Each Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help!
Roster refresh
Looking for the top recommendation at each skill position? Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 2
Tyler Shough, QB, Saints (rostered in 46.7% of leagues): Shough, ranked 19th among quarterbacks in roster percentage, started slowly versus the Detroit Lions, then ended up skewering them for 23.2 PPR points. Yes, he had the aid of overtime and he didn't face a strong secondary. Still, that's 410 passing yards and three touchdowns. Week 2 at the Baltimore Ravens should be tougher. Shough merely continued his fine play from late in his rookie season, when he was a borderline QB1 option for fantasy during his nine starts. He might be underrated even in standard 10-team formats.
Kaelon Black, RB, 49ers (15.4%): Black, the third-round pick from Indiana, looked excellent in the Week 1 rout of the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. Black turned 15 touches into 70 yards and 8.0 fantasy points, while Christian McCaffrey scored 13.8 points on his 15 touches. Perhaps the 49ers only split the touches this way due to the unique circumstances, such as the lopsided score and/or the long travel. Perhaps Week 2 will see McCaffrey dominate the volume against the Miami Dolphins. Adding Black with the intention of expecting relevant fantasy numbers in Week 2 is folly. However, adding Black just in case it happens again, or McCaffrey -- with a track record of injuries -- gets hurt again? That makes sense.
Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers (50.7%): Coker is just a tad on the other side of 50%, but he's worth bending our rules just a little bit. Coker, who finished last season strong and earned himself a three-year contract, was more productive with his nine targets -- catching eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns -- than his universally rostered teammate Tetairoa McMillan, who caught just five passes for 75 yards. This does not mean Coker will clearly outscore McMillan in Week 2, or for the month of September or the entire season. But it sure doesn't mean he won't, either. Coker and pals hit the road for Week 2 in Atlanta, where the Panthers should be able to throw the football.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Bengals (1.5%): The oft-overlooked Gesicki caught 78 yards worth of passes, including a 2-yard touchdown grab. No Bengal surpassed him in receptions, receiving yards or targets. Plus, he caught the team's lone touchdown pass. That should not continue, obviously, with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins healthy. Still, Gesicki, 30, was a relevant fantasy option as recently as two seasons ago, when he caught 65 passes. He might be relevant again.
Other quarterbacks
Jordan Love, Packers (42.2%): Love probably deserves a bit more, um, love in fantasy leagues, but there is also a reason 19 other passers are more popular. Love fell short of 3,400 passing yards in both of the past two seasons and he is barely a factor in the running game, with only one rushing touchdown over that span. Do not overrate his performance (387 passing yards) versus the Minnesota Vikings or assume the Packers consistently will throw more with RB Josh Jacobs absent.
Malik Willis, Dolphins (21%): A dynamic runner, Willis scored more than half his fantasy points in Week 1 via his legs, with 39 rushing yards and a touchdown. Miami's passing game did not impress, but if Willis continues to run -- and he should -- a potential QB1 option lurks.
Bryce Young, Panthers (11.1%): Young eclipsed 300 passing yards three times in his first 44 NFL starts, so the fact he did so in Sunday's loss to the lopsided Chicago Bears (all offense, no defense) is relevant but not necessarily a harbinger for the following months. The Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, which is still a positive matchup for someone who might be only a short-term fill-in for fantasy managers.
Deep-league options/streamers
Carson Wentz, Vikings (0.1%): Starter Kyler Murray left his debut early due to a concussion, and we can assume he will miss at least one more week. Wentz played competently in the comeback win over the Green Bay Packers, tossing three touchdown passes. The Bears await in Week 2. Don't assume Wentz will direct the Vikings all season, but he is a prime streamer against a Chicago team seemingly asking for weekly shootouts.
Drew Lock, Seahawks (0.1%): Starter Sam Darnold (glute) might miss several weeks, and Lock, while lacking the career credentials of Wentz, also played competently in relief in an opening-week comeback win. Just as Wentz teams up with star WR Justin Jefferson, Lock plays with the wonderful WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, someone who makes any QB look good. The Seahawks face the surprising Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
Others: I would go with Lock over Falcons fill-in Cooper Rush even though Atlanta boasts a solid home matchup with the Carolina Panthers, who just surrendered 59 points to the Bears. We might find out later in the week that Rush isn't starting, if lefties Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. heal from their injuries. In fact, now might be a wise time to add Penix. ... New York Jets starter Geno Smith and Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett are each available in 95% of leagues. Week 2 seems a bit early to rely on them, before the bye weeks, but they are competent.
FAB thoughts: Presuming a $100 seasonlong budget for your league for waiver wire acquisition, spending big on a quarterback, with so much positional depth, is not logical. Things are different in multi-QB/superflex formats, but even those dealing with the Darnold and Murray injuries should try to be patient. Shough and Love are worth something ($10-15?) if you're particularly desperate, but I would still target flex options first and try to fill in problematic QB situations with readily available and less expensive options such as Smith and Brissett.
Other running backs
Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals (41.8%): Hotshot rookie Jeremiyah Love scored 13 fantasy points in his debut, as a rushing touchdown overcame tepid volume. This was expected, as Love was on the mend from a sprained ankle. The reliable veteran Allgeier earned 17 rushing attempts, but that might not continue for long, especially for those who believe the Cardinals will trail more in future games. Be careful here. Allgeier is proven, but he isn't guaranteed much.
Kendre Miller, Saints (0.9%): Starter Travis Etienne Jr., among the team's most notable free agent acquisitions last offseason, scored 14.8 points, with more than half coming courtesy of his receiving work (7 catches, 32 yards). Otherwise, Etienne and Miller split 18 rushing attempts, with Miller scoring on a short touchdown run. We cannot assume this split continues for Week 2 or beyond -- and let's remember that Alvin Kamara (knee) might play this month, too.
Deep-league options/streamers
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jaguars (30.8%): Rodriguez scored only 2.3 points in his team debut, as Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence tossed four touchdown passes in the easy win over the hapless Cleveland Browns. Bhayshul Tuten rushed 15 times. We still think Rodriguez will matter this season, but as usual, there isn't a lot to add this week at running back.
Devin Singletary, Giants (0.3%): Starter Cam Skattebo starred but Singletary nearly matched him for fantasy points thanks to four receptions, one of them for a touchdown. Skattebo caught nary a pass, and many question his durability (and decision-making). Singletary isn't a flex option yet, but that might change.
FAB thoughts: Black averaged 4.6 yards per his 14 rushes, showing elite explosiveness, and one might envision the San Francisco 49ers taking a large lead against the Miami Dolphins, thus being extra cautious with McCaffrey. Black might be worth 15-20% of a fantasy budget this week, especially to McCaffrey investors. Black is the No. 2 free agent option this week. Spending a dollar or two on Allgeier, Miller or Rodriguez is reasonable, but spending aggressively so soon on any other running back seems premature.
Other wide receivers
Devaughn Vele, Saints (12.9%): Vele, a popular sleeper for Week 1, enjoyed the second-best fantasy effort of his young career, catching seven passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. Unlike what happened with the Panthers, here, Vele's more popular teammate Chris Olave (28.2 fantasy points) produced big numbers, too. If one believes in Shough and this New Orleans offense, perhaps Vele is an occasional flex option. The skills are there. The Saints travel to Baltimore this week, but after that it is the Las Vegas Raiders and Falcons.
Caleb Douglas, Dolphins (15.6%): Douglas, the 75th pick in the 2026 draft, started in his debut and caught 94 yards worth of Willis passes, easily leading the team. If we presume the Dolphins will trail a lot this season, we might see Douglas pile on the receiving yards.
Mack Hollins, Patriots (0.4%): Someone must catch Drake Maye's passes with A.J. Brown (ankle) sidelined for at least six weeks. Hollins will compete with Romeo Doubs (61.2%) and DeMario Douglas (1.1%) for proper attention. Hollins has caught passes from myriad passers over a nine-year career for seven franchises, and he ranked third among Patriots in both targets and receptions last season.
Deep-league options/streamers
Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles (10.1%): The newcomer Wicks, formerly a Packer, caught only two passes -- but one was a 64-yarder and the other was a 9-yard touchdown. The Eagles have much to improve in their new offense, but with veteran DeVonta Smith seeing extra defensive attention and rookie Makai Lemon looking quite overwhelmed, Wicks should see his target total rise.
Denzel Boston, Browns (25.3%): Cleveland is not a place to find fantasy value these days, but Boston hauled in a 46-yard touchdown late in the team's blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Relying on rookies is inherently dangerous. Next week it might be fellow rookie KC Concepcion (63.5%) scoring a TD. It might be neither of them.
Demarcus Robinson, 49ers (0.1%): This wily journeyman caught a TD pass in Australia, one of only three targets he saw. However, popular rookie De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) is out for at least a month and veterans Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. are no longer known for any durability. Robinson should see more targets soon.
Adonai Mitchell, Jets (15.5%): Mitchell caught each of his three targets from Geno Smith and ended up with 60 receiving yards, which is notable. Mitchell gets downfield, and with Jets rookie Omar Cooper Jr. likely to miss time due to a sprained ankle, more targets might be pending.
Rashod Bateman, Ravens (8.8%): Bateman caught nary a pass in the opener, but with Zay Flowers (hamstring) potentially absent and rookie Ja'Kobi Lane (broken wrist) clearly absent this week, there might be some value there for Bateman and Chris Moore.
Antonio Williams, Commanders (1.9%): Williams, the 71st pick in the draft out of Clemson, outscored popular teammates Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs. Perhaps it was a one-time thing, but it is something to watch.
FAB thoughts: Coker should be the most popular free agent addition this week, though I would still be a bit cautious in spending upwards of half of your seasonlong budget on him. After all, the Panthers do not play the Bears again. I would be more likely to save the money -- it's only Week 2! -- and spend in the $4-6 range for Vele, Douglas and Wicks (in that order), and I will throw a buck on Boston, Hollins and Mitchell.
Other tight ends
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (14.6%): Freiermuth, like Gesicki, isn't coming off his best campaign, but the Steeler was valuable in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Many view the structurally imposing Darnell Washington as a legit threat to his targets, but that was not the case Sunday when Freiermuth caught all five of his targets, one for a 6-yard score. Give Gesicki the nod because of his QB.
Kenyon Sadiq, Jets (34.9%): Sadiq, the first-round pick from Oregon, saw only three receiving targets in the opener, turning them into 21 yards, but many will notice the 3-yard rushing touchdown. The skilled Sadiq is blessed with size and speed, though it is premature to presume consistent targets.
Deep-league options/streamers
Brenton Strange, Jaguars (22.7%): Strange played better than many realize last season, totaling 540 receiving yards and averaging 11.7 yards per catch. He scored a touchdown in Sunday's win over the feeble Browns, but he caught only two passes.
Michael Mayer, Raiders (29.9%): Few doubt the skills or Mayer's ability to matter statistically if starter Brock Bowers misses significant time, but Bowers (knee) might play in Week 2. Mayer caught six passes in the opener after being the most-added player in ESPN fantasy for the week.
Terrance Ferguson, Rams (27.5%): If you liked Ferguson heading into the season -- and so many of us did -- do not abandon him just because he did nothing in Week 1. The Rams played one bad game. Los Angeles remains an elite offense, and Ferguson is teeming with upside.
FAB thoughts: I rarely spend big on tight ends, especially early in the season and if there is positional depth, which it appears there is. There does seem an intriguing pathway to Sadiq adding value though, especially if the Jets remain competent. Perhaps throw a few dollars his way if you're seeking upside but see if reliable, underrated New Orleans Saints starter Juwan Johnson (51.7%) is there first.
Defense
49ers D/ST (7.3%): The 49ers traveled halfway across the world to shut down the vaunted Rams offense, scoring 9.0 fantasy points. A healthy Fred Warner at linebacker certainly made a difference. The 49ers forced only one turnover and did not record a sack, but those statistics should be easier to attain in Week 2 against the lowly Dolphins. The 49ers play their next three games at home. This is a prime steaming opportunity, and perhaps investors will wish to keep this unit around all season.
Buccaneers D/ST (12.8%): Fantasy managers who stream defenses should always look for whichever team faces the terrible Browns. The Buccaneers scored 8.0 points in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati, but they should score more this coming Sunday against the other Ohio team. (If you're looking ahead, the Panthers get the Browns in Week 3.) Also, good for the Bengals D/ST (2%) in picking up four Buccaneers fumbles (and scoring a TD) to lead fantasy (entering Monday) with 20.0 fantasy points, but this is still the Bengals. Don't add this unit in fantasy just yet. Go with Tampa Bay first.
