Waiver Favors: 2017 Week 2 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I mentioned last week, I like nothing more than helping all of you make solid waiver pickups in your Fantasy Football league and have some part in your championship run.  That’s just the type of guy I am.  You’re welcome.  Again.

So let’s get on with it with fantasy football pickups for Week 2!

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

Trevor Siemien

QB – Denver Broncos – 12% Owned

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the proof is in the box scores.  Trevor Siemian is worth your attention in fantasy football.

In Week 1, Siemian had a solid showing as he managed to complete 17 of 28 passes for 219 yards and 2 TDs with an INT.  But in Week 2, he went nuts completing 22 of 32 passes for 231 yards, a whopping 4 TDs and an INT in a blowout win against the Cowboys.  Siemian is a new man, consistently looking downfield to Demayius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and basically every WR at his disposal.  You probably don’t want him as your every game starter, but you certainly could do worse for a QB2 in 14-team or deeper leagues, and all two QB leagues.

Jacoby Brissett

QB – Indianapolis Colts – 2% Owned

Clearly, the Colts are good.  But, it looks like newly appointed starter Jacoby Brissett, recently acquired from the New England Patriots, is going to make them competitive.  Sure, he threw an interception immediately in the overtime essentially losing the game, but the fact that they were tied with the much hyped Cardinals at the end of regulation is pretty solid for guy that wasn’t even on the roster in the preseason.

Brissett ultimately completed 20 of 37 passes for 216 yards and an INT, also adding 22 rush yards. The Colts are going to be behind a lot, which means plenty of opportunity for Brissett.  He’s worth a stash in 16-team or deeper leagues and as a QB3 in two QB leagues.

Javorius “Buck” Allen

RB – Baltimore Ravens – 55% Owned

Terrence West is still the starter, but after Danny Woodhead went out in Week 1 due to injury, Buck Allen was the one that benefited most.  And in Week 2, that continued as he rushed 14 times for 66 yards and caught 5 of 6 targets for 35 yards and a TD.  Allen’s 6 targets actually was second on the team, meaning he’s going to remain active in the pass game as well.  He’s already just over 50% owned, and I think he should be owned in all 12 team leagues or deeper, and all 10 team PPR leagues or deeper.

Chris Carson

RB – Seattle Seahawks – 38% Owned

I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise, but for some reason, it is.  In the offseason, the Seahawks went out and got Eddie Lacy, and put him on a strict bonus schedule tied to weight loss.  And after all that, they give him essentially 0 carries, then make him a healthy scratch in Week 2.

So who takes over the backfield?  Thomas Rawls, right?  Nope, it’s actually Chris Carson.  Maybe Rawls is just getting eased in after returning from injury, but if so, he’s getting eased in REALLY slowly.  In the meantime, Carson rushed 20 times for 93 yards and snagged 1 of 2 targets for 7 yards, while Rawls only got 5 carries.  Everything right now points to him being the starter, so he should be picked up in all 10-team leagues and deeper.

Samaje Perine & Chris Thompson

RB – Washington Redskins – 22% & 29% Owned

At best, Rob Kelley has a rib injury that makes him day-to-day with the possibility to miss time.  At worst, Kelley has a fractured rib and may be out for some time.  If so, Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson will be relevant as the primary and passing backs in Washington.  Perine was pretty inefficient in Week 2 with 67 yards on 21 carries, but he got all the early down work.  Thompson was much more efficient rushing 3 times for 77 yards and 2 TDs, also catching 3 of 7 targets for 29 yards.  Yes, you read that right — 77 yards on just 3 carries.  Most of it came from a 61 yard TD run, but it all counts the same.  Even though Perrine is probably the starter, Thompson is the main passing down back and was much more dynamic.  If Kelley is out, I’d take Thompson then Perine in all 12-team leagues, favoring Thompson more in PPR leagues.

Chris Johnson

RB – Arizona Cardinals – 12% Owned

So, we all know that David Johnson is out until at least December after getting surgery on his wrist.  And we though it might be Kerwynn Williams and Andre Ellington forming a committee to take his place.  But, surprise!  CJ2K is back!  Chris Johnson was released by the Cardinals just to be re-signed after the David Johnson injury, and managed to rush 11 times for 44 yards.  He started behind the other backs, but started in the second half, so who knows what’s going happen going forward, but if you’d like to bank on the return of CJ from 2 years ago, feel free to do so as a stash in 14-team leagues or deeper.

J.J. Nelson

WR – Arizona Cardinals – 17% Owned

With John Brown out due to injury, J.J. Nelson stepped up big time.  Nelson caught 5 of 7 targets for 120 yards and a TD, essentially topping all WRs in Week 2.  The Cardinals defense doens’t appear to be as good as we once thought, and the backfield is clearly not what it was without David Johnson, so Palmer will have to keep throwing. So, as long as Brown is out, I like Nelson’s opoprtunity as a WR3/Flex in 12-team or deeper leagues.

Jermaine Kearse

WR – New York Jets – 6% Owned

The Jets are putrid.  But someone needs to catch balls when they’re down 3 scores by the second quarter, and although we all though that someone would be Robby Anderson, it turns out it’s newly acquired Jermaine Kearse.  Kearse caught 7 of 9 targets for 59 yards in Week 1 and followed that up with 4 of 5 targets for 64 yards and 2 TDs in Week 2.  Heck, you can’t count on it every week, but he’s going get plenty of looks, and is worth a WR4/Flex in 12-team leagues and deeper.

Rishard Higgens

WR – Cleveland Browns – 0% Owned

So here’s a deep one.  Rishard Higgens was actually the Browns 5th round draft pick in 2016, but failed to make an impact and was relegated to the practice squad at the beginning of the season.  And then beyond all expectations, Corey Coleman apparently broke his hand, and Kenny Britt totally went into the tank, so Higgins stepped right up catching 7 of 11 targets for 95 yards, adding one carry for 4 yards.  Importantly, he was the most targeted WR of both DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan, so it really doesn’t matter who ends up behind center.  I’d like to see it a few more times, but at this point, he has upside, so go ahead and stash him in all 14-team leagues or deeper, or 12-team PPR leagues.

Marqise Lee & Allen Hurns

WR – Jacksonville Jaguars – 34% & 26% Owned

After Allen Robinson went out for the season due to an ACL injury, someone had to step up.  And as of Week 2, there appear to be 2 options in Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns.  Lee grabbed 7 of 12 targets for 76 yards while Hurns grabbed 6 of 7 targets for 82 yards and a TD.  Lee got more targets, but Hurns is the more reliable target.  Unfortunately, Lee was responsible for one of Blake Bortles’ INTs and Hurns didn’t catch his first ball until the end of the 3rd quarter, so both have their warts.  I suppose I’d pick up Lee over Hurns, but it’s really a coin toss, so feel free to grab either as a WR4/Flex in 14-team leagues or deeper or 12-team PPR leagues or deeper.

Kendall Wright

WR – Chicago Bears – 15% Owned

Losing both Cameron Meredith and Kevin White to injury basically ended any thoughts of the Bears being competitive, but someone still needs to catch balls from overpaid QB Mike Glennon, at least when Glennon isn’t throwing balls to the other team.  Apparently, Kendall Wright is the closest to being that person as he managed to grab 7 of 10 targets for 69 yards in Week 2.  He’s still dropping the ball at an alarming rate, but so are all the other Bears receivers, so I doubt that effects his target share.  He’s not going to win any leagues, and maybe things change when Markus Wheaton gets back from his finger injury, but for now, feel free to take a chance if you need a WR4/Flex in 14-team PPR leagues or deeper.

Geronimo Allison

WR – Green Bay Packers – 0% Owned

With Jordy Nelson going out early in the 1st quarter with a quad injury and Randall Cobb going out in the 4th quarter with a shoulder injury, the Packers were left with only Davante Adams, Martellus Bennett and Geronimo Allison as receiving targets.  Adams and Bennett are already highly owned, but Allison is available in essentially every league.  He wasn’t awesome, but he did play 61 of 76 snaps and catch 3 of 5 targets for 24 yards in Week 2.  If both Nelson and Cobb remain out, then Allison would be worth playing in upcoming weeks as a WR4/Flex.  At the moment, he’s worth a stash in 14-team leagues or deeper, and for WR needy Nelson and Cobb owners.

Ben Watson

TE – Baltimore Ravens – % Owned

In Week 1, Ben Watson got one target.  So who knew that Flacco would suddenly lock on to Watson to the tune of 8 of 8 targets for 91 yards, leading the team in targets and yards?  I feel like I’ve recommended Watson over the year more often than any other player just to be disappointed in his next game.  But TEs have been hit or miss this season, so if you want a TE2 in 14-team leagues or deeper.

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

10-Team Leagues or Deeper

None

12-Team Leagues or Deeper

Tarik Cohen, Cooper Kupp, Alex Smith

14-Team Leagues or Deeper

Charles Clay, Jared Goff, Kenny Golladay, Jesse James, Deshaun Watson, Kerwynn Williams

16-Team Leagues or Deeper

Nelson Agholor

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors! feat