Scrambling to replace Isiah Pacheco and Cooper Kupp in your fantasy football lineup? Here are 20 waiver wire targets to consider this week.
We’re just two weeks into the 2024 NFL season and injuries are already piling up across the league.
The two biggest injuries from a fantasy football perspective this week are Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (who is going on injured reserve with an ankle injury) and Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (who is also a candidate for IR with an ankle injury).
The in-house candidates to replace Pacheco in KC are Samaje Perine and Carson Steele, but there might be non-Chiefs running backs available on the waiver wire who are better options to replace Pacheco in your fantasy lineup. Kansas City is also bringing in Kareem Hunt for a free agent visit today.
In Los Angeles, the Rams are now missing both Puka Nacua and Kupp. That leaves Demarcus Robinson and Tyler Johnson as the top WRs still standing, and rookie Jordan Whittington is a massive sleeper to consider this week.
Check out the full list of fantasy football waiver wire targets below. Each player’s roster percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses.
Isaiah Likely is the top waiver wire target in fantasy football this week. These players are also worth consideration.
The first week of the 2024 NFL season is in the books and it’s now time to hit the waiver wire in your fantasy football leagues.
To help you win the waiver wire, we’ve put together a list of 15 players to target this week, including options at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defense and even kicker. Each player’s roster percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses.
Note that these players are listed by position and ranked by their roster percentage, and that does not necessarily reflect the order in which they should be claimed this week. For example, tight end Isaiah Likely should be a top priority ahead of Week 2.
Now, let’s get to the list!
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Week 2
1. QB Baker Mayfield (34%): Don’t expect four touchdowns every week, but Mayfield is a serviceable fill-in if you need help at quarterback.
2. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (45%): He led the Broncos in carries (10) and also had five targets as a receiver out of the backfield. McLaughlin’s production (32 yards) was poor, but his utilization is promising.
3. RB Rico Dowdle (40%): He had two fewer carries (8) than Ezekiel Elliott (10) and one fewer target (1). It’s early, but Dowdle’s worth stashing.
4. RB Bucky Irving (21%): He led the Buccaneers with 62 rushing yards despite getting six fewer carries (9) than Rachaad White (15). Irving also got three targets as a receiver out of the backfield.
5. RB Tank Bigsby (5%): Travis Etienne remains the Jaguars’ top running back, but Bigsby received the same amount of carries (12) and ended up leading the team with 73 rushing yards.
6. WR Rashid Shaheed (42%): He turned five targets into three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
7. WR Wan’Dale Robinson (7%): The Giants look like a team that will have to throw often while trailing and Robinson was Daniel Jones’ favorite receiver on Sunday with six catches for 44 yards on 12 targets.
8. WR Greg Dortch (2%): He had a team-high eight targets on Sunday and led the Cardinals with six catches for 47 yards.
9. WR Devaughn Vele (1%): He tied for second on the team with eight targets. Vele hauled in all eight targets and while his yardage total (39) underwhelmed, he will be a serviceable PPR receiver if those targets continue.
10. WR Alec Pierce (1%): He’s a boom-or-bust WR who turned three targets into three catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.
11. TE Taysom Hill (46%): With several tight ends injured and other TEs underperforming, Hill turned in a top-12 performance on Sunday, and it was a quiet day (five carries for 35 yards and one catch for one yard). He is a boom-or-bust prospect, but Hill is a good fill-in option if you need a TE.
12. TE Isaiah Likely (10%): Likely is the fantasy football waiver wire target of the week after hauling in nine receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown on 12 targets in Week 1. There’s no guarantee he will have better utilization than Mark Andrews (2 targets) on a week-to-week basis, but Likely is a must-add in case this trend continues.
13. TE Tucker Kraft (4%): Kraft played 94% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps in Brazil, a sign that he’s the new TE1 over Luke Musgrave (25%). That only led to two catches for 37 yards on three targets in Week 1, but Kraft emerging as a starter is notable for TE-needy managers in deep leagues.
14. DST Los Angeles Chargers (11%): After a strong showing in Week 1, the Chargers now get a great matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.
15. K Chris Boswell (4%): Whether it’s Justin Fields or Russell Wilson under center, Pittsburgh’s offense seems to be good enough to move the ball but not quite good enough to score many touchdowns. That’s good news for Boswell’s fantasy football stack. He made six field goals on Sunday.
After clearing waivers, Levelle Bailey is returning to the Broncos on the practice squad.
Undrafted rookie linebacker Levelle Bailey cleared waivers on Friday and will now re-sign with the Denver Broncos on the practice squad, according to a report from the Denver Gazette‘s Chris Tomasson.
Bailey joined the team this spring as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State. He turned heads earlier this week with a 94-yard pick-six in Denver’s preseason finale.
Denver has now filled its 17-player practice squad for the 2024 season.
Jonas Griffith was believed to be a candidate to sign on the practice squad, but he needs more time to recover from an injury. Once healthy, Griffith could be a candidate to return to Denver in a few weeks.
Titans look to division rival for cornerback depth.
The Tennessee Titans continue to remake their secondary. In the offseason, the Titans traded for L’Jarius Sneed and signed Chidobe Awuzie in free agency, giving them one of the NFL’s better cornerback tandems for 2024.
Tennessee didn’t stop there, selecting Jarvis Brownlee Jr. in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Brownlee was one of the Titans’ defensive standouts in training camp.
On Thursday, the Titans added more help to their secondary, claiming former Colts cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. off waivers. In a corresponding move, Tennessee placed rookie linebacker Cedric Gray on injured reserve.
Baker is the third player the Titans claimed off waivers since Wednesday, joining linebacker Ali Gaye and defensive back Julius Wood.
Baker, 26, was undrafted out of Georgia Southern in 2022. After initially signing with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent, he was waived during final cuts that summer. He signed with the Colts’ practice squad in September of that year and was activated to the 53-man roster later that season.
Baker made the Colts’ roster last summer, appearing in 14 games with six starts. He signed a one-year extension in January, but was waived this week.
Baker has played in 17 games in two NFL seasons, making six starts, and has recorded 35 tackles and seven passes defended.
Baker joins a Tennessee cornerback depth chart featuring Sneed, Awuzie, Roger McCreary and Brownlee. That’s a much-improved unit for the Titans.
There weren’t a lot of surprises for the Washington Commanders on Tuesday when they trimmed their roster from 90 players to 53. However, if there was one surprise, it was the release of second-year defensive end K.J. Henry.
Henry, 25, was a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, he played in 10 games, making three starts. Henry finished with 19 tackles, including four for loss and 1.5 sacks. However, Washington has a new regime, which includes a new general manager and coaching staff. So, it was a completely new start for Henry.
Henry had a solid training camp, picking up sacks in two of the Commanders’ three games and even received some snaps at defensive tackle in Sunday’s preseason finale. On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Bengals claimed Henry off waivers.
Overall, Washington released 34 players, but only two were claimed by other teams. Henry and third-year cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields. The Carolina Panthers, who were ahead of the Commanders in the waiver priority, picked up Castro-Fields and two other cornerbacks.
Castro-Fields had been with Washington since August 2022, when he was claimed off waivers. A sixth-round pick out of Penn State, Castro-Fields played high school football at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Castro-Fields appeared in 10 games for the Commanders over the past two years.
The Patriots land four players from the waiver wire
The New England Patriots were awarded four players through waiver claims on Wednesday.
They were the No. 3 team in the waiver wire pecking order. So they had a higher priority in their selection over every other NFL team but the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders.
Per the waiver system transactions, via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Patriots were awarded linebacker Curtis Jacobs, offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs, defensive tackle Eric Johnson and offensive tackle Zachary Thomas.
It’s notable that the Patriots put in claims for two new offensive tackles considering that’s been the biggest trouble spot for the team throughout training camp and the preseason.
Thomas and Jacobs are no saviors in that matter. They are simply two more project pieces for the Patriots to coach up behind the scenes as possible future depth options. Jones has no career game experience in the NFL, and Thomas has only appeared in three games.
The Patriots are currently down to a banged-up Vederian Lowe, Chukwuma Okorafor and rookie Caedan Wallace as their top tackle options on the roster. Of course, they could always kick Mike Onwenu back outside from guard to tackle.
It’s an ongoing game of offensive line musical chairs that feels like it’ll never end for the Patriots.
Seahawks lose OLB Jamie Sheriff, LB Jon Rhattigan to waiver claims
Releasing a player and exposing them to the waivers claim process always comes with a risk. Unfortunately, the Seattle Seahawks were burned on two occasions when Wednesday’s claims were officially processed by the league office. The Carolina Panthers claimed Seahawks EDGE rusher Jamie Sheriff and off-ball linebacker Jon Rhattigan, according to multiple sources.
So far, #Seahawks reportedly have lost Jon Rhattigan and Jamie Sheriff to Panthers.
John Schneider's pupil taking as many players as he can off waiver wire apparently.
Both Rhattigan and Sheriff were waived during Tuesday’s final roster cuts. Sheriff is the one Seahawks fans will especially mourn. The rookie undrafted free agent from South Alabama recorded three sacks during the preseason and was a constant thorn in the backside of quarterbacks. He finished just half a sack away from leading the league in exhibition sacks.
The Seahawks clearly didn’t think Sheriff was ready for regular-season football. Instead of keeping him on the active roster, general manager John Schneider traded for veteran EDGE Trevis Gipson, who made the team. Sheriff was waived as a result, and the Panthers used their top waiver-wire priority to pounce on his availability.
The issue between the Seahawks and Rhattigan was apparently salary related. By claiming Rhattigan, the Panthers are inheriting his base salary of $2.985 million, which the Seahawks felt was bloated, per Bob Condotta. Again, the Panthers utilized their top priority here.
The Seahawks revamped their linebacker room earlier this offseason. Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson are expected to serve as the starters. They also drafted Tyrice Knight, and recently traded for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett, who is expected to re-join Seattle via the practice squad after he was waived on Tuesday. All of those moves made Rhattigan and his salary more expendable.
It’s worth acknowledging new Panthers general manager Dan Morgan worked under Schneider for five years in Seattle, first as a scout (2010), and later as assistant director of pro personnel (2011-14). Carolina’s staff features various ex Seahawks coaches, including their head coach Dave Canales. It’s not surprising that the Panthers opted to claim two Seahawks players.
The Broncos lost OT Demontrey Jacobs on the NFL’s waiver wire today. Denver was not awarded any players.
The Denver Broncos waived 22 players to get down to a 53-man roster this week. Only one of them — offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs — was claimed by another team.
Jacobs was claimed by the New England Patriots, who were looking to shore up their offensive tackle depth. Denver, meanwhile, was not awarded any players off the waiver wire.
Cut players who were not claimed off waivers are now free agents. For Denver, that applies to the following players:
RB Tyler Badie
WR Jalen Virgil
WR Brandon Johnson
WR Michael Bandy
TE Thomas Yassmin
TE Hunter Kampmoyer
OL Nick Gargiulo
OL Will Sherman
OL Oliver Jervis
DL Elijah Garcia
DL Jordan Miller
OLB Dondrea Tillman
OLB Thomas Incoom
LB Alec Mock
CB Reese Taylor
CB Art Green
DB Kaleb Hayes
DB Tanner McCalister
DB Quinton Newsome
DB Omar Brown
P Trenton Gill
With waiver wire claims now processed, the Broncos can now begin building their 17-player practice squad. We are tracking all of Denver’s practice squad signings on Broncos Wire.
The Broncos have set an initial 53-man roster for 2024. Here are ten takeaways after the team made 38 roster moves.
The Denver Broncos made 38 roster moves earlier this week to get down to an initial 53-man roster ahead of the 2024 season. After reviewing five surprises yesterday, we’re moving on to ten big-picture takeaways today.
1. Broncos kept 3 quarterbacks
Denver coach Sean Payton wasn’t lying last week when he said he expected to keep all three QBs — Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson — on the 53-man roster. The Broncos really like their QB situation.
“Yeah, we think highly of the quarterback room,” general manager George Paton said Tuesday. “I really liked the process. I thought the competition brought out the best in really all of the quarterbacks. All these guys support each other, they compete and they work well together. We looked at last year [and] I think almost half the league kept three quarterbacks. With the rule changes, we think that number will increase. We’re glad to have all three.”
The NFL’s trade deadline this season is Nov. 4. If other teams lose QBs during the season, Paton might get calls about Denver’s QB room.
2. All but one member of draft class made the team
“It’s a credit to our personnel departments and our sports performance with the development of these players,” Paton said. “Obviously, time will tell as we get to the regular season, but we like the class so far.”
The only member of the 2024 draft class who didn’t make the 53-man roster is offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo, who has been sidelined due to injury.
3. UDFAs make the 53-man roster
For the 20th time in the last 21 years, Denver had at least one undrafted free agent make the active roster. It’s three players this year: running back Blake Watson, linebacker Levelle Bailey and offensive tackle Frank Crum.
“The scouts play a huge role in advocating for these players after the draft and fighting for these players,” Paton said. “Frank Crum, we had on a Top-30 [visit]. We had Watson on a Top-30. … Bailey, we didn’t know as much about, [but] we liked him and we liked the athletic ability.”
Crum needs more time to develop, but Watson and Bailey could become instant contributors on special teams.
“What went into it is a number of things,” Paton explained. “We really like our depth at receiver, and we liked the depth at other positions on our team. We wanted to keep some other players at other positions. Special teams comes into play. Obviously, you have the new element at kickoff and kickoff return. There will be over 200 more plays. So it wasn’t just one thing. Tim did a lot of really good things. We wish him well and we’re going to miss him.”
5. Cody Barton wins starting ILB job
It’s no surprise because Barton appeared to be leading the competition throughout preseason, but the veteran officially won the starting job on Tuesday when the team waived Jonas Griffith. Barton is now set to start next to Alex Singleton this fall. Denver might look to add more linebacker depth through the waiver wire.
6. Some players need more time to develop
Many Broncos fans were surprised that offensive tackle Frank Crum made the 53-man roster after he struggled in preseason. He is a big, promising tackle, though, and Denver could not afford to risk having him claimed off waivers. So Crum made the active roster despite needing more time to develop.
“You’re always going to have players that aren’t quite ready — developmental players,” Payton said. “Can you get them through [the waiver wire]? Can you get them on the practice squad? Those are the discussions that you have in regards to roster management. How long is it going to take a certain player to develop? I think by midseason or do I think by the end of the season? Can we survive, if that player doesn’t play, with what we have?
“Those are all the discussions you have. The biggest guesswork we do — and it’s not just guess, we use analytics on certain positions where it clears more than others — is whether you can get a guy through. Those are the discussions we have, and there’s a lot that goes into it. A player that has potential — you don’t want to use a potential for a ready-made player. Again short- and long-term views come into play.”
7. The NFL’s new kickoff rule impacts roster
The Broncos had the NFL’s new XFL-style kickoff rule in mind when they made roster cuts on Tuesday.
“I think it always plays a role, but even more so this year,” Paton said. “[Assistant head coach Mike] Westhoff tells me [there are] 200-plus plays on special teams, and so that factors into a lot of our decisions certainly.
“The defensive backfield — we had an injury. [Damarri] Mathis was a really good [special] teamer, so how do we compensate there? It’s a big puzzle and it’s roster management. Special teams are a huge emphasis and even more so, to answer your question, with the new kickoff.”
8. Some veterans could return on practice squad
Among the final cuts for the Broncos on Tuesday were wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and fullback Michael Burton. If re-signed to the practice squad, both players would be candidates to get elevated to the game-day roster in Week 1.
“Roster management,” Paton said when asked about the team’s last-minute cuts. “We’re trying to keep the best players we can for as long as we can. So you’re exactly right. There are a couple of vets who will likely be active Week 1. You probably know who they are, but certainly we already have a few guys who are already going to be on our practice squad.”
9. The offensive line depth is thin
Denver’s updated depth chart has a huge hole at backup guard, a consequence of Quinn Bailey suffering a season-ending ankle injury this summer. The Broncos also don’t have much depth at tackle: Alex Palczewski was injured for all of last season and Crum is not quite ready for regular season action. That leaves Matt Peart is a do-it-all swing backup. Don’t be surprised if Denver looks to improve the offensive line’s depth today.
10. This is not the final 53-man roster
The Broncos could make a few waiver claims today, and Paton hinted that trades are possible as well. Denver will also build a 17-player practice squad.
“[W]e’re looking at any way we can to upgrade our team on the wire tonight — or it could be a trade,” Paton said Tuesday. “Last year, we didn’t put a claim in, but we signed four new players to our practice squad [and] all four of those players ended up playing. Then we made a trade for Wil Lutz. There aren’t as many claims as you think — I think there were 24 last year — but you still can make some hay as you work the wire.”
We will be tracking any potential moves today on Broncos Wire.
Here’s where the Patriots are positioned on the waiver wire list
After Tuesday’s roster purge, the next order of business for NFL teams will be filling their 16-man practice squad. The slew of roster cuts created a massive pool of free agents for teams to pick from.
Pick priority will be chosen by the waiver wire, which ultimately decides the order by ranking all 32 teams. The New England Patriots had the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft, and they are also currently ranked No. 3 on the waiver wire.
The only two teams with higher priority than they have are the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders.
That means the Panthers, Commanders and Patriots will have top priority when putting in waiver claims for available free agents.
The NFL waiver wire will follow the 2024 Draft order until Week 3 of the season.
1. CAR 2. WSH 3. NE 4. ARI 5. LAC 6. NYG 7. TEN 8. ATL 9. CHI 10. NYJ 11. MIN 12. DEN 13. LV 14. NO 15. IND 16. SEA 17. JAX 18. CIN 19. LAR 20. PIT 21. MIA 22. PHI 23. CLE 24. DAL 25. GB 26. TB 27.…