2022 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Best Pickups for Week 2
Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season is in the books. Now, it’s time to start bolstering fantasy football rosters by adding players through the waiver wire. Every year, the waiver wire is filled with talent after week one as we gain a deeper understanding of players and their roles on their teams. This year is no different. Here are some of the best players that are rostered in less than half of fantasy leagues.
*Roster percentage comes from ESPN and is accurate as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13.*
Jeff Wilson Jr. — 3.8%
49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. is a must add and he is available in the majority of leagues. In Week 1, 49ers lead back, Elijah Mitchell sprained his MCL and will be sidelined for two months. As a result, Wilson will be thrust into the lead-back role. Outside of Mitchell, Wilson was the only other running back to receive a carry. Wilson’s production will come as a result of his opportunities. He is not superbly talented, but if he gets touches, he can produce. This all sounds great; however, there are areas for concern. Trey Lance and Deebo Samuel will take some carries off the plate of Wilson. Plus, do not be surprised if the 49ers try and get Jordan Mason or Tyrion Davis-Price involved in the run game. Basically, temper your expectations a little, but do not let them prevent you from putting a claim on Wilson.
Julio Jones — 43.5%
Julio Jones can be fantasy relevant with the Buccaneers. Jones is no longer in his prime, but he still has good play left in the tank. Let that good play add some value to your fantasy team. In Week 1, Jones had a productive game against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the day with three receptions on five targets for 69 yards, while also receiving two carries that resulted in 17 yards. This came while only playing 52% of the offensive snaps. Jones’ health will obviously be a large concern this season. If he stays healthy, he can add value to your fantasy team. If the Buccaneers can assist with smart load management, Jones could finish the season with some solid numbers. It may be a Week 1 overreaction, but that seems like a reality. In the short term, Chris Godwin’s injury should help Jones see more targets. Do not expect Godwin’s workload to all fall on Jones’ shoulder. Russell Gage should also see an increase in targets with Godwin sidelined.
Darrell Henderson Jr. — 46%
I was surprised to learn Darrell Henderson Jr. was not rostered in half of fantasy leagues. Henderson is an established player and the ability to add him to your fantasy football team through the waiver wire is a blessing. If you are in a large or competitive league, I doubt you will find Henderson on waivers. If Henderson is available though, he should be a top-waiver priority. In Week 1, Henderson was the clear choice back for the Rams. On the ground, he finished with 13 carries for 47 yards. In the air, he had five targets which resulted in five catches for 26 yards. Cam Akers, meanwhile, had three carries for zero yards with no targets in the passing game. The offensive snap share saw Henderson on the field for 82% of snaps while Akers only had 18%. If that is not bad enough, Sean McVay wants more urgency from Akers. Things do not look good for Akers, but that makes Henderson a far more appealing option in fantasy.
Curtis Samuel — 8.7%
The Washington Commanders were able to put up points against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It seems like that offensive will be able to sustain more fantasy production than originally thought. That leaves Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson as potential options for fantasy managers at receiver. Out of the two options, I lean towards Samuel. There are many reasons to be pessimistic about Dotson. He had a nice opening to the season, finishing five targets for three catches and 40 yards with two touchdowns. His 88% offensive snap share is a plus too. With that being said, his touchdown output will be hard to repeat throughout the season. Meanwhile, Samuel had 11 targets for eight receptions and 55 yards with a touchdown. He also had four rushes that total 17 extra yards. Samuel’s offensive snap share of 71% is not quite as strong as Dotson’s 88%, but his eleven targets make that less relevant. Samuel will be the safer option this season while also providing high upside. The gap between Samuel and Dotson widens further in PPR formats as well.
Hayden Hurst — 19.5%
Hayden Hurst was a benefit of the Cincinnati Bengal’s strong passing game. He did not finish the game with the most impressive stat line, hauling in five catches for 46 yards on eight targets is not tremendous. For Hurst, his 75% offensive snap share and eight targets are what make him a promising addition. If he can consistently get targets, he should produce for your fantasy team. In the future, Hurst should be more productive. The usage statistics are a good sign of that. Getting on the Hurst bandwagon now could help you beat your league-mates to a waiver claim.
Robbie Anderson — 37.6%
Robbie Anderson looked good in the Carolina Panthers’ season-opener against the Cleveland Browns. Anderson’s Week 1 production was headlined by a 75-yard touchdown reception. In total, he finished the day with five catches, 102 yards, and a touchdown on eight targets — all of which came with Anderson playing every offensive snap for the Panthers. The ceiling for Anderson is capped as Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore sit above him in the offensive pecking order. Nevertheless, that does not mean you should avoid adding him to your fantasy roster.
