Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 2
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) So Week 1 has come and gone, leaving many of us battered and bruised in fantasy football. Andre Ellington, Dez Bryant and DeSean Jackson will be missing time, and more are dinged up like T.Y. Hilton. It's early to have to deal with a significant injury, but you either have depth from good drafting or you're playing the waiver wire scouring for help.
Fortunately in Week 1, so many players performed well who we weren't expecting, you have opportunity to find depth rather quickly. Week 1 was the week of the tight end when it comes to scoring, so there should be no surprise that I have two tight ends on my list. Could this be the season there is finally depth and production at the position?
Here are my top 10 Week 1 waiver adds for 10- and 12-team leagues.
1. Tyler Eifert (TE, Cincinnati Bengals, 41% available in CBS leagues) -- This dude is a beast. Many of us forgot how good Eifert was while at Notre Dame. We may also have forgot he was the 21st pick in the 2013 draft. If it weren't for battling injuries his first two years, Eifert would already be a household name. This guy is going to dominate the middle of the field, and he adds another dimension to the Bengals offense. Eifert made Andy Dalton look good in Week 1, grabbing nine balls for 104 yards and two scores. He has the talent to join Travis Kelce in challenging for the second-best tight end behind Rob Gronkowski.
2. Danny Woodhead (RB, San Diego Chargers, 41%) -- Woodhead is a point-per-reception maven, but if he continues to dominate the red zone touches like he did Sunday (he had eight to Melvin Gordon's zero), he's going to be very productive in that high-powered offense. Woodhead is a do-it-all type of player, much in the way Darren Sproles is for the Eagles. Expect 10 to 12 touches per game, including multiple receptions and always the potential to pop.
3. James Jones (WR, Green Bay Packers, 63%) -- Davante Adams was made into the next coming for Week 1. Instead, it was Jones who played like he never left the Packers, pulling down four receptions for 51 yards and two trips to pay dirt. He would've had a third touchdown if it weren't for a holding call that brought it back. Aaron Rodgers is missing his best red-zone target in Jordy Nelson, but it looks like he may have found a replacement. Ride this train while it lasts. Randall Cobb is less than 100 percent, and Jones has Rodgers' trust.
4. Dion Lewis (RB, New England Patriots, 93%) -- A lot of talk through the offseason surrounding the Patriots was who would take Shane Vereen's role? This past Thursday, we found out Lewis would be filling that spot. Even with LeGarrette Blount coming back from suspension, Lewis will have his opportunities weekly. The bigger issue with the Patriots backfield is figuring out who is going to pop and in which particular game. Lewis is worth adding, as he showed well in Thursday's opener, totaling 120 yards on 19 touches. He's part of a high-octane offense that we all want a piece of.
5. Ronnie Hillman (RB, Denver Broncos, 40%) -- Hillman has looked like the best back the Broncos have through the preseason and opener. He averaged more than seven yards per carry in the preseason and looked explosive. Sunday wasn't any different. While CJ Anderson received more snaps than Hillman, he struggled to manage as many yards (29) as Hillman did (42) on 12 carries. Anderson also came away from the game with a sprained toe. At any moment, the keys to Gary Kubiak's rush offense may only be Hillman's. Peyton Manning's going to need to start connecting on some downfield throws, though, if anyone is going to have continued success running the football.
6. Stevie Johnson (WR, San Diego Chargers, 60%) -- Johnson is a former 1,000-yard receiver in the NFL. He has struggled the last few years because of quarterback play. Now with the Chargers, he has the best quarterback he's ever played with. His unorthodox route running blends right in with Philip Rivers' unorthodox release. Johnson caught all six of his targets Sunday en route to 82 yards and a score. San Diego was throwing the ball all over the place, as Rivers ended up with 404 passing yards. They're going to move the ball, Keenan Allen, Johnson and Woodhead are at the forefront of that movement.
7. Jordan Reed (TE, Washington Redskins, 65%) -- Much has been made of Reed's health, but one thing is for certain: He's a top-five tight end in terms of raw athleticism. He led the team with 11 targets, snagging seven of them for 63 yards and the lone Redskins touchdown Sunday. He's a huge part of the offense as is, and now Jackson is out three to four weeks with a hamstring injury.
8. David Johnson (RB, Arizona Cardinals, 60%) -- Johnson is a metric freak. His athleticism is second-to-none at his size. He's big, fast and can score from anywhere. Just check out his game-clinching 55-yard touchdown reception where he turned on the jets. He may not be the starter just yet, but he has the type of skill set impossible to keep off the field. He's going to work himself into a bigger role. Be prepared to pounce.
9. Chris Johnson (RB, Arizona Cardinals, 81%) -- Andre Ellington looked to be back in 2013 form but unfortunately left with a knee injury Sunday. Coach Bruce Arians stated Chris Johnson would be their "lead dog" while David Johnson backs him up. He carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards, not a great stat line, but the volume is there on a good offense. The Cardinals get the Bears next week, and they're early 2.5-point favorites.
10. Tyler Lockett (WR/PR, Seattle Seahawks, 80%) -- If your league scores for return touchdowns and/or yardage, Lockett becomes a higher priority add. He dominated the preseason with two return scores and didn't disappoint in Week 1 either. Lockett took his first punt return 57 yards to the house. He was also a viable piece to the offense, catching four of four targets for 34 yards. He's an explosive talent, and I would expect his role to grow.
Just missed: Tyrod Taylor, Marcus Mariota, Karlos Williams, DeAngelo Williams, Lance Dunbar, Christine Michael, Danny Amendola, Allen Hurns, Cole Beasley, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Ladarius Green.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.