Waiver Favors: 2016 Week 2 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As usual, I’m back to help with some waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors article!  All pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

QB – San Francisco 49ers – 4% Owned

It’s hard to get excited about Blaine Gabbert after his horrific 3 year tenure in Jacksonville.  But he did manage to put up 2,031 passing yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs and 185 rush yards with a rushing TD in just 8 games last year since taking over for Colin Kaepernick.  If you project out to a full season, that could 4,000+ passing yards, 20 passing TDs, 14 INTs, 300+ rush yards and 2 rushing TDs.  I know it’s not that simple, but those numbers are reasonable for a backup QB on your fantasy team.

He only managed 170 passing yards and a TD with 43 rush yards against the Rams, but since they were up the entire game, Carlos Hyde basically carried the offense so that they could kill some clock.  In Week 2, Gabbert put up 243 passing yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs (padded by a 75 yard TD to Vance McDonald), adding 10 rush yards and a rushing TD against the quality Panthers defense.  He won’t be this good every week, but you could do worse as your back up QB in two QB leagues or 14-team leagues and deeper.

This one is tough.  I was excited about Josh McCown taking over at QB in Cleveland because he did manage 2,100+ yards, 12 TDs and just 4 INTs in just 8 games last year.  And he didn’t disappoint with 260 yards and 2 TDs with 2 INTs in Week 2 against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense.  But the problem is that he suffered a left shoulder injury, which is suspected to a separated shoulder, during the game and is going for an MRI after the game.  So his stint behind center might be short lived.  Keep a close eye on this, but if he’s good to go, he’s worth your consideration as a backup in two QB leagues or 14-team leagues and deeper.

UPDATE (Sept. 19, 2016) – The Browns are expecting Josh McCown’s injury to be serious and are getting ready to start Cody Kessler. Kessler has no fantasy value.

Charles Sims

RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 52% Owned

This one totally relies on the status of Doug Martin’s injured hamstring.  Charles Sims was decent in a change of pace position last year, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 11 yards per reception, with over 1000 total yards from scrimmage.  He wasn’t so impressive in Week 2 with only 24 yards on 9 carries, but the Bucs were behind all game and didn’t have the opportunity to run the ball much.  Sims is worth a speculative pick up now, particularly for Martin owners, but if Martin is out, he’s a decent RB2 in 12-team leagues or deeper.

This is another one that totally relies on injury, this time of Jonathan Stewart’s ankle and hamstring.  Cameron Artis-Payne will likely be activated if Stewart is out, but Fozzy Whittaker managed to impress in relief, taking 16 carries for 100 rush yards and adding 3 receptions for 31 receiving yards.  Whittaker has never done anything particularly notable in 3 years with the Panthers, but this is a potent offense, and opportunity can breed greatness.  Again, Whittaker is a worthy insurance pickup for Stewart owners, but he could have sneaky RB2/3 value in 12-team leagues and deeper if he starts for the Panthers.

UPDATE (Sept. 21, 2016) – Now that Stewart is out somewhere between 2 and 4 weeks, Cameron Artis-Payne (8%) will be active as the early down back for the Panthers.  He’ll split carries with Whittaker, but is worth a pick up in all 12-team leagues or deeper.

Jerick McKinnon & Matt Asiata

RB – Minnesota Vikings – 22% & 1% Owned

During the Sunday Night game, Adrian Peterson appeared to hurt his right knee so badly that he couldn’t put any weight on it and had to be helped into the locker room.  Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata will probably split carries if he missed time (which is essentially what they did with 6 carries for Asiata and 2 carries for McKinnon), but McKinnon has slightly more upside.  Problem is that we’ve seen this before, and neither guy is particularly exciting.  But if you had Peterson, better to grab McKinnon as insurance.

Tyrell Williams

WR – San Diego Chargers – 48% Owned

First, Keenan Allen tore his ACL and was done for the season.  So, other than Travis Benjamin, it was unclear who else would soak up the targets up for grabs.  At 6-foot-4, 204 with 4.43 speed, it was thought that the Chargers could look to Tyrell Williams to help with deeper routes, while Travis Benjamin and Dontrelle Inman run shorter routes.  And Williams looked comfortable with that when he grabbed 2 of 5 targets for 71 yards in Week 1.  And he solidified his position grabbing 3 of 6 targets for 61 yards and a TD in Week 2.  With Inman not doing much, Williams looks to be a good WR2 grab in all 10-team leagues or deeper.

Quincy Enunwa

WR – New York Jets – 10% Owned

It’s been clear for quite some time that Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are WR1 and WR1A on the pass heavy Jets offense.  But the answer to who will be the WR3 out of the slot was up for grabs until Week 2.  There were signs that Quincy Enunwa would be the WR3 when he grabbed 7 of 8 targets for 54 yards and a TD in Week 1, being targeted as many times as Marshall.  But he solidified his position with his 6 of 6 for 92 yard performance in Week 2.  Ryan Fitzpatrick trusts him and is looking to heavily involve him in 3 wide sets.  Keep in mind, he’s still, at best, the 3rd option, and since he plays out of the slot, he’ll be getting plenty of short targets within the 5 to 10 yard range, so he’s not likely to break big yardage every week.  He’s well worth a pick up in 12-team PPR leagues, and perhaps worth a stash in 12-team non-PPR leagues or deeper.

Jamison Crowder

WR – Washington Redskins – 5% Owned

Sure, there’s nothing particularly exciting about Jamison Crowder.  But he did grab 6 of his whopping 10 targets for 58 yards in Week 1, and then came back to grab 6 of his team-high 8 targets for 39 yards and a TD in Week 2.  One thing is for sure, Kirk Cousins loves to target Crowder.  He won’t have many yards, but he’ll look to average 30-70 yards a week with an occasional TD, plus LOTs of receptions.  Well worth a gander as a WR3/4 in all PPR leagues and a potential lottery ticket in regular 14-team leagues and deeper.

Dennis Pitta

TE – Baltimore Ravens – 9% Owned

Remember Dennis Pitta?  It’s been awhile as he’s missed almost two years with hip issues.  Then he broke a finger in camp this offseason and we all said “here we go again.”  Initially listed third on the depth chart for TE in Baltimore, he surprisingly managed 3 of 4 targets for 29 yards in Week 1.  Then after a full week of practice as the TE1, he came back and grabbed 9 of an amazing 12 targets for 102 yards in Week 2.  Back in 2012, Pitta had 669 yards and 7 TD over 16 games.  At this rate, I don’t see why he can’t do this again in 2016.  If you got bit by the TE injury bug, check him out in 12-team leagues or deeper, and in any PPR leagues.

Jacob Tamme

TE – Atlanta Falcons – 5% Owned

Jacob Tamme managed to beat out Austin Hooper for the Falcons’ starting TE position in camp, and started out in Week 1 with 6 receptions on 8 targets for 51 yards, equaling both Mohamed Sanu and Julio Jones in total targets.  He came back in Week 2 to snag 5 of 8 targets for 75 yards and a TD.  Clearly, Tamme has the possession routes to himself and will provide plenty of receptions, but won’t always put up big yards.  But you could do worse if you need a replacement TE, or need a TE2 in 12-team leagues or deeper, and in any PPR leagues, though I prefer Pitta due to upside.

And here are previous pickups I’ve mentioned that are still worthy of your consideration:

12-Team Leagues or Deeper

Carson Wentz, Mike Wallace, Victor Cruz

14-Team Leagues or Deeper

Theo Riddick, Terrelle Pryor

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors!