RADIO
Week 1 is officially in the books! Hopefully your teams have survived their first test and are ready to keep the momentum going. If you lost Week 1, don't sweat it! I went 0-7 last year and still made the playoffs, so there is always hope. And more importantly, you're in the right place to find upgrades to get your team on the right track.
Before we begin, let's have a moment of silence for all the Keenan Allen owners. He's always been injury-prone, but no expects an ACL tear 30 minutes into the season. We'll explore contingency plans below. Let’s look around the league at who is worth a bid going into Week 2. Each price recommendation will be based on a $100 FAAB budget. Be sure to also check out our weekly waiver wire analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all Week 2 options.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco (QB, BAL) – FAAB Bid: $3
37% owned in Fleaflicker
Are you ready to get wacko for Flacco? He may not be elite but he can heave it with the best of them given the right personnel. Don't be fooled by Sunday's low scoring 13-7 victory, as Flacco still slung it 34 times (23-for-34) for 254 yards and a touchdown, with the score being a pretty sixty-six yard pass to newcomer Mike Wallace. For the first time since Anquan Boldin left town Flacco has plethora of receivers to choose from, with Breshad Perriman and the return of Steve Smith pairing with returnee Kamar Aiken and the aforementioned Wallace.
If only the Ravens had a running attack they would be a formidable offense, but for fantasy purposes it is to our benefit for the Ravens to have no running game. Flacco is going to be chucking it, and a date with the Cleveland Browns is a quarterback's dream. Don't be afraid to roll out Flacco in 10-team formats for this contest.
Carson Wentz (QB, PHI) - FAAB Bid: $2
22% owned in Fleaflicker
You think the Rams are having buyers remorse yet? While Jared Goff is a healthy scratch on Week 1, Wentz led the Eagles to a 29-10 thrashing of the Browns. He finished 22-for-37 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, including some impressive touch passes on his first drive. He made good use of WR1 Jordan Matthews (7 catches, 114 yards) but also spread the ball to Zach Ertz and Nelson Agholor.
Don't expect Wentz to chuck it 40+ times as the Eagles try to ease him into the offense, but he showed the poise to handle the increased workload should Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles fail to deliver on the ground. He has a date with the Bears on Monday Night, a defense that just allowed Brock Oswiler to torch them for two touchdowns (DeAndre Hopkins had a third). Wentz is worth a bit more in keeper formats but is worth a snag for QB-needy teams.
Jay Cutler (QB, CHI) – FAAB Bid: $1
29% owned in Fleaflicker
I'll admit, grabbing Cutler is never a pleasant venture. Always difficult to trust, Cutler had a pedestrian Week 1 (16-for-29, 216 yd, TD) versus a difficult Texans defense. This week he gets to return home with a Monday Night duel with Philadelphia in what should be a shootout. As long as Cutler has Alshon Jeffery at his disposal, he has a chance to put up useful fantasy numbers.
Also Consider: Brock Osweiler - $2 ; Josh McCown - $1
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs
Theo Riddick (DET, RB) - FAAB Bid: $8
36% owned in Fleaflicker
The recently paid back (3-yr, $25 M) began showing Detroit a return on its investment in Week 1, scoring two touchdowns and piling up 108 total yards. He added six receptions for PPR leagues, where he should have been drafted. If not here's your chance for redemption.
Keep in mind Riddick caught 80 balls last season and Matthew Stafford continues to improve in OC Jim Bob Cooter's offense. The Lions have already stated they don't want Ameer Abdullah to be a workhouse back, which means Riddick should see similar touch totals going forward. He is an RB3/FLEX in non-PP leagues and an RB2 in PPR formats.
Tevin Coleman (ATL, RB) - FAAB Bid: $5
34% owned in Fleaflicker
While the Falcons disappointed the home fans, Coleman sure gave the m something to cheer for. He broke two screen for big plays, showcasing his 4.3 speed, for 97 receiving yards. He saw 30 touches to Freeman's 32. Anyone who drafted Devonta Freeman in the first 20 picks has to worried about Coleman's presence in Sunday's game and needs to be involved in FAAB bidding this week.
If there's a reason for optimism for Freeman owners it's the fact he saw the goal line touches, but should he miss time Coleman would immediately become an RB1. Freeman owners need to be ready to spend up to $15 for the handcuff and hope the Falcons abandon the 2-RB scheme.
Shane Vereen (NYG, RB) – FAAB Bid: $1
27% owned in Fleaflicker
The Giants stated they were prepared to abandon their four-man running attack in 2016 and they held to that Week 1, splitting the 24 carries between Rashad Jennings (18) and Vereen. But that doesn't mean there isn't room for more than one back in this lineup, as noted by Vereen's five targets in the passing game (2nd on team). It's not safe to trust Vereen in any format right now, but should Jennings miss time this season Vereen immediately enters the RB2 discussion.
If you own Jennings, you need to grab Vereen as a handcuff. Vereen is a contrarian play for DFS purposes in Week 2 versus a soft Saints defense that just allowed 486 yards.
Also Consider: Jalen Richard (OAK, RB) - $1 ; Chris Thompson (WAS, RB) - $2
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers
Mohamed Sanu (ATL, WR) - FAAB Bid: $12
55% owned in Fleaflicker
While Falcons fans had reason for concern, fantasy owners should be happy with what they saw from the Falcons passing attack. Matt Ryan produced 334 passing yards and targeted Sanu eight times, tied for the most on the team, and turned those into five catches for 80 yards and touchdown. He also added a 2-pt conversion. Sanu has shown flashes of his immense talent while in Cincinnati, but never had the full starting role to prove it. Now in Atlanta there is no WR2 after Julio Jones, and as noted plenty before, Jones is injury-prone with that left foot. Should Jones miss time, Sanu would immediately enter the top 15 discussion at WR, making him well worth the investment this week. As of now he is a WR3/4 based on matchups, with this weekend at Oakland presenting a tempting Flex option 12-team leagues and larger.
Phillip Dorsett (IND, WR) - FAAB Bid: $12
56% owned in Fleaflicker
Like the Falcons, the Colts disappointed their fans and pleased their fantasy owners, losing a shootout to Detroit 39-35. Andrew Luck was masterful in the comeback, throwing for 385 yards and four touchdowns. The receiver leading the charge was the one drafting the least in fantasy leagues, Phillip Dorsett. Dorsett turned six targets into four catches for 94 yards including a pretty 51-yard grab and was a hyped rookie in 2015 until the year turned south for the Colts. Dorsett is a year older and has the WR3 role all to himself after Donte Moncrief and T.Y. Hilton.
The Colts run game is suspect at best and the defense is awful, which means Luck is going to be chucking it often. There's enough to go around for the third receiver to produce a 1,000 yard season. Week 2 presents a difficult matchup with Denver, but Aqib Talib and Chris Harris should be matched up with Hilton and Moncrief, leaving Dorsett as a sneaky play. Snag Dorsett before it's too late.
Travis Benjamin (SD, WR) - FAAB Bid: $6
72% owned in Fleaflicker
While Allen's loss is a devastating blow for San Diego, it creates an opportunity for someone to step into the No. 1 role for Philip Rivers. The early candidates are Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams, but let's start with Benjamin. Benjamin came over from Cleveland in the offseason after creating a fantasy friendly connection with Josh McCown (remember all the deep balls?) and was expected to serve as a complement No. 2. He did see an increase in targets after Allen left (8), but he only turned them into seven catches for 32 yards. The Chargers need a deep threat to take the top off defenses, as Danny Woodhead is already the de-facto check down guy. Benjamin has WR3 appeal in PPR formats, but he is a Flex option in standard leagues going forward. The man to target is...
Tyrell Williams (SD, WR) – FAAB Bid: $10
15% owned in Fleaflicker
Williams cracked the Chargers wide receiver corps after camp and they're glad they kept him around after Allen's departure. Williams turned five targets into two catches for 71 yards, connecting with Rivers for 38 and 33 yards. At 6'3 and 215, Williams is the big-body Rivers needs to take the top off of defenses after Malcom Floyd retired. An undrafted rookie in 2015 with San Diego, Williams needs to accumulate all the reps he can get with Rivers to develop a solid chemistry, and the Chargers are going to give him that chance. The Jaguars are a tougher opponent than most give credit for, but if you lost Allen this is the man to invest in.
Cole Beasley (DAL, WR) – FAAB Bid: $2
9% owned in Fleaflicker
It's safe to say Dak Prescott did not fulfill the enormous expectations some fantasy pundits put on him versus a bad Giants defense in 2015, but he still looked solid while managing the game. More surprising though is the dependence he showed for slot receiver Cole Beasley over targeting superstar Dez Bryant. Here was the breakdown Week 1 for Dallas targets; Witten-12, Beasley-12, Bryant-5, Williams-4). That's a huge gap! Beasley continued to serve as a safety blanket all game, turning those 12 targets into eight catches for 65 yards. The Redskins just got scorched Week 1, with slot receiver Eli Rogers wreaking havoc (6-59-1). Look for Beasley to keep it up Week 2, but expect Bryant to get involved sooner rather than later.
Also Consider: Eli Rodgers (PIT, WR) - $10 ; Mike Wallace (BAL, WR) - $7
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends
Jesse James (PIT, TE) - FAAB Bid: $5
21% owned in Fleaflicker
If you need a TE after Week 1, look no further. James had glowing reports coming out of preseason and training camp and verified those reports on Monday night, turning seven targets in five catches for 31 yards including a near-miss touchdown grab. With Heath Miller retired and Ladarius Green injured with no timetable for a return, James will be in the starting lineup until further notice and we know how much Big Ben loves his tight end and running back when the play blows up. If you were sitting on Jared Cook or Kyle Rudolph, make the switch to James and not look back.
Jacob Tamme (ATL, TE) - FAAB Bid: $1
37% owned in Fleaflicker
Tamme was once again a neglected veteran on draft day but he continues to be a consistent target for Matt Ryan. Tamme turned eight targets into six catches for 51 yards, picking up a few key first downs. He's never been a sexy player by any means; his 657 yards last season were a career-high and he hasn't scored more than two touchdowns since 2010. But he still can provide a safe floor for desperate TE owners as the Falcons offensive line failed to provide Ryan with a pocket on Sunday. This leads to more checkdowns to Tamme and the running backs. I would avoid Tamme this week versus Oakland but is a great play Week 3 at New Orleans.
Dennis Pitta (BAL, TE) – FAAB Bid: $1
4% owned in Fleaflicker
Sometimes I think Pitta and Tamme are the same player. Pitta, like Tamme, is a boring tight end who provides no major upside but is a solid floor for TE-desperate owners. Pitta turned four targets into three catches for 39 yards on Sunday, which sounds bad but keep in mind that was second on the team in the 13-7 contest. He should see plenty more chances versus the putrid Browns and costs nothing to acquire for Week 2.
Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!
