Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football - Week 2

Sport: NFL

Fantasy Football league championships are not always just determined by who drafted the best team, but the winner can be determined by who built the best team throughout the year. Drafting sets you up, but other transactions can give you a league edge. These other transactions include trades and utilizing the waiver wire. Being able to identify who to pick up following an NFL week can take time, especially when you are attempting to figure out if a guy is “worth” the add to your roster. That is where I come in.

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Waiver Wire Winners intends to give you the full details on players to potentially add to your roster that can give you a league edge. With the intention to help you “Play 2 Win”, Waiver Wire Winners is a supporting branch of that mission statement. This article should give you a league edge before your next waiver wire run for Fantasy Football. I will always give you plenty of waiver options due to every league having different depths, the diversity of available vs. not available players on waivers, and every manager having different needs.

Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 2

Michael Penix Jr., Falcons QB

The Falcons let Michael Penix Jr. sling it through three starts last year, and he opened up the 2025 Season with 42 passing attempts. Penix completed 27 of those attempts for 298 passing yards and a touchdown, which shows true upside through the air for yardage. Penix also carried the ball six times for 21 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. His 24 Fantasy Points was a great performance to open up the year. With the passing volume on top of the Falcons trio of Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts, there is plenty of Fantasy upside potential. Hopefully, Drake London’s shoulder injury is not serious.

Daniel Jones, Colts QB

Daniel Jones looked great in his Colts debut as their starter in Week 1. 22/29 (75.9%) for 272 passing yards, a passing touchdown, 26 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns meant 29.48 Fantasy Points. Jones looked well-connected to Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Tyler Warren, with the Colts offense flowing in a huge 33-8 win over Miami. Jones’ numbers show competence as a passer paired with upside as a dual-threat quarterback as well. Rushing upside is in Jones’ bag, and his system is the best he has played in since being in the NFL.

Hollywood Brown, Chiefs WR

With Rashee Rice suspended for six games and Xavier Worthy exiting Week 1 due to an injury on the third play, Hollywood Brown was the clear WR1 for Patrick Mahomes. Brown was targeted 16 times and caught 10 of those for 99 yards. 19.9 Fantasy Points was a great way to start the season. It is hard to fluke 16 targets, and when those are coming from Mahomes, that is huge. Many people forget that Hollywood was a former first-round talent who spent years with the Ravens, being a clear target earner with upside. Brown’s role can be sticky for weeks with Rashee’s suspension and Worthy potentially missing time.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers WR

The Chargers defeated the Chiefs 27-21 in Week 1, and two of those touchdowns came from Quentin Johnston. Johnston caught five of seven targets for 79 yards (15.8 per catch) with those touchdowns for 24.9 Fantasy Points. Although Johnston finished behind both Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey in both targets and receptions, Week 1 proved there is plenty of Fantasy upside to be had for all three Justin Herbert weapons. Johnston, in year three, could finally pay off on the previous first-round investment from LA.

Dylan Sampson, Browns RB

The Browns selected Dylan Sampson out of Tennessee in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Sampson opened up Week 1, out-touching Jerome Ford 20-7. This included 12 rushing attempts for 29 yards, along with eight receptions for 64 receiving yards for 17.3 Fantasy Points. I am projecting Quinshon Judkins to take over the lead running back roles, who signed with Cleveland late after being selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but Sampson should continue to have a role. If Sampson can be a consistent pass-catching back in this Browns system, there can be plenty of Fantasy upside attached.

Harold Fannin Jr., Browns TE

One of the biggest surprises of Week 1 was rookie Harold Fannin Jr.’s usage in Week 1 as the tight end “behind” David Njoku on the depth chart. The third-round pick out of Bowling Green led the Browns in targets with nine, catching seven of them for 63 yards, which was 13.6 Fantasy Points. People forget that this man led all players in college football last year in both receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555). Fannin could play a weekly role for the Browns as a reliable pass-catcher, who is more wide receiver than traditional tight end.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants WR

In 2024, Wan’Dale Robinson was a top 10 targeted wide receiver in the NFL, but it did not translate well for Fantasy Football. Wan’Dale plays in the slot, and his depth of targets has typically been low, which limits some upside. For 2025, the Giants gained three new quarterbacks after using multiple low performers last year. Russell Wilson targeted Wan’Dale eight times in Week 1, and he caught six of those for 55 yards, which was 11.5 Fantasy Points. Robinson might not have the Fantasy upside to win weeks, but he will have a fairly safe floor due to consistently being the second option behind Malik Nabers. We can hope that rookie Jaxson Dart steps in sooner rather than later as well, who might lift this entire offense after seeing Russ run it in Week 1.

Kayshon Boutte, Patriots WR

Last season, Kayshon Boutte posted 43 catches for 589 receiving yards and three touchdowns through 15 games, and finished the year hot. In Week 1 with Drake Maye, Boutte caught six of his eight targets for 103 yards and scored 16.3 Fantasy Points. Boutte led the team in receiving yards and tied for the team lead in both receptions and targets. There are no clear-cut roles in New England, especially with Stefon Diggs coming off of an injury, so Boutte can continue to thrive with wide-open opportunities in this offense.

Cedric Tillman, Browns WR

The lone Cleveland touchdown in Week 1 was snagged by Cedric Tillman, who had some major flashes last year before having a season-ending concussion. Tillman caught five of his eight targets in Week 1 for 52 yards and totaled 16.2 Fantasy Points. Tillman should continue to operate as the WR2 behind Jerry Jeudy, but with the Fantasy upside we saw last year and the opening week in 2025, we know he has some FLEX upside potential.

Joshua Palmer, Bills WR

The Bills and Ravens game saw a lot of fireworks, with a ton of offense on both ends. After being named the “Most Exciting Newcomer on Offense” in camp, Joshua Palmer had a huge role in Week 1, earning nine targets from Josh Allen, which was tied for the second most on the Bills. Palmer caught five of those for 61 yards and also drew a big pass interference call during the game. 11.1 Fantasy Points was not a bad start to his season, and as a big-play receiver, the tie to Josh Allen can mean some spike Fantasy weeks to come.

Juwan Johnson, Saints TE

Volume is king in Fantasy Football, especially at the tight end position, and Juwan Johnson had a ton of that in Week 1 from Spencer Rattler. Johnson caught eight of his 11 targets for 76 yards, which was 15.6 Fantasy Points. Rattler’s 46 passing attempts were encouraging as far as volume goes, and Johnson being his #2 target could mean a consistent pass-catching role moving forward.

Calvin Austin III, Steelers WR

Aaron Rodgers opened up the season on fire, throwing for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Calvin Austin III tied for second in targets with six, and caught four of those for 70 yards (17.5 yards per catch). Maybe a deeper league suggestion here, but Austin has the opportunity to consistently operate as the WR2 behind DK Metcalf for Rodgers.

Ray-Ray McCloud III, Falcons WR

Ray-Ray McCloud caught three of his five targets for 51 yards in Week 1 for 8.1 Fantasy Points. I am plugging Ra-Ray for deeper leagues with the note that Drake London suffered a shoulder injury that we will need to monitor, and Darnell Mooney missed Week 1 with his own shoulder injury. So there is a world where Ray-Ray becomes the default Falcons WR1, which would boost his FLEX appeal for the short run.

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