continues to hold his snap share.

Zach Charbonnet (RB-SEA): 57% Rostered

Zach Charbonnet served as Option 1A to Kenneth Walker III’s 1B on Sunday, which means this will be the last week you can get in on Charbonnet if he’s available in your league. He’s no worse than a Flex option against a Steelers defense that was gashed for 182 yards on the ground in Week 1.

Mentionables: RB Miles Sanders, Dallas Cowboys (Rostered: 2%)

Wide Receivers

Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC): 3.6% Rostered

It was perhaps the best NFL showing of Johnston, who had 24.9 PPR points on Friday (five receptions on seven targets and 79 yards and two TDs). What is interesting, outside the box score, is his role: he was the Chargers WRs fantasy leader and was targeted on first reads only one fewer than Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey. As Justin Herbert continues to target three fantasy-relevant receivers with his 34 attempts per game, Johnston is usable as a high-upside flex if the volume continues.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – KC): 0.9% Rostered

Kansas City WR group has suddenly been left wide open with the addition of Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and Rashee Rice (suspension) to the sidelines. Marquise Brown being the dominant player with 16 targets in Week 1, Smith-Schuster snatched the WR2 position for himself, correctly catching all five targets that got him 55 yards (10.5 PPR points). The veteran is a superior waiver option to add to deeper league managers who are in need of immediate assistance when Worthy is absent, with Brown already rostered in more than half of leagues.

Mentionables: WR Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (Rostered: 1%)

Tight Ends

Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE): 0.8% Rostered

Dynasty drafters have been keeping an eye on Fannin since he was drafted, yet not many predicted that the first week would turn out to be the one in which he would have so many receptions (seven) and receive the highest number of points (63) among nine targets to beat the veteran David Njoku. Fannin did not only keep up with the Browns in targets, but he did so closely, not merely a matter of garbage time. As Njoku enters a contract year, it would not be surprising to see Cleveland place more of an emphasis on the rookie, particularly should there be a trade midway through the season. Tight end streamers and dynasty owners are to strike.

Jake Tonges (TE – SF): 0.0% Rostered

Tonges was an afterthought until George Kittle (hamstring) and Jauan Jennings (shoulder) left in Week 1. As Ricky Pearsall carried the passing offense, Tonges took advantage of his three targets, catching each of them, including a game-winning touchdown of a clutch pass of less than two minutes on the clock. Now that Kittle and Jennings are undergoing MRIs, there is a route to Tonges getting fantasy value, and getting him as a speculative add would be proactive. 

Mentionables: TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (Rostered: 2%)