Fantasy Football: Bryce Young a Top Waiver Wire Pickup After Dominant Opener

Week 1 was rough for wide receivers as several stars were hurt. A.J. Brown (ankle), De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist) are out for an extended period of time, and we'll be waiting for updates on Ladd McConkey (chest), Zay Flowers (hamstring), Jalen Coker (ankle) and Alec Pierce (hand) as the week goes on. As of Monday, it appears like Flowers, Coker and Pierce will be OK for Week 2, but we'll see what happens during practice this week. Fantasy managers should be prepared to find replacement options for all of these guys, and we're here to help. Two quarterbacks were also injured, with Kyler Murray (concussion) and Sam Darnold (hip), which should impact Fantasy managers in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues. Thankfully, we suffered no major injuries at running back and tight end. While injuries will send you to the waiver wire this week, that's not the only reason to alter your roster. You should be prepared to add any quality players who could take your Fantasy team to a higher level. There are also streaming DSTs and kickers to target as well. You don't have to spend a lot of your FAAB this week, but there are some potential standout Fantasy options who could improve your roster on the waiver wire heading into Week 2. Editor's note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.

Week 2 Waivers

Quarterback Running back Wide receiver Tight end

WAIVER WIRE

Quarterbacks

Injuries: Kyler Murray (concussion), Sam Darnold (hip) and Tua Tagovailoa (oblique) Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Jordan Love (74 percent rostered) and Tyler Shough (66 percent). Love's performance in Week 1 at Minnesota was great with 387 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and he attempted 42 passes. He can be a weekly No. 1 Fantasy quarterback when he's throwing 30-plus times. We hope that continues all season. ... Shough went off for 410 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 56 attempts in Week 1 at Detroit, and he has now scored at least 20 Fantasy points in six of his past seven games going back to last season. He should be considered a low-end starter in all leagues. Drop candidates: Kyler Murray (84 percent rostered) and Sam Darnold (60 percent). We don't know if Murray will play in Week 2 at Chicago, and he might lose his job to Carson Wentz if he continues to play well. I'd hold Murray in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, but he's someone to drop in all one-quarterback formats. ... Darnold shouldn't be out long, but he's not worth rostering in one-quarterback leagues. There are better backup quarterbacks to stash on your bench.

Add in this order:

Week 2 Waiver Priority List

Jacoby Brissett

QB

ARI Arizona

• #7

Age: 33 • Experience: 11 year

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs SEA SEA -4.5 O/U 41.5

OPP VS QB

7th

QB RNK

21st

ROSTERED

20%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

277

RUYDS

14

TD

1

INT

0

FPTS/G

18.4

Brissett only scored 18.5 Fantasy points in Week 1 at the Chargers, but he attempted 37 passes. The Cardinals will likely be throwing a lot in many games this season, and Brissett's Fantasy production should be constant. He doesn't have an easy schedule, including Week 2 against Seattle, but as long as he starts for the Cardinals, then you have a chance for 20-plus Fantasy points on a weekly basis. Remember, he scored at least 19.6 Fantasy points in 10 of 11 games last season. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAAB.

Bryce Young

QB

CAR Carolina

• #9

Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ ATL CAR -1.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS QB

9th

QB RNK

20th

ROSTERED

23%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

361

RUYDS

10

TD

4

INT

1

FPTS/G

37.4

Young got off to a great start against the Bears in Week 1 with 361 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and he added 10 rushing yards and a touchdown. We shouldn't expect 37.4 Fantasy points on a weekly basis, but he's now scored at least 20.5 Fantasy points in six of his past nine games going back to last season, including the playoffs. He has a solid receiving corps now with Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, and Young might be a surprise Fantasy quarterback in 2026. He's worth adding for 1 percent of your remaining FAAB.

Malik Willis

QB

MIA Miami

• #2

Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ SF SF -13.5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS QB

1st

QB RNK

23rd

ROSTERED

55%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

220

RUYDS

39

TD

1

INT

1

FPTS/G

16.7

Willis only scored 16.7 Fantasy points in Week 1 at Las Vegas, but there were signs of what he could do as a Fantasy quarterback. He completed 15-of-27 passes for 220 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, and he ran for 39 yards and a touchdown. You'd like to see more than 16.7 Fantasy points, but the rushing potential gives him a solid floor on a weekly basis. And, as Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell continue to improve, Willis should benefit as well. He's worth stashing on your bench for 1 percent of your remaining FAAB.

C.J. Stroud

QB

HOU Houston

• #7

Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs CIN HOU -2.5 O/U 46.5

OPP VS QB

6th

QB RNK

24th

ROSTERED

48%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

274

RUYDS

15

TD

2

INT

0

FPTS/G

20.4

Stroud played well in Week 1 against Buffalo with 274 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added 15 rushing yards and two fumbles. He scored 20.5 Fantasy points, which is just the second time he's been over 20 Fantasy points in his past nine outings, going back to last season, including the playoffs, so keep that in mind. But Stroud could end up as a low-end starter this season, and he's worth adding in deeper leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAAB.

Carson Wentz

QB

MIN Minnesota

• #11

Age: 33 • Experience: 11 year

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ CHI CHI -5.5 O/U 48.5

OPP VS QB

31st

QB RNK

22nd

ROSTERED

YTD Stats

PAYDS

133

RUYDS

-1

TD

3

INT

0

FPTS/G

25.3

Wentz should be added in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, and he might be worth stashing in deep, one-quarterback leagues as well. We don't know how long Kyler Murray (concussion) will be out, and Wentz might end up taking over as the permanent starter in Minnesota if he plays well. He passed for 133 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions against Green Bay in Week 1 after Murray was hurt, and Wentz scored 25.2 Fantasy points. We love him because he gives Justin Jefferson and the Vikings' receivers a chance to make plays, but Wentz could be useful if needed. In Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, he's worth adding for at least 20 percent of your remaining FAAB. And he's worth 1 percent in one-quarterback formats.

Michael Penix Jr.

QB

ATL Atlanta

• #9

Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs CAR CAR -2.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS QB

32nd

QB RNK

NR

ROSTERED

8%

YTD Stats

PAYDS

0

RUYDS

0

TD

0

INT

0

FPTS/G

0

We don't know when Penix (knee) will make his season debut, but the Falcons need him with Tua Tagovalioa (oblique) out. Cooper Rush was a disaster in Week 1 at Pittsburgh, and Penix should be better than Tagovailoa when both are healthy. Penix should be rostered in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for at least 20 percent of your remaining FAAB. And you can add him in deep, one-quarterback leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB. We'd love to see him back in Week 2 against Carolina.

Drew Lock

QB

SEA Seattle

• #2

Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ ARI SEA -4.5 O/U 41.5

OPP VS QB

10th

QB RNK

NR

ROSTERED

YTD Stats

PAYDS

187

RUYDS

13

TD

1

INT

0

FPTS/G

14.7

Sam Darnold (hip) won't play in Week 2 at Arizona, but he could return in Week 3 at Washington. Lock will start for Seattle until Darnold is healthy, and Lock should be added in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for 5-10 percent of your remaining FAAB. He played well in Week 1 against New England with 187 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, and he added 13 rushing yards. He should have the chance to perform better in Week 2 against the Cardinals.

WAIVER WIRE

Running Backs

Injuries: TreVeyon Henderson (ankle), Zach Charbonnet (knee), Dylan Sampson (knee), Isiah Pacheco (back), Alvin Kamara (knee), James Conner (foot) and Sean Tucker (hamstring)

Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Woody Marks (76 percent rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (74 percent) and Zach Charbonnet (69 percent). David Montgomery was the Fantasy star for the Texans in Week 1 against Buffalo, but Marks still had nine carries for 42 yards and one catch for 2 yards on one target. He also played one more snap than Montgomery, and I would stash Marks in all leagues. ... Bhayshul Tuten is the lead running back in Jacksonville, but Rodriguez will have a role. He finished Week 1 against Cleveland with six carries for 23 yards, and he could end up leading Jacksonville in rushing touchdowns this season. I would stash Rodriguez in all leagues. ... Charbonnet should be rostered in every league that has an IR spot. When healthy, he should have a prominent role in Seattle in tandem with Jadarian Price. Drop candidates: Rachaad White (78 percent rostered), Tyjae Spears (57 percent), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (43 percent), Dylan Sampson (43 percent) and Jordan James (30 percent). White should have a bigger role as the season goes on, but he only had seven carries for 22 yards and two catches for 5 yards on two targets in Week 1 at Philadelphia. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Kaytron Allen shared the backfield with White, and he can be dropped in 10-team leagues for now. ... Spears will rarely be useful when Tony Pollard is healthy. You don't want to roster many Titans players right now, especially in 10-team leagues. In Week 1 against the Jets, Spears had three carries for 12 yards and two catches for 12 yards on four targets. ... Tracy fumbled Sunday night against Dallas, and he could be inactive in Week 2 in favor of Najee Harris. The Giants will likely use Cam Skattebo and Devin Singletary as their top two running backs, and Tracy is not worth rostering in any leagues. ... Sampson left Week 1 on crutches for his left knee injury, and we don't know how long he'll be out. Unless you can stash him on IR in your Fantasy leagues, then he's not worth holding in most formats. ... James was inactive in Week 1 against the Rams, and he's third on the depth chart for the 49ers behind Christian McCaffrey and Kaelon Black. James has no Fantasy value while McCaffrey and Black are healthy.

Add in this order:

Week 2 Waiver Priority List

Kaelon Black

RB

SF San Francisco

• #26

Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs MIA SF -13.5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB

29th

RB RNK

36th

ROSTERED

63%

YTD Stats

RUYDS

65

REC

1

REYDS

5

TD

0

FPTS/G

8

Black looked great in Week 1 against the Rams with 14 carries for 65 yards, and he added one catch for 5 yards on one target. He played 43 percent of the snaps in tandem with Christian McCaffrey, and we expect the 49ers to keep Black in a prominent role. If McCaffrey were to miss any time, then Black could be a league winner, and he should be added in all leagues where available for at least 10 percent of your remaining FAAB.

Emmett Johnson

RB

KC Kansas City

• #10

Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie

Weekly Breakdown

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/week-2-fantasy-football-waiver-wire-bryce-young-has-huge-opener/)._