Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups Highlighted by Jordan Love, Jalen Coker and Devaughn Vele

A number of boxes were checked during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

Most relevant to this discussion, of course, was the official activation of the waiver wire, as the fantasy football community saw a number of lesser-rostered players produce head-turning head stat lines.

While not all of them will sustain, the chance that they do is enough to clear them a roster spot, particularly for managers with shakier options on the back end of their rosters. As you all create those openings, we'll help get them filled with three priority targets rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues (per FantasyPros ).

Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers (29% Rostered)

Coker finished the 2025 season on a high note, and if Week 1 of the 2026 campaign was any indication, he might take things even farther this time around.

The third-year wideout was all-caps AWESOME in Carolina's fantasy-friendly 59-37 loss to Chicago on Sunday. Coker led all Panthers with nine targets, and he absolutely made the most of those chances, finishing with eight receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

It's fair to question the volume of this aerial attack moving forward, and it might be more often than not that Coker is only the second mouth to feed behind Tetairoa McMillan. Still, this combination of volume and efficiency is always worth both noticing and targeting.

Coker probably won't be this productive every week, but the nine targets alone might raise his floor high enough to push him into must-roster territory.

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers (27% Rostered)

A number of waiver-wire quarterbacks posted impressive volume in Week 1. Among that group, though, Love feels the most capable of matching (or even exceeding) that production moving forward.

He didn't throw 56 passes like Tyler Shough did, and his team didn't allow 59 points like Bryce Young's surrendered. In fact, Love's club had a lead during much of its opener.

The Packers, though, still asked him to dial up 42 pass attempts. That's a big number, obviously, but it might be a sign of things to come, since this typically run-heavy offense may not be able to rely on that rushing game with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Green Bay managed just 3.1 yards per carry on its 21 attempts Sunday.

If Love is going to be this active, maybe he can have more stat lines like this (387 yards, two touchdowns). And, hopefully, he can support that volume with better efficiency (50 percent passing, one interception and a lost fumble).

Devaughn Vele, WR, New Orleans Saints (6% Rostered)

The early indications are that Vele will serve as the Saints' No. 2 wide receiver, at least until rookie first-rounder Jordyn Tyson finds his way back from the injured reserve. If you hadn't thought that would be a fantasy-relevant role, you better rethink things fast.

New Orleans' passing attack was the NFL's most active of Week 1. Quarterback Tyler Shough aired it out a whopping 56 times, helping him compile 410 yards and three touchdowns despite turning the ball over three times.

While Chris Olave was the biggest beneficiary of this approach (10 receptions for 182 yards), Vele wasn't far behind. He was targeted nine times, and he converted those chances into eight receptions for 69 yards and a score.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to Vele's role whenever Tyson gets healthy, but that's a worry for a different day. For now, managers can flock to Vele and soak up all the stats he can deliver from the second spot on the wide receiver depth chart.