Week 1 of the NFL season has just about wrapped up. Whether winning or losing in Week 1, it’s time to make some moves to help your team reach the ultimate goal. In this article, we will talk about the key players worth picking up to help improve your roster. We will discuss what they have done and why they are important players to pick up on rosters. We will also talk about whether they are worth spending that number one waiver claim and how much FAAB percentage you should use on them.
Week 2 Waiver Wire doesn’t have the biggest names, but there are pieces that you could pick up to help your team for week two and beyond. We have six players who are the top priority worth picking up on waivers this week.
| Top 7 Waiver Pick Ups | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Team | ESPN % | Yahoo % | Week 2 Opp. |
| Isaiah Likely | TE | BAL | 9 | 27 | LV |
| Baker Mayfield | QB | TB | 33 | 31 | @ DET |
| Alexander Mattison | RB | LV | 11 | 4 | @ BAL |
| Tank Bigsby | RB | JAX | 5 | 5 | CLE |
| Alec Pierce | WR | IND | 0 | 1 | GB |
| Rashid Shaheed | WR | NO | 45 | 54 | DAL |
| Khalil Shakir | WR | BUF | 46 | 64 | @MIA |
Isaiah Likely, TE – BAL
We’re starting things off with what will be Week 2’s hottest commodity with Isaiah Likely from the Ravens. It’s been a while since we saw him, so let me remind you just how impressive he was in his Week 1 performance. Likely had over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown with nine receptions, displaying excellent after the catch ability on his score. The Ravens talked about using Likely on the field more, and they did just that. Likely played 66% of the offensive snaps in Week 1. He is likely to be one of the top pickups of the week, so you may need to drop more FAAB to acquire him, but he’s worth the investment if you are finding yourself in need of a better option at Tight End.
- Top Waiver Priority – Yes
- FAAB % – 20%
Baker Mayfield, QB – TB
Baker Mayfield lit it up in Week 1 of the fantasy season. Granted, he played one of the worst pass defenses in football against the Washington Commanders. Mayfield looked excellent on Sunday, throwing for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns, perhaps proving last year’s career performance wasn’t a fluke. He has all the talent surrounding him in this Bucs offense. If you are a fantasy manager who went with Caleb Williams or Kirk Cousins, then Mayfield should be someone to consider adding to your roster. He’ll get the Lions in a dome game where he can continue to post big numbers, even with limited rushing upside.
- Top Waiver Priority – NO
- FAAB % – 5% or (15% If you lost Jordan Love)
Alexander Mattison, RB – LV
Week 2 waivers don’t have that top running back to pick up, but Alexander Mattison could eventually be that guy. Mattison took advantage due to a Zamir White fumble during Sunday’s game. Mattison was heavily involved in the passing game, with 4 receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. Mattison could see a more significant role sooner than later if White isn’t producing on the field. While his matchup next week against Baltimore isn’t all that great, he may find value if his role in the receiving game continues to grow, especially in PPR leagues.
- Top Waiver Priority – NO
- FAAB % – 5%
Tank Bigsby, RB – JAX
The next running back is likely still a backup, but Tank Bigsby impressed on Sunday. He split carries with Travis Etienne to the point where they both had 12 in the game. Bigsby had the first touch on the second Jaguars drive, where he had back-to-back great runs. He would outproduce Etienne 73 – 59 total yards. He will have a tough matchup next week against the Browns, so don’t expect immediate production from the second-year back, but it will be worth watching to see if Bigsby continues to eat into Etienne’s workload. He’s a great end-of-bench stash for the time being.
- Top Waiver Priority – NO
- FAAB % – 3%
Alec Pierce, WR – IND
Our first receiver we’d recommend adding this week is Indianapolis’ Alec Pierce. Pierce finished with over 100 yards and scored a long touchdown on a perfectly-placed deep ball from Anthony Richardson and would add another deep reception later in the game. Pierce has never been much of a fantasy option, and he feels like one of those Week 1 wonders we have every season. Richardson does have a big arm, so perhaps a third-year breakout is possible. If you have a bench spot available, then he could be worth the pickup. He’ll have Green Bay in Week 2, and the Packers allowed a few big plays on FNF, so there is still a chance at some upside this weekend.
- Top Waiver Priority – NO
- FAAB % – 2%
Rashid Shaheed WR – NO
Rashid Shaheed is another player that needs to be higher in ownership. Shaheed is a boom/bust type of receiver who began his season with a boom in Week 1. The Saints don’t have many reliable options outside of Chris Olave, so Shaheed is looking to step up on the offense. He does play the Cowboys, who looked very dominant on defense in Week 1. Shaheed has a great schedule for the season, and he proved that his injury isn’t a concern.
- Top Waiver Priority – NO
- FAAB % – 8%
Khalil Shakir WR – BUF
Week 1 was important for this Bills offense. Khalil Shakir had a solid fantasy output day against the Cardinals. The Bills rebounded quickly, so we didn’t see a ton of throws from Josh Allen in this game. Shakir had some great catches in this game. I wish we had seen more than three targets, but the top target leader only had four. Shakir will have a big role on this offense, and they get to play the Dolphins, who the Bills have done very well against in the past.
- Top Waiver Priority – Yes
- FAAB % – 13%
Photos by Icon Sports Wire and Adobe Stock | Adapted by Carlos Leano