Week 1 is in the books and with it the first waiver wire period is over. In this article I will go over the top added players at each position from the most recent waiver wire period and give an outlook of what can be expected from this player going forward.
Quarterback
Alex Smith, KC- Smith was the most added quarterback this week as his ownership levels increased by nearly 10 percent thanks to his impressive performance in Week 1 which saw him throw for 363 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground for a three touchdown day. In Week 2 things will get much tougher as the Chiefs travel to Houston to play the Texans who boast some big time playmakers along their front seven.
Matthew Stafford, DET- Stafford was available in about 25 percent of standard leagues heading into Week 1 but after throwing for 340 yards and three touchdowns against Colts he finds himself as one of the top added quarterbacks heading into Week 2. The Lions will have their first home game of the season in Week 2 against the Titans who boast a strong run defense after shutting down Adrian Peterson in Week 1 which should mean that Stafford will be throwing early and often as he looks to repeat his big Week 1 performance.
Carson Wentz, PHI- The Eagles rookie had little issue against the Browns poor defense in Week 1 as he threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL debut. Wentz went largely undrafted in most standard leagues but his Week 1 performance sees his ownership levels nearly double heading into Week 2. In Week 2 the Eagles will face off against a Bears defense that allowed 231 yards and two touchdowns to Texans QB Brock Osweiler during their Week 1 matchup and that number should have been higher if not for a dropped passed by rookie Will Fuller that would have gone for big yardage and another touchdown. The loss of Zack Ertz is a tough blow for Wentz but he is already developing solid chemistry with receivers Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor which is a great sign for his fantasy value.
Running Back
Tevin Coleman, ATL- The Falcons head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that both Coleman and Devonta Freeman will be feature backs in the Falcons offense this season and that was apparent in Week 1 which saw Coleman rush for 22 yards on eight carries while adding five catches for 95 yards against the Buccaneers. In his rookie season Coleman began the year as the Falcons lead back before an injury took him out of action and paved the way for Freeman’s monster year. Given the investment that the Falcons made in Coleman by taking him the 3rd round in 2015 it would make sense that he finds himself as more than just a backup to Freeman early on this season.
Jalen Richard, Oak- Richard was the second most added running back after Week 1 but seeing as 75 of his 95 total yards came on one play the eagerness to add him is certainly a head scratcher. Richards is currently third on the depth chart behind Latavius Murray and Deandre Washington and is really competing with Washington as a third down back as neither player is challenging Murray for his lead back position on the Raiders offense. If you picked up Richard this week it is purely as a depth stash as he is unlikely to repeat his Week 1 performance.
Chris Thompson, WAS- In Week 1 Thompson saw four carries for 23 yards and a touchdown while adding two catches for 16 yards. He out produced starting running back Matt Jones who had double the carries but only managed one more yard than Thompson. For now Thompson should be the Redskins primary receiving back however if Jones continues to be unimpressive the Redskins could turn to Thompson which would certainly boost his value. In Week 2 the Redskins face off against the Cowboys team that really struggled against receiving backs last season and just allowed 61 yards of total offense to the Giants Shane Vereen in Week 1 who plays a similar role in their offense as Thompson does in Washington.
[pagebreak]
Wide Receiver
Tyrell Williams, SD- Not only was Williams the top added wide receiver this week but he was the top added player overall as he saw his ownership levels jump nearly 40 percent. In Week 1 Williams caught 2-of-5 targets for 70 yards and while those numbers are not overly impressive many owners are hoping he sees much greater involvement now that Keenan Allen has been lost of the season due to a torn ACL. Phillip Rivers likes to throw down field and Williams has that downfield ability which could make him a viable target going forward. In Week 2 the Chargers will face off against the Jaguars in what figures to be a high scoring affair.
Eli Rogers, PIT- There was plenty of hype surrounding Rogers heading into Week 1 with news that Markus Wheaton would be out of the lineup and he did little to disappoint as he caught six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Rogers figures to be the Steelers slot receiver this season and while Wheaton is expected back in Week 2 he has often failed to impress which may give Rogers the inside track at being the No.2 target for Big Ben this season.
Mohamed Sanu, ATL- Sanu was impressive in his first game as a member of the Falcons, catching five passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons have long been a pass first offense and with Sanu stepping into the role vacated by the retired Roddy White the offense now has a second legitimate receiving option next to Julio Jones. Defenses still figure to double Jones which should give Sanu plenty of one-on-one coverages for him to take advantage of which is the reason he was one of the top waiver wire adds this week. In Week 2 the Falcons will face off against the Raiders who just let Drew Brees throw all over their defense in Week 1 and should bode well for the Falcons passing attack.
Tight End
Jack Doyle, IND- Doyle caught three passes during the Colts Week 1 loss to the Lions but both of them went for scores which is what has piqued the interest of many fantasy owners. The Colts starting tight end Dwayne Allen also found the end zone and was a bigger part of the passing attack but should Doyle become somebody Luck looks to around the end zone he will enter the TE1 conversation.
Brent Celek, PHI- With the status of Zack Ertz up in the air after he suffered a shoulder injury the Eagles will again turn to veteran Brent Celek to step into the starting lineup. Celek caught just one pass in Week 1 against the Browns but he is no stranger to being a starting tight end in this league and has on a few occasions put up legitimate TE1 numbers during his career. Last season Celek had a two game stretch where he totaled 11 catches on 14 targets for 213 yards and the hope here is that he will be a security blanket for rookie QB Carson Wentz while Jordan Mathews and Nelson Agholor stretch the field.
Dennis Pitta, BAL- Pitta was once Joe Flacco’s favorite target but injuries have limited him to just eight games over the past three seasons. Now healthy Pitta is starting and hoping to regain the form that saw him catch 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns back in 2012 which was his last fully healthy year. In Week 1 against the Bills Pitta caught three passes on four targets for 39 yards and will find himself with a favorable match-up against the Browns in Week 2.