Week 1 is now in the books! Those crazy and courageous few who started Will Dissly and Ryan Fitzpatrick in DFS were handsomely rewarded. Plus, we were proved right in our distrust of Deshaun Watson, and Tyreek Hill picked right up from where he left off last year. Also, Leonard Fournette and Aaron Rodgers gave us a scare, only for the latter to return and put forth one of his career-defining comebacks. However, injuries to Greg Olsen and Delanie Walker owners will now force their owners to scramble for replacement tight ends.

Unfortunately, injuries are something every fantasy football owner will have to deal with each season. The waiver wire can help mitigate the toll injuries have on your team, or even help you improve your roster if you choose wisely. That is why it’s so crucial to find the right players who can recoup some of your lost production if you have an injured player on your squad, or snag the guy who can best capitalize on his newfound opportunity.

Our table below combines rankings from multiple experts to tell you which players you should grab that are less than 50% owned. We’ve also got hard-hitting analysis from our featured experts below on which defenses you should consider streaming for Week 2.

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Featured Experts:

Mike Tagliere – FantasyPros

Joe Bond — Fantasy Six Pack

James Hatfield — Hatty Waiver Wire Guru

Bobby Sylvester — FantasyPros

Mauricio Gutierrez — Estadio Fantasy

Doug Orth — FFToday

*Ownership % derived from a consensus of Yahoo & ESPN leagues

On a mobile device? Click here for rankings table >>

Q1. How much are you willing to spend (FAAB %) on your favorite waiver wire target (or two) and why do you like him?

T.J. Yeldon (RB – JAC)

“It’s Yeldon and it’s not all that close. Prior to the season, I’d talked about how Yeldon would have value even if Fournette was healthy, as he’s the best pass catcher on the roster. On top of that, he was one of the most valuable handcuffs in the league. With Fournette dealing with a hamstring injury, he’s almost certain to miss the next week or two, as those injuries don’t suddenly get better overnight. Even when Fournette returns, Yeldon should remain owned.”

– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“The percentage I am willing to spend on my favorite target is directly related to my need. If I am down an RB or WR due to injury or clear underperformance, then I will want to secure my target. Also handcuffing is a large part of my strategy. If I am a Fournette owner, then I have to spend on T.J. Yeldon. Otherwise, I will put in low bids for needed players to build my bench. Remember, the waiver wire wins championships.”

– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)

“This week I’m going to sit on my FAAB money for the most part because I don’t see any difference makers on the waiver quite yet that I’m willing to spend much on. That said, as a Fournette owner in multiple leagues, I will spend close to 10% of my FAAB on T.J. Yeldon in those leagues as he is close to a must-start if Fournette misses time.”

– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

Ryan Grant (WR – IND)

“Yeldon ought to be the top pickup, but I think most people know that so I want to talk about my favorite pickup this week, Grant. Fortunately, I already own him everywhere, but you all should too. He is quick, creating separation often, and had eight receptions in Week 1 as a result. Andrew Luck passed the eye test so I’m all in on this offense and wouldn’t be shocked if Grant surpasses Hilton as the WR1 in this Frank Reich offense. I’d spend up to $5 FAAB to acquire him, saving money for that inevitable James Conner-type of situation with a stud backup RB.”

– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

Chris Godwin (WR – TB)

While most of your league rivals are going to go crazy for DeSean Jackson, be smart and go for the cheapest option, Godwin. I’m willing to spend up to 15% of my FAAB budget on him. The Bucs have him listed as co-starter alongside Jackson and that is actually what happened Sunday having one less target than Jackson. Beside this, Jackson is in the concussion protocol and has to be cleared in order to be considered for Week 2. Godwin truthers, welcome aboard!”

– Mauricio Gutierrez (Estadio Fantasy)

Jonnu Smith (TE – TEN)

“Up to 10 percent. Two summers ago, Delanie Walker told reporters that Smith would surpass him one day. With Walker out for the season, the youngster will get 15 games to prove why his mentor thought so much of his talent. Marcus Mariota has relied heavily on his tight end since entering the league, and Smith possesses the athleticism to serve as a reasonable facsimile even if he lacks Walker’s experience. Tennessee’s schedule is also heavy on good cornerback play, making it even more likely he will be a frequent target.”

– Doug Orth (FFToday)

Q2. For owners renting a D/ST in Week 2, what readily available option (under 40%) should they target and why?

“The Titans defense is going to need to step up, as we don’t know what’s going on with Marcus Mariota. While they didn’t look great against the Dolphins, that was an odd game with multiple delays that lasted hours. The game this week will be at home against a Texans offense that severely struggled against the Patriots in Week 1. They already had a weak starting offensive line, but lost their starting right tackle last week as well. The Titans should provide a solid floor.”

– Mike Tagliere (FantasyPros)

“Don’t judge me but I’m going to pick on Deshaun Watson again in Week 2. It worked out well in Week 1 with the Patriots rattling him, but I think this is more of what we will grow to expect from last year’s flash in the pan. Sure, he will get his on the ground, but he throws too many stupid passes and has the worst offensive line in football, so expect a talented Tennessee Titans’ defense to pile up the points in a Week 2 home game.”

– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)

“The Redskins are a very reliable streaming option in Week 2. They limited the Cardinals to just six points, limited David Johnson to 67 total yards and Larry Fitzgerald to 76. Their next matchup is against the Colts, who were erratic and vulnerable versus the Bengals in the first week of the season. The Bengals defense ended as a top-10 option, as a result”

– Mauricio Gutierrez (Estadio Fantasy)

“It is a bad week for streaming defenses as most of the higher owned defenses have the best matchups. With that being said, I’ll go with Washington, which is under 40% owned. Luck and Hilton are scary, but have little else to fear. Washington also held the Cardinals who have Fitzgerald and David Johnson to just six points. They have a tough front seven and might prove to be a sneaky good play on many weeks.

As a bonus, I’ll give you the Bears, who are just over 40% owned. If they are available in your league, get them going against the Seahawks who are now without Doug Baldwin. Khalil Mack and company should make it very difficult for Russell Wilson to get anything going.”

– Joe Bond (Fantasy Six Pack)

“I ranked the Giants D/ST inside my top 16 this season, so I was sold on the possibility New York was going to be at least worthy of a start from time to time. But this recommendation has more to do with how inept Dallas has looked since the start of the preseason, particularly against Carolina in Week 1.”

– Doug Orth (FFToday)

“It’s a tough call for Week 2 because the defenses available have tough matchups. If I am being honest, there are no good defensive streamers for Week 2, but if you force me to pick one that sticks out, it’s the New York Giants as they face Dallas.”

– James Hatfield (Hatty Waiver Wire Guru)

Thank you to the experts for naming their top waiver targets. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.



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