The first full Sunday of the 2026 NFL season created plenty of new fantasy football waiver-wire targets.
Some players produced massive Week 1 numbers that may be difficult to repeat, while others stepped into larger roles that could become valuable for the rest of the season. The key for fantasy managers is separating one-week production from opportunities that are likely to stick.
The best waiver-wire strategy is simple: don’t chase the box score. Chase the opportunity.
Here are the top fantasy football Week 2 waiver-wire pickups to target before your league processes its claims.
Jalen Coker should be one of the most popular waiver-wire targets after Week 1.
Coker caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns against the Chicago Bears while seeing nine targets. He led Carolina in every major receiving category, showing that his connection with quarterback Bryce Young could become a legitimate part of the Panthers’ offense.
The production was especially encouraging because Coker was not simply a touchdown-dependent player. He consistently found opportunities in the passing game and made explosive plays, including a 51-yard touchdown reception.
The obvious concern is whether Carolina can maintain enough passing volume to support two highly productive receivers every week. Tetairoa McMillan remains an important part of the offense, but Coker’s target volume makes him more than a one-week flier.
Recommended FAAB: 20-30%
Tyler Shough deserves considerably more attention after his Week 1 performance.
The Saints quarterback threw for a career-high 410 yards and three touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. He also helped New Orleans erase a 21-point deficit and force overtime before the Saints ultimately lost 31-30.
The fantasy appeal is obvious. Shough showed enough arm talent and willingness to push the ball downfield to create big fantasy numbers, especially in an offense featuring Chris Olave.
Shough also benefited from game script, so fantasy managers should not expect another 400-yard performance every week. Still, quarterbacks who can produce through volume and explosive passing plays are valuable waiver-wire options.
Recommended FAAB: 8-15%
Shough is especially interesting in superflex leagues, but he can also be a useful streaming option in standard leagues.
Isaiah Likely may be the most attractive tight end addition of the week.
In his Giants debut, Likely caught all eight of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns against Dallas. More importantly, he immediately became one of quarterback Jaxson Dart’s most trusted targets.
The Giants did not simply manufacture two touchdowns for Likely and then forget about him. He was involved throughout the game and consistently gave Dart a reliable option in the passing game.
That chemistry could be extremely valuable for fantasy managers because reliable target volume is often more important at tight end than raw athletic upside.
Recommended FAAB: 15-25%
Likely should be one of the highest-priority tight ends on the waiver wire and could quickly become a weekly starter if his target volume continues.
Carson Wentz became fantasy relevant because of an injury, but his performance was impressive enough to warrant attention.
Wentz replaced Kyler Murray after Murray suffered a concussion against the Green Bay Packers. He responded by completing 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns while helping Minnesota rally from a 22-10 deficit to win 39-22.
The situation is completely dependent on Murray’s health. If Murray clears the concussion protocol, Wentz immediately becomes much less interesting in traditional leagues.
If Murray misses Week 2, however, Wentz could become a legitimate streaming option, especially with Justin Jefferson and a talented supporting cast around him.
Recommended FAAB: 5-10%
Wentz is more valuable in superflex leagues, but managers in quarterback-needy leagues should monitor the injury report closely.
Kyle Monangai is another player worth adding, although fantasy managers should keep expectations under control.
Monangai rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown against Carolina on just 10 carries, including a spectacular 61-yard scoring run. He showed the explosiveness needed to make an impact even without a massive workload.
The problem is that D’Andre Swift remains the primary running back. Swift also rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, meaning Monangai is not suddenly the unquestioned lead back.
Still, explosive backups can become extremely valuable if their workload grows or the starter misses time.
Recommended FAAB: 8-15%
Monangai is better viewed as an upside stash than an automatic Week 2 starter.
Not every big Week 1 performance deserves a massive waiver claim.
Fantasy managers should be especially careful with players whose production came from one explosive play, unusually high passing volume or an extreme touchdown rate.
Kyle Monangai is a good example.
The 100 rushing yards and touchdown are exciting, but 61 of those yards came on one play. D’Andre Swift also maintained a larger workload, which means managers should not spend as if Monangai has already taken over Chicago’s backfield.
The same principle applies to receivers who suddenly receive nine or 10 targets in unusually high-scoring games.
Opportunity is more important than one box score.
Here is the priority order for this week’s top targets:
FAAB recommendations should always be adjusted based on league size, scoring format, roster depth and remaining budget.
Managers in deeper leagues should also consider players such as Kaelon Black, Caleb Douglas, Antonio Williams and Michael Mayer, who are among the other notable Week 2 waiver options.
The biggest mistake fantasy managers can make after the opening week is chasing points instead of roles.
Jalen Coker’s eight catches matter because they came with nine targets. Isaiah Likely’s eight receptions matter because he immediately became a trusted part of the Giants’ passing attack. Tyler Shough’s 410 passing yards matter because New Orleans gave him enough volume to create fantasy production even while playing from behind.
Monangai’s 100 rushing yards are exciting, but the workload needs to grow before he can be treated like a starting fantasy running back.
That distinction separates smart waiver-wire moves from emotional ones.
The goal is not to find the player who scored the most fantasy points on Sunday.
The goal is to find the player whose opportunity is about to become more valuable.
Week 1 always creates overreactions.
Some players will disappear after one big performance, while others will become permanent parts of fantasy lineups. The best waiver-wire managers are the ones who can identify the difference before the rest of the league catches up.
Jalen Coker is the clearest receiver target, Isaiah Likely has the chance to become a major tight end addition, and Tyler Shough deserves attention after showing legitimate passing upside in New Orleans.
Do not spend your entire FAAB budget simply because someone scored twice.
Look at the targets, touches, routes, injuries and offensive role.
That is where the real Week 2 fantasy value is hiding.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
