Fantasy football waiver wire Week 2: 10 players to pick up

Fantasy football managers got a first taste of their teams during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Many were happy with what they saw, especially during what became a high-scoring first NFL Sunday of the season.

Several NFL teams had elite offensive performances to open the season. The Chicago Bears paced the field with 59 points, but eight other teams were able to open their seasons with 30-point performances ahead of "Sunday Night Football."

What type of impact will those top-tier performances have on the waiver wire? Many of the top performers from Week 1 were already rostered across a majority of fantasy football leagues, but there are still a handful of quality options across positions fantasy managers can target to improve their rosters and help replace injured playmakers.

Here's a look at the best players to target on the waiver wire ahead of fantasy football Week 2, from a rookie running back with a solid-looking role to a receiver in a big role who flew under the radar entering the 2026 NFL season.

NFL Week 1 reactions after wins, big moments and breakout performances

Week 2 fantasy football waiver wire targets

RB Kaelon Black , San Francisco 49ers (Rostered in 26% of Yahoo leagues)

Christian McCaffrey has long been the 49ers' workhorse, but Kyle Shanahan showed a willingness to lighten the veteran's load against the Rams . McCaffrey and Black, a third-round rookie, each handled 15 touches in San Francisco 's 27-7 win in Australia.

Notably, Black handled 14 carries to McCaffrey's 10, and the split wasn't limited to the latter stages of the blowout. Black was out-carrying McCaffrey 7-3 at halftime , so if that split continues, the Indiana product could end up being a solid flex play moving forward.

WR Dontayvion Wicks , Philadelphia Eagles (Rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues)

The Eagles had a massive target void to fill after trading A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots . Makai Lemon was expected to take on a large portion of those targets, but instead, Wicks emerged as Jalen Hurts ' preferred secondary wideout target.

Wicks racked up two catches for 73 yards and a touchdown while seeing four targets, third-most on the team behind DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert . He looked good as a field-stretching option, and if Hurts and offensive coordinator Sean Mannion continue to trust him, he could have flex potential across fantasy formats.

QB Bryce Young , Carolina Panthers (Rostered in 13% of Yahoo leagues)

Many were expecting the Panthers' defense to take a step forward in 2026. Instead, they surrendered a whopping 59 points in their season opener against the Bears, but Young did a nice job keeping his team in the game.

Young racked up 361 passing yards and three passing touchdowns while adding a score and 10 yards on the ground. His production wasn't limited to garbage time – only one of his touchdowns came with his team down by more than one possession in the second half – and his continued improvement as a downfield passer could allow him to develop into a quality streamer.

Young is playing the Falcons in Week 2, so if you're looking for a flier at quarterback, he could be worth a shot. Also, if wide receiver Jalen Coker is available in your league, feel free to grab him. He's 60% rostered in Yahoo leagues, but that number should rise considerably after he logged eight catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1.

QB Tyler Shough , New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 40% of Yahoo leagues)

Shough got off to a bad start in the Saints ' Week 1 loss to the Lions, but he bounced back nicely in the second half. He led New Orleans to 24 points over the final 20 minutes of regulation and posted 410 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions during the overtime loss.

Shough attempted 56 passes, and that type of week-to-week volume could make him a quality streamer. Add in that he plays in the ever-weak NFC South and scooping him up could be a worthwhile move for fantasy managers needing quarterback depth.

WR Devaughn Vele , New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues)

Unsurprisingly, Chris Olave was Shough's clear-cut No. 1 target against the Lions. That said, Vele ranked second on the team in targets with nine and turned them into seven receptions, 69 yards and a touchdown.

Vele showed good hands throughout the contest and made a couple of nifty, diving catches. That should instill confidence in the veteran as New Orleans' No. 2 receiver, at least until Jordyn Tyson returns, so he will have flex appeal if the Saints continue to be a high-volume passing offense.

WR Kalif Raymond , Chicago Bears (Rostered in 0% of Yahoo leagues)

Many spent the summer debating whether Luther Burden III , Rome Odunze or Colston Loveland would be the top target in Chicago's offense. But in Week 1, it was Raymond who paced the Bears' pass-catching weapons in opportunities.

Raymond led the Bears in targets (9), receptions (8) and receiving yards (84). It wasn't just because of the Bears' blowout, either. He often shook free because the Panthers focused on limiting Burden, Odunze and Loveland while also containing Caleb Williams .

Bears coach Ben Johnson has expressed a desire to blow out his opponents in 2026, so that could give Raymond flex appeal if he keeps getting targets. He's certainly worth stashing, given what Chicago showed it is capable of offensively in Week 1.

WR Caleb Douglas , Miami Dolphins (Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues)

The Dolphins are likely to play from behind a lot in 2026, so Malik Willis ' preferred target was always going to be of interest for fantasy managers. Douglas posted a team-high five receptions for 94 yards in the team's 27-13 loss to the Raiders , making him the early favorite as a breakout player in Miami.

WR Rashod Bateman , Baltimore Ravens (Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues)

There's nothing sexy about picking up Bateman, especially after he failed to make a catch in the Ravens' season-opening win against the Colts . But Baltimore lost Zay Flowers (hamstring) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) to injuries against Indianapolis , and Lamar Jackson will have to throw to somebody moving forward.

Bateman is the most experienced option in Baltimore's receiver room, so he's worth stashing as a potential matchup-based flex play.

TE Pat Freiermuth , Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues)

Freiermuth only saw 54 targets during the 2025 NFL season, his second-fewest in a campaign across his five-season NFL career, while battling Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington for playing time.

Mike McCarthy seems more willing than previous offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to trust Freiermuth as his top tight end. Freiermuth rewarded that faith by catching all five of his targets for 46 yards and a touchdown, and he should continue to be a quality middle-of-the-field threat with Aaron Rodgers still largely preferring to throw the ball within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.

TE Mike Gesicki , Cincinnati Bengals (Rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues)

Gesicki led the Bengals in targets (7) and receiving yards (78) against the Buccaneers while catching Joe Burrow 's lone touchdown pass. If opposing defenses continue to focus on limiting Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins , that should open space in which Gesicki can operate over the middle of the field.