Waiver Favors™: 2021 Week 2 Fantasy Football Pickups
By Ha Kung Wong Week 1 Fantasy Football Pickups
Twitter: @FBGarbageTime
As I do every year over the last 9 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors™ article! And I’m assuming if you’re reader right now, you’re in your fantasy football playoffs, so congratulations!I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 2 of the 2021 fantasy football season that hopefully will keep your team running. You’re welcome. Again.
As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.
Taylor Heinicke
QB – Washington Football Team – 4% Owned
I wasn’t a Taylor Heinicke believer last year, nor was I immediately after he took over for an injured Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 1. But after completing 34 of 46 passes for 336 yards and 2 TDs, with just one INT against the Giants, I’m coming around. He demonstrated solid chemistry with “Scary” Terry McLaurin, with he completed 11 passes to for 107 yards and a TD and effectively targeted Ricky Seals-Jones, Dyami Brown and Adam Humphries. He’s a solid target for those who need a backup QB in all two QB leagues or any 14-team league or deeper.
| Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass | Rush | Rush | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | Opp | Result | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | Int | Y/A | Rush | Yds |
| 1 | LAC | L 16-20 | 11 | 15 | 73.33 | 122 | 1 | 0 | 8.13 | 3 | 17 |
| 2 | NYG | W 30-29 | 34 | 46 | 73.91 | 336 | 2 | 1 | 7.30 | 4 | 6 |
Michael Carter
RB – New York Jets – 50% Owned
The New York Jets three headed backfield doesn’t look like it’s going to clear up any time soon, but Michael Carter appears to be pulling ahead after rushing 11 times for 59 yards and catching 2 of 3 targets for 29 yards in Week 2. He’s still essentially splitting caries with Ty Johnson, but he’s being more productive and, at some point, the Jets need to commit to a back (along with making lots of other changes on offense) and Carter is worth a speculative stash if you need an RB lottery ticket in 12-team leagues or deeper.
James White
RB – New England Patriots – 42% Owned
James White apparently is someone Mac Jones really likes. He led the team in targets (6), catches (6), and receiving yards (45) and also got 20 rush yards and a TD, which he converted from inside the 10 yard line. He looks like a solid bet going forward in all PPR leagues and as a RB3/Flex option in all 12-team leagues or deeper.
Alexander Mattison
RB – Minnesota Vikings – 34% Owned
Listen, Alexander Mattison isn’t going to light the world on fire, but if Dalvin Cook misses time after being injured twice in Week 2, someone needs to carry the ball if Cook misses time. If you’re a Cook owner or looking to speculate at RB, pick him up.
Darnell Mooney
WR – Chicago Bears – 45% Owned
I’ve loved Darnell Mooney for awhile, and it’s not just because I’m a Bears fan. He was solid in Week 1 and managed to catch 6 of 8 targets for 66 yards in Week 2. The Bears don’t pass a lot, but it’s clear that he’s now second behind Allen Robinson. So feel free to give him a look as a WR4/Flex option in 12-team leagues or deeper.
Henry Ruggs III
WR – Las Vegas Raiders – 34% Owned
After being drafted in the first round last year, the Raiders somehow managed to mis-use Henry Ruggs for his entire rookie season. This year appears to be different as Ruggs caught 2 of 5 targets for 46 yards in Week 1 and followed that up in Week 2 catching 5 of 7 targets for 113 and a TD. The Raiders are winning games and, unsurprisingly, Ruggs is more involved. Go get him in all 10-team leagues or deeper until he cools off. A breakout may be coming…
Tim Patrick
WR – Denver Broncos – 22% Owned
With Jerry Jeudy out, Courtland Sutton went wild with 12 targets and Noah Fant was predictably involved with 6 targets. But Tim Patrick also got in on the action being third in targets catching 3 of 4 targets for 37 yards and a TD, his second week in a row with a TD. It won’t be predictable, but Patrick is a solid WR3/WR4 in 14-team leagues or deeper.
UPDATE for Monday Night Football
Check back for the update after Monday Night Football!
And here’s who I’ve recommended in previous weeks that I still think deserve a look. I’ve highlighted in Orange the previous pickups that stood out again in Week 2:
10-Team Leagues
None
12-Team Leagues
RBs – Eli Mitchell
WRs – Rondale Moore
14-Team Leagues
QBs – Tyrod Taylor (pending injury), Jameis Winston
WRs – Cole Beasley (PPR), Zach Pascal, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor
16-Team Leagues
TEs – James O’Shaughnessy
Check back every week for more Waiver Favors!