USFFL | RealTime Fantasy Sports

Waivering: Week 2

Tue Sep 10 8:26am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Likely will be top pickup this week

Well, in the famous words of Ron Burgundy, that sure escalated quickly. We sure have our fair share on injuries already, which is unfortunate. That means there are some options to consider on the waiver wire, though. Plus, some players performed better than expected and were undrafted. Those are guys to consider adding as well. Just remember that one week doesn’t make a season. Be smart when trying to figure out how much of your free agent budget to spend early in the year.

Here are our top options for the week. . . . .

QUARTERBACK

Baker Mayfield, Bucs (70.6% owned). This will be the last week you can grab Mayfield. He is still available in some leagues. It seems some fantasy owners might have overlooked Mayfield come draft day despite his breakout season last year. Mayfield was awesome in the opener, throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover.

Derek Carr, Saints (28.8% owned). Carr sure had a great matchup in Week 1 but you can’t ignore the production. He looked great, missing on just four passes. Carr was 19-of-23 for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Carr is going to be worth some spot starts for fantasy teams along the way this year. He can produce the big game.

RUNNING BACK

Jordan Mason, 49ers (71.9% owned). Mason is owned in most formats but out there in about 28 percent of leagues. If you are in one of those leagues, go grab him. He proved he can be an elite fantasy back in a starting role for the 49ers. He had 22.2 fantasy points last week and racked up 147-rushing yards against a good Jets defense. Mason can be a difference maker for fantasy teams while Christian McCaffrey is sidelined.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (30.6% owned). Bigsby actually led the Jaguars in rushing Week 1. He ran really well, rushing 12 times for 73 yards. He looks to be a much bigger part of the Jaguars offense this year. His lack of work in the passing game hurts his fantasy value but has weekly rushing upside in this offense.

Bucky Irving, Bucs (65.7% owned). Irving is another back that didn’t start but led his team in rushing in the opener. Irving ran nine times for 62 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards. It was an impressive showing for the rookie, who seems setup to get around double-digit touches per week.

Alexander Mattison, Raiders (30.6% owned). Mattison pretty much split the work with starter Zamir White but produced the better numbers. He ran five times for just 19 yards but had four receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. He was targeted six times. Mattison seems setup for a pretty decent weekly workload in his current role.

Justice Hill, Ravens (24.7% owned). Hill isn’t going to get any early-down work over Derrick Henry but is clearly the pass-catching back on the roster. He played a lot in Week 1 in this role, scoring 11.5 fantasy points. He actually was on the field more than Henry, playing 54 percent of the snaps compared to 46 percent for Henry. Hill had six receptions for 52 yards on eight targets. Hill is worth owning in all formats because of his weekly reception potential.

WIDE RECEIVER

Alec Pierce, Colts (4.9% owned). Pierce had a 100-yard game in the opener, catching three passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. He showed his big-game ability, scoring a long touchdown. He is likely going to be hit or miss in this offense but has a high ceiling because of his big-play potential.

Rashid Shaheed, Saints (58.0% owned). Shaheed had three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. He led the Saints in receiving yards. Shaheed is another receiver that is going to have a weekly role in this offense but might be a little boom or bust. He certainly has potential, though.

Greg Dortch, Cardinals (8.0% owned). Dortch led the Cardinals in receptions and targets in Week 1. He caught six passes for 47 yards on eight targets. He also had a rush attempt in the game. Dortch looks to be a big part of the offense, getting plenty of weekly chances. He is worth grabbing if you need the receiver depth.

Tyler Johnson, Bucs (0.1% owned). Johnson got a lot more playing time after Puka Nacua was forced from last week’s game. Johnson looked good, catching five of his seven targets for 79 yards. He looks to be the biggest benefactor with Nacua out of the lineup. Johnson seems likely to take Nacua’s role in the offense, making him a player to consider adding to your fantasy roster.

TIGHT END

Isaiah Likely, Ravens (37.6% owned). Likely will be the big pickup this week, producing huge in the opener. He outplayed starter Mark Andrews and looks primed for a breakout season. Likely had nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.

Jordan Akins, Browns (0.1% owned). Akins is next in line if David Njoku has to miss any time because of his ankle injury. This gives Akins some fantasy value. He has produced some decent numbers with past chances. He had three receptions for 27 yards in Week 1 despite getting little work until late in the game.

Colby Parkinson, Rams (6.4% owned). Parkinson is the starting tight end for the Rams while Tyler Higbee recovers from his torn ACL. He looked decent in Week 1, catching four passes for 47 yards. He has a decent floor in this offense and could have the occasional big game. Parkinson is a decent pickup for any team already searching for a new tight end.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Waivering: Week 2

The Paur Report