After what feels like an eternity, NFL football is finally back. Months and months of devoted research, analysis, and data crunching has once again proven useless by the cruel hand of the fantasy football gods. Now, if you’re looking to improve your wide receiver depth, you’ll need to check the waiver wire for guys like Russell Gage, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and others.
Note that in order to be eligible for this list, the player needed to be available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. Obviously, there is variation from league to league, so there is a chance that a better player is currently available on your league’s waiver wire.
Week 2 Waiver Wire Claims: Running Back – Quarterback – Tight End
Russell Gage, Marquez Valdes-Scantling Highlight Fantasy Football Week 1 Waiver Wire Claims
Russell Gage
The Atlanta Falcons still have a terrible defense and a high-powered offense. Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones can’t get all of the targets, and Russell Gage proved that he’s the clear third target in this offense. Gage finished his night with nine receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns on a team-high 12 targets.
Historically speaking, Matt Ryan is usually able to carry three fantasy-relevant players throughout the season. Last year, it was Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Austin Hooper. This year, it looks like it’ll be Jones, Ridley, and Gage. Gage showed some flashes last year and seems to have taken the next step over the offseason. Throw him into your starting lineup if you’re looking for a flex play.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Green Bay Packers didn’t invest in the wide receiver position this offseason, leaving a huge opportunity opposite Davante Adams. After one week, Marquez Valdes-Scantling appears to have the inside track for that WR2 job. In Green Bay’s blowout victory over the Vikings, Valdes-Scantling recorded four receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown on six targets. Additionally, he dropped another deep target that would’ve easily put him over the 100-yard threshold.
We’ve been down this road before with Valdes-Scantling, but winning fantasy football leagues means having a short memory. The third-year wideout received positive reports throughout camp and has a very clear path to the field. He’s definitely worth a claim if he can keep this up and develop into a weekly starter in this offense.
Parris Campbell
Parris Campbell is the perfect receiver for Philip Rivers. Rivers always had an affinity for slot receivers, and that has become especially true in his later years. During Week 1, Campbell led the team with six receptions for 71 yards and nine touchdowns. This volume figures to stick around, as there’s no other notable competition coming out of the slot. While Campbell probably won’t turn into 2019 DeVante Parker, this volume should make him a good bench option for the rest of the season.
Laviska Shenault
So…I was wrong about Chris Thompson. The former Jacksonville Jaguar didn’t do anything against the Indianapolis Colts, but Laviska Shenault showed some signs of life. The second-round pick finished the night with three receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown to go along with two carries for 10 yards.
If you’re looking for a starter in Week 2, look somewhere else. However, if you’re looking for a guy that could pay off down the road, Shenault is your guy. The Jaguars don’t have a proven commodity opposite DJ Chark and lack a proven backup behind James Robinson. Shenault has the tools to develop into a receiver-running back hybrid and could be a great play down the line. Claiming Shenault now is all about beating the rest of your leaguemates to the punch and grabbing a talented athlete in a barren offense.
Scotty Miller
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the worst start imaginable, but Scotty Miller actually had a pretty solid day. Miller finished his night with five receptions for 73 yards on six targets, and would’ve had a lot more if it weren’t for a defensive pass interference penalty breaking up a perfectly-thrown deep ball.
This offense has a lot of mouths to feed, but Miller clearly has the trust of quarterback Tom Brady. That’s always been the most important thing, and this didn’t completely come out of nowhere. Miller had a great camp and Brady had openly spoken out about his ability throughout the offseason. He should retain a decent target share and be a regular contributor on offense.
Might be Available: Robby Anderson, Allen Lazard
Week 2 Waiver Wire Claims: Running Back – Quarterback – Tight End
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
