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Isaiah Likely, Jaleel McLaughlin and Brandin Cooks highlight the top waiver wire targets entering Week 2.
Welcome to the Week 2 waiver wire watch!
The 2024-25 NFL season is finally underway and we already have plenty of actionable info from four straight days of action. Consider making a waiver wire claim in your fantasy football leagues for the following players (available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues).
Mayfield had an impressive first game without former offensive coordinator Dave Canales. After enjoying a career-best season in 2023, Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns on Sunday. He ranks first in passer rating and second in fantasy points among all quarterbacks after one game. The Week 1 competition for Mayfield was weak, but after torching the Washington Commanders, he has favorable matchups against the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles in Weeks 2-4.
McLaughlin was inefficient on Sunday with 10 carries for 27 yards and a fumble plus 5 receptions for 1 yard. That said, he earned the most touches in Denver’s backfield, and that’s always notable in a Sean Payton offense. The Broncos have tough upcoming matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets, but it may be wise to add McLaughlin now before his workload grows further.
If none of your league mates added Mason before Monday night, when Niners starter Christian McCaffrey was ruled out last-minute with a calf injury, he should be near the top of the list in waiver priority. Mason made the most of his opportunity with 28 carries for 147 yards and 1 touchdown against a stout New York Jets front. He may not offer much value once McCaffrey returns to the lineup, but Mason has proven himself as one of the best handcuffs in fantasy whether you also roster McCaffrey or not.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After Rachaad White finished last season second behind only McCaffrey in touches, Tampa Bay invested in another running back by drafting Irving 125th overall in April. The former Oregon Duck shined in the preseason and had an impressive NFL debut, tallying 9 carries for 62 yards (6.9 yards per carry) plus 2 catches for 14 yards. White remains the Bucs’ starter but Irving could earn a notable backfield role sooner than later.
The only wide receivers with more yards after catch per reception than Shakir last year were Deebo Samuel and Rashee Rice. Shakir’s contact balance showed up again on Sunday on an 11-yard touchdown catch as he continues to make a case for more targets in Buffalo’s prolific offense. Due to his 190-pound frame and the Bills’ wish to spread the ball, Shakir may not become a league winner, but good players on good teams tend to have a high floor.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old Cooks proved that his game is aging gracefully after notching 4 catches for 40 yards and a score on 7 targets in Week 1. While CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned alpha in Dallas, and Cooks has only surpassed 60 yards once since the beginning of last season, it’s hard to ignore an everydown player with vertical speed on a top-five offense.
In the last two seasons, Nailor led all qualifying receivers in “average separation score” per Fantasy Points. His talent shined in Week 1 of this year on a 21-yard touchdown catch, and the 2022 sixth-rounder has more opportunity for playing time in Kevin O’Connell’s offense after injuries to T.J. Hockenson (knee) and Jordan Addison (ankle). “I’m going to tell Speedy [Nailor] to prepare as if you’re going to be playing a lot more snaps and a lot more first-, second- and early-down snaps,” O’Connell said Monday. “That’s why he’s here. A ton of confidence in him to go be an every-down receiver for us.”
Baltimore’s third-year tight end likely (pun intended) had one of the best performances of any skill player in the NFL’s opening weekend. Though his foot was barely out of bounds on what would’ve been the game-winning catch Thursday night, Likely had a career game with personal bests in receptions (9) and receiving yards (111), plus a touchdown. He still ran fewer routes than Mark Andrews, who despite a quiet Week 1 performance will still be a focal point of Baltimore’s offense. But as Thursday showed, Likely’s talent is too good to keep off the field. Very few tight ends have his ceiling.
After signing a three-year, $22.5 million contract ($15.5 million guaranteed) this offseason, Parkinson caught 4 of 5 targets for 47 yards in his first game as a Ram on Sunday night. He ranked 23rd in target rate but eighth in route rate among all tight ends entering Monday night, according to Fantasy Life. Parkinson’s Week 1 usage lines up with his new deal; the fourth-year tight end will be a near-every down player for one of the best offenses in the league. You could do worse than target that profile if you’re desperate for production at the position.
