The Washington Commanders provided some delight for fantasy football managers to open the 2022 season. They also sprung the names of Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel onto the fantasy radar in their 28-22 victory. Now the question is whether Samuel or Dotson are intriguing Week 2 waiver wire options for fantasy managers.
Top waiver wire pickups in Week 2 | Curtis Samuel or Jahan Dotson?
There are a lot of potential waiver wire options coming off a strong first week. With us learning a lot about the way offenses appear to be shaping up, there is a lot of confusing messages to wade through. Was what we saw last week actionable heading into Week 2 waiver,s or was it simply a smokescreen? Let’s try to answer that question about Samuel and Dotson for fantasy managers.
Should you add Curtis Samuel on the Week 2 waiver wire?
You could be forgiven for having forgotten that Samuel was still residing on the Washington Commanders’ WR depth chart. He had played just 84 snaps in his first year in the capital and had been largely out of the limelight all offseason. Between a new contract for Terry McLaurin, the arrival of Dotson, the shooting of Brian Robinson, plus all the usual Commanders’ related news stories, his return was almost a footnote to the offseason.
However, during the preseason, new Commanders’ QB Carson Wentz had spoken glowingly about Samuel during a post-game press conference. Even so, the deck appeared to be stacked against Samuel. McLaurin, Dotson, Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and the also returning Logan Thomas are a strong group of weapons for the Commanders. But, despite that cast of talent, it was Samuel who led the team in targets this week with 11.
Samuel took those 11 targets and turned them into eight receptions, 55 receiving yards, and a touchdown. He added an additional 17 rushing yards on four attempts to finish the day with 72 total yards, eight receptions, and a touchdown. Regardless of your scoring format, that is an impressive day.
You could just pass that off as a specific game plan for Samuel against that defense. However, he has a history of producing dual-threat type performances under the guidance of a Ron Rivera-led team. In 2020, Samuel turned 97 targets into 77 receptions for 851 yards and three touchdowns. He added a further 200 rushing yards on 41 attempts, with two touchdowns.
At the end of the season, Samuel averaged 70.1 yards from scrimmage per game for the Panthers. Rivera then actively recruited Samuel to Washington. Sure, his first season was a mess with injuries, but that connection is still there. Rivera knows how to best utilize the receiving weapon, and he appears primed to do so.
Is Jahan Dotson the better waiver wire addition, if available?
Dotson is more heavily rostered than Samuel, largely thanks to his status as a 2022 NFL Draft first-round selection. Dotson actually played more snaps than Samuel this week (68 vs. 55) but was targeted less than half as many times as Samuel (five). He caught three of those for 40 yards, including two touchdowns.
So, Dotson had the better day of the two receivers in Week 1 and was higher thought of coming into the season, but does that make him the better waiver add? Opportunities are key when you are talking about flex players, and Samuel’s opportunities are an intriguing mix. His ability to provide value both in terms of carries and targets is extremely valuable for the Commanders and for fantasy managers.
Otherwise, both put up relatively similar days. Both had one red zone target, and both caught it for a touchdown. They are largely inseparable in those terms, so which one should you choose?
My preference is to go with the higher opportunity share. Therefore, Samuel is the player I am chasing, despite the lesser pedigree entering the season. If you are looking for a receiver, you can always put a claim or use FAAB claim in on both. However, it should be Samuel that you prioritize of the two. His increased opportunity share gives him a safer floor and a similar ceiling to that of Dotson.