The Way This Works...
To see this article's purpose, please refer to the intro from Week 2.
The Week 2 Review
The Replacements doesn't officially begin until Week 2, but in late August, I always post an article on waiver-wire candidates and how and when to act with them. I use a partial list of players from that article who are likely to be commodities this week to start the running list of suggested options.
I'll update this throughout the season so you have a wealth of considerations beyond my weekly recommendations.
Add Now
Jordan Mason: I mentioned in two different articles late in the preseason that you should add Mason if you have Christian McCaffrey or if McCaffrey shows up on the injury report with a tag of questionable or worse. Now you know why.
Jalen Nailor: A quick and fast receiver with YAC skills in the mold of Bills' Khalil Shakir, Nailor scored in Weeks 1 and 2 and displayed toughness over the middle and up the seams. He's an addition at the end of your roster's bench who can give you at least WR3 fantasy production when one or both of the Vikings' starters are hurt.
Alec Pierce: Adonai Mitchell's separation score impresses people, but his ability to be on the same page with Anthony Richardson isn't reliable at this point. Richardson told the national media before Week 1 that the public had written off Pierce, and he was about to remedy that. Two weeks later, Pierce has 10 targets, 8 catches, 181 yards, and 2 scores, and he's the No.8 fantasy receiver. That fantasy standing may not last, but don't expect Pierce to return to fantasy anonymity, either. Pierce is a legitimate deep threat with contested-catch skills, and he works effectively over the middle.
Andrei Iosivas: An excellent athlete from Princeton, Iosivas knew next to nothing about running routes but sought out receiver coach Drew Lieberman during the offseason. His game has grown substantially during the offseason because, according to Lieberman, Iosivas had no bad habits to unlearn. With a week under his belt as a starter, look for Cincinnati's offense to look better in Week 2.
Preemptive
Allen Lazard: Fantasy analysts may minimize Lazard's rest-of-season value due to his age and the attention Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams should eventually command from Aaron Rodgers. However, Rodgers has the most rapport with Lazard, he performed well in camp behind the scenes, and Rodgers demands talent that can be on the same page. Also, do you trust Mike Williams to stay healthy? I don't.
Dawson Knox: Knox is an excellent athlete who can win jump-balls. He's a good blocker, and that's likely his role as long as Dalton Kincaid is healthy. But there have been multiple indications--including Week 1--that Knox will still have a legitimate role in the passing game. Look for Kincaid to get going, but Knox will be worth consideration in your lineups if you're weak at tight end--at least until he proves otherwise.
Isaac Guerendo: If he can pick up the details of the system fast enough and Jordan Mason falters, Shanahan will give Guerendo a chance. Just know if Guerendo falters just a bit, Shanahan is likely to find someone else just as fast. Blessed with Todd Gurley's size and speed, Guerendo was one of those college running backs who began on a loaded depth chart at Wisconsin with the likes of Jonathan Taylor, Braelon Allen, and Chez Mellusi.
Monitor
Michael Penix Jr.: I've shared in great detail why Penix is one of the most talented passers in this draft. Penix is a strong fit for Atlanta's passing attack because of his mobility, skill with off-platform placement, and bold vertical game. Atlanta featured Kirk Cousins more often under center against the Eagles in Week 2, but mostly handing off the ball. Cousins' velocity and accuracy on routes outside the numbers beyond 15 yards still look suspect--even the completed passes didn't have great placement and zip. Atlanta has had success working around this weakness in Cousins' game. Continue monitoring Cousins' play, especially if Atlanta goes on an extended losing streak.
Drew Lock: If Daniel Jones falters, Lock has the skills and experience to deliver strong outings that could lead to big weeks. If Lock has learned to work at his craft behind the scenes since Denver dumped him, this could be the makings of a beautiful career rebound. Click here to read the preemptive indicators for adding Lock to your rosters.
Blake Watson: A rookie passing-down back with enough size to work between the tackles as a committee option on running downs, Watson has good speed and excellent hands. If Watson begins earning an uptick in touches and has success, consider making him a preemptive addition for 1-2 weeks at the bottom of your depth chart.
Add Now: Skylar Thompson, Miami
The Skinny on Thompson: What most people know about Thompson is that he earned a lot of buzz for his rookie performances in the preseason as a late-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft and failed to deliver strong production in multiple starts during the regular season. Miami used a conservative game plan because they feared Thompson wasn't ready to handle more and Thompson's talented corps dropped the football, likely due to Thompson being a right-handed passer after spending years with lefty Tua Tagovailoa.
Two years have passed, and Thompson has managed to remain on the active roster. According to Adam Harstad, this may not seem important, but there is an increased signal for success when a quarterback with little draft capital hangs onto a roster spot for more than two seasons: Jake Delhomme, Marc Bulger, Tony Romo, and Jon Kitna are a few examples.
Thompson has a lot of traits similar to Geno Smith. They have borderline elite pocket management, they have good arms, and they are mobile runners who can move the chains in open spaces. They're also aggressive downfield throwers who can fit the ball into tight spaces but can get too daring.
If Thompson has acclimated to the NFL game behind the scenes and performs as he did at Kansas State as a junior and senior, he could be the biggest surprise of fantasy football this year.
Recommendation: The likelihood of Thompson reaching his upside as I laid it out isn't strong, but the fact that his talent, his surrounding talent, and his coaching staff are all strong, taking a shot on Thompson as a free agent at no cost is the right move. If he fails, you have little invested and can move on fast. If he succeeds, he'll likely succeed on a fantasy scale that won't be available on the waiver wire later this year.
Add Now: Cam Akers, Houston
The Skinny on Akers: Once an early-round prospect, Akers returned from injury in L.A. to deliver a strong finish in 2022 that seemingly had him on track to be the Rams' go-to back in 2023. Two games in 2023, and Sean McVay shut the door on Akers in favor of Kyren Williams. Akers bounced from L.A. to Minnesota to Houston within a year.
Akers had an impressive preseason in Houston, earning a roster spot. He's a powerful runner with good receiving skills. Joe Mixon has an ankle injury and has missed multiple practices. If he doesn't play, Akers could see significant time in the Texans' backfield.
Recommendation: Add Akers now with the plan of dropping him next week if Mixon performs and the ankle doesn't show any sign of deterioration the following week. Ideally, you keep Akers for 2-3 weeks to be prepared for Mixon deteriorating until that possibility subsides.
Preemptive: Dalvin Cook, Dallas
The Skinny on Cook: The one-time elite running back for the Vikings joined the Jets as a free agent last year, and he didn't look like the Cook of old. The factors for that outcome included injury, Breece Hall's impressive return, Cook developing rapport with a new offensive that wasn't good, and a new system.
Dallas has a better passing game than what Cook had in New York, and Cook claims he's the healthiest he has been in years. The Cowboys reported this week that Cook has looked impressive in practices and they'll give him touches if their current trio of backs don't raise their play.
Recommendation: You can write off Cook for his age and how you perceived his performance last year, but he is an experienced runner with zone skills who could get a shot at meaningful fantasy volume. If you have room to take dart throw for 2-3 weeks on Cook, add him to the roster and see if he proves most of the public wrong about him being washed. It's a high-upside/low-cost proposition that's the ideal foundation for making a move for him.
Preemptive/Monitor: Chris Brooks, Green Bay
The Skinny on Brooks: I've been a fan of Brooks' game since his name was Christopher Brown and he was playing at Cal. A 6-1 runner weighing in at around 225-230 pounds, Brooks looked like a quicker Gus Edwards with far better agility and passing-down skills before an ankle injury sent him to IR last year with the Dolphins.
Now with the Packers, Green Bay moved MarShawn Lloyd to IR and elevated Brooks to the active roster as the third back on the depth chart. Josh Jacobs has a back injury that's worth monitoring. If Jacobs were to have a setback, Brooks could be splitting touches with Emmanuel Wilson in a run-heavy offense to manage the passing of Malik Willis.
Recommendation: I have kept Brooks on my dynasty rosters with at least 40 roster spots and a practice squad. I have added last week and this week to rosters with 20-25 spots. He's a high-upside performer with the build to handle volume and youth on his side.
If you play in dynasty leagues, I'd make him a preemptive addition during the next 3-4 weeks while he's not earning touches. An injury could change that, and Jordan Love's impending return could bolster the offense overall.
If you are playing in re-draft formats, Brooks is worth a potential addition during the same time range if you have Josh Jacobs. Emmanuel Wilson has performed well and has the trust of the coaching staff. Still, Brooks is a better talent and could prove his value quickly if given the opportunity.
Monitor: Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay
The Skinny on Tucker: A speedster with good cutback ability, Tucker watched his draft stock plummet in 2023 due to a diagnosis of a heart condition that required corrective surgery. Tampa signed Tucker to a lucrative UDFA deal and allowed Tucker to compete for a roster.
Despite making the team, Tucker was still rehabbing from surgery and not fully playing at his athletic peak. Fast-forward to this year, Tucker impressed in camp and looked a lot more like the player who emerged at Syracuse.
Tampa Bay changed its ground game to incorporate more zone blocking. This style of running is a great fit for Tucker.
Rachaad White is dealing with a groin injury and is listed as questionable as of Thursday night. If this eventually keeps White out of the lineup, Buck Irving won't earn all of the touches. Tucker could make a useful desperation starter as a flex if White is a late-week scratch.
Recommendation: Monitor White's status on Friday and Saturday. If you see him earn a status of doubtful or game-time decision, add Tucker.
Final Thought
Good luck!