The fantasy football waiver wire is always a tough place for the quarterback position because there are so many different variables to consider. Additionally, there are usually up to 10 players who are borderline must-starts a week, meaning that there’s not much roster turnover each season.
Meanwhile, in Superflex leagues, the majority of starting quarterbacks are rostered, even in 12-team leagues. With that in mind, let’s look at some QB options that fantasy managers could target in Week 2.
Week 2 Waiver Wire Targets: RB | WR | TE
Which Quarterbacks Should You Target on the Week 2 Waiver Wire?
Players are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers (14%)
If you started Justin Fields in Week 1, you certainly weren’t thrilled about his performance. But let’s dig into it a bit.
Fields threw for 156 yards and didn’t throw or run for a touchdown, yet he still scored 11.94 fantasy points. One touchdown, and he’s pushing QB1 numbers. Most weeks, he’ll account for at least one.
Russell Wilson was close to playing and definitely wants to get out there next week, but the Steelers won the game, and Fields didn’t turn it over. I think there’s a decent chance they stick with Fields. He’s certainly worth adding, given what we’ve seen him do in a starting role.
Tuesday update: Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed my suspicions that the team would stick with what worked, telling the media, “As we sit here today, we’re preparing as if Justin (Fields) is our quarterback.”
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (34%)
It feels like people have forgotten that Baker Mayfield was a No. 1 overall pick. He hasn’t always played like one throughout his career, but perhaps he’s just a late bloomer.
The Mayfield we’ve seen in Tampa Bay is certainly better than the No. 1 overall pick from 2018. Against the Commanders in Week 1, he threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns. This may end up being his easiest matchup of the season, but he’s still proven to be a fantasy producer.
In Week 2, the Bucs get the Lions, which could be a high-scoring affair. At the very least, Detroit should force Tampa Bay into a negative game script, putting Mayfield at the top of the streaming radar.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (10%)
If you can’t tell already, boring pocket passers tend to be the archetype you can find on the waiver wire in your fantasy league. This means we have to try to identify the best potential options to plug and play in your roster.
Quite frankly, Derek Carr looked great in the most lopsided contest of the Week 1 slate, with the New Orleans Saints absolutely dismantling the Carolina Panthers at home. His 200 passing yards and three scores while throwing just four incompletions marks one of the cleanest performances we’ve seen from him in a Saints uniform.
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense looked outstanding against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, but this unit can be vulnerable to explosive vertical threats who excel against man coverage. Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are both dangerous vertical options who could pop a couple big plays against this talented secondary.
Additionally, the Cowboys’ offense looked very good against a quality Browns defense in the season opener — which suggests the Saints could have to play a bit of catch-up later in the contest.
Carr doesn’t have a cupcake matchup, but his debut was encouraging enough to make him a streaming consideration if you need a quarterback entering Week 2.
– Derek Tate, Fantasy Football Analyst