After the first full week of fantasy football results, there are interesting potential adds on the waiver wire, but it seems unlikely there are any major difference-makers yet that aren’t widely owned in leagues. Yet there are certainly some distinctive and helpful targets who can help plug some potential holes.
RUNNING BACKS
PHILLIP LINDSAY, Denver (2.4 percent owned): The undrafted rookie totaled 102 yards from scrimmage and a TD in his pro debut and has seemingly come out of the gate with a complementary role in the Denver backfield. At 5-8 and 190 pounds, he is not built for consistent work, but he is versatile enough to be a worthy flex play in point-per-reception leagues when the matchup is right.
NYHEIM HINES, Indianapolis (7.0): After a discouraging preseason, Hines re-emerged as a PPR possibility with seven receptions for 33 yards in the opener. A potential Theo Riddick type who can catch flat and short passes if the Colts cannot depend on their ball carriers, this rookie has more yardage upside than we saw this past week.
JAVORIUS ALLEN, Baltimore (13.2): Alex Collins rushed for 13 yards on seven carries in Week 1 and lost a fumble. If his issues with fumbling become a recurring problem again, Allen could see himself on the field more often. Joe Flacco will certainly throw to him out of the backfield. If you drafted Collins, you need to add Allen as insurance.
T.J. YELDON, Jacksonville (8.3): After Leonard Fournette went down with a hamstring injury against the Giants, Yeldon totaled 69 yards from scrimmage with a TD. Fournette has dealt with injury issues dating back to his college days, so the versatile Yeldon needs to be owned at all times. Grab him even if you don’t have Fournette on your roster.
WIDE RECEIVERS
QUINCY ENUNWA, New York Jets (9.5): He caught six passes for 63 yards and a TD Monday night, and now that he is healthy again, Enunwa will be a very dependable PPR option. Sam Darnold will look to him frequently on key downs and he fits the profile of what the rookie seems to like in a receiver as a trustworthy possession type.
5 Doug Baldwin could miss up to four weeks with knee problems, and Marshall may now step forward as a preferred target for Russell Wilson. Marshall is looking healthy and Wilson loves to throw jump balls to a big receiver, plus the well-traveled veteran is a red zone threat. Marshall is coming off a good preseason in which he showed he is not quite done in the NFL yet.
PHILLIP DORSETT, New England (5.0): He will be a hot pickup after Tom Brady found him for seven catches for 66 yards and a TD in the opener vs. Houston. Someone had to step forward at WR for New England with Julian Edelman out. Dorsett looked like he took advantage of the opportunity early, but be forewarned he does face the very formidable Jacksonville defense in Week 2, so don’t start him until Week 3 if you get him.
COLE BEASLEY, Dallas (12.5): He is the only WR that Dak Prescott trusts, as evidenced by his seven catches for 73 yards in the opener. In 3016, Beasley did catch 75 passes for 833 yards, so it’s apparent Prescott has a strong established prior relationship with Beasley, a quality PPR contributor.
TIGHT ENDS
JONNU SMITH, Tennessee (0.3): He was supposed to be the future in Tennessee, but his window of opportunity comes now after Delanie Walker was lost for the season with an ankle injury. Smith did catch two TD passes in his first three games last year and working under Walker early in his career could mean that he has already absorbed enough fundamentally to make an impact in a larger role.
IAN THOMAS, Carolina (0.3): Rookie tight ends are always a very big gamble, but Thomas was regarded as one of the best pure pass-catchers in this year’s draft class at the position. Greg Olsen’s foot issues are going to push Thomas onto the field more, so you should at least take a flier on him.
QUARTERBACKS
RYAN FITZPATRICK, Tampa Bay (1.9): His 417-yard, four TD performance at New Orleans was the biggest surprise of Week 1. The journeyman gunslinger could easily follow things up with a much less impressive performance vs. Philadelphia and he could be back on the bench when Jameis Winston returns, so don’t bid aggressively or use your first waiver choice on Fitzpatrick. He is worth the add in case he continues to overachieve.
SAM DARNOLD, New York Jets (8.4): His debut line was modest, with 198 yards, two TDs and one interception. But there are even better fantasy times ahead for Darnold. He will often be solid, and sometimes spectacular. Darnold does a fine job of taking what the defense gives him and will be judicious about when to gun for the bigger play. He will soon be regarded at least as a quality play when the matchup is friendly.