The depth of the wide receiver position can actually make navigating options on the waiver wire tough for fantasy football managers early in the season. With a number of intriguing options having been drafted as dart throws, trying to pick amongst the relative scraps becomes tough after just one week of football.
However, that’s not to say that we cannot find value this week. More options will open up as the season wears on, so being too aggressive is not advised at this point. However, let’s examine which fantasy options could be intriguing to target at the WR position on the waiver wire in Week 2.
Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets: QB | RB | TE
Which Wide Receivers Should You Target on the Week 2 Waiver Wire?
Players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (10%)
Oof. This Giants offense is ugly. There is absolutely no chance Daniel Jones makes it through the season as the starter. He probably won’t make it through September, but for now, we must react to what we see.
Wan’Dale Robinson didn’t do anything exciting on Sunday, but he commanded 12 targets and saw one carry, totaling 58 yards.
We are going to get hit with injuries. Players are going to underperform. There will come a time when 10 points in our WR3 slot is perfectly fine, and Robinson can do that.
Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals (5%)
It appears the preseason reports of Greg Dortch’s involvement were accurate. Dortch earned eight targets, catching six for 47 yards. Much like Robinson, we can work with that. But unlike Robinson, Dortch has a quality NFL quarterback throwing him the ball.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is going to have better games (obviously), but it’s clear Dortch has a meaningful role. Pick him up.
Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys (32%)
Why is Brandin Cooks rostered in so few leagues? He’s the WR2 for one of the best offenses in football. Cooks saw seven targets in Week 1, catching four for 40 yards and a touchdown.
He’s not going to be a high-volume player, but Cooks has been effective near the end zone during his tenure with Dallas. He’ll likely be touchdown or bust, but there are worse options to throw in your Flex during bye weeks or to cover injuries.
Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (0%)
I didn’t even know who Devaughn Vele was until the preseason. In Week 1, he saw eight targets and caught all of them for 39 yards.
The Broncos’ offense did not look great, and Bo Nix looked very much like a rookie. But Vele ran the third-most routes on the team. There’s a world where he takes the WR2 job from Josh Reynolds, and thus, is worth a stab in deeper leagues.
Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (0%)
How intriguing the outlook is for Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson will very much depend on the outlook for Puka Nacua’s knee. Robinson was clearly the third receiver behind Nacua and Cooper Kupp, playing 19 more snaps and running 14 more routes than Johnson.
Yet, they both finished with seven targets, and Johnson was the more efficient of the two with his opportunities. He finished with 79 yards on five receptions, while Robinson had 42 yards on four catches. Granted, that is really only one or two big plays, which is why this situation is tough to decipher.
If Nacua is out, Johnson should play a significant amount and could be a long-term option. However, if Nacua is just limited, then Robinson is likely still the WR3 and should have more short-term value.
Hopefully, we get some more clarity before Tuesday night so we can make an informed decision.
– Ben Rolfe, Managing Editor
