Fantasy football waiver wire after Week 1: Hello, Isaiah Likely and Greg Dortch
charles curtis
·2 min read
Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880871 ORIG FILE ID: 20240905_dam_sm8_178.jpg
Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season is over.
And if you play fantasy football, you’re already planning ahead with waivers after a busy slate of games.
That’s what we’re here for, a roundup of some of the players you could be targeting ahead of Week 2.
Some of the names below might be taken already, but if not, there are a bunch of dudes who could change your fantasy fortunes this season. Let’s run through them, in no particular order, and we've updated this after the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets played on Monday Night Football.
1. TE Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens
Sep 5, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (80) scores a touchdown against Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880871 ORIG FILE ID: 20240905_jdb__072.JPG
Sep 8, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880874 ORIG FILE ID: 20240908_lbm_fb5_444.JPG
Deep breaths, those who have Marvin Harrison Jr. on their teams. Better days are ahead. But Kyler Murray has chemistry with Dortch, who caught 6-of-8 passes for 47 yards.
3. WR Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Sep 8, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) pulls in a pass while being guarded by a Houston Texans defender Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880877 ORIG FILE ID: 090824_ColtsTexans_MSG_0098.JPG
That Anthony Richardson throw to Pierce for a wild TD was sick. And while Pierce saw just three targets, there's some potential here to grab from the wire.
4. RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) hangs on to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) as he passes the ball to Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) who tipped the pass for an interception during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Travis Etienne Jr. had a fine day, but Bigsby is going to get more consistent work. He had 12 carries, which tells me the Jags are trying to lighten Etienne's workload a bit, which is smart.
5. RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
Sep 8, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman (32) and linebacker Daiyan Henley (0) stop Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) after a short gain in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880881 ORIG FILE ID: 20240908_jko_aj4_055.JPG
We've been here before, albeit on a different team. But Mattison caught a touchdown passes and saw six targets and five carries. That's enough to put him on the radar.
6. RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Sep 8, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) catches a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the third quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880882 ORIG FILE ID: 20240908_jmn_sn8_054.JPG
Kenneth Walker is really good, but we've seen injuries pop up. Charbonnet scored on Sunday, so he may get more work. Point is, it's a good idea to roster him.
7. QB Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) looks to pass against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880873 ORIG FILE ID: 20240908_dwz_sz2_00056.JPG
It wasn't the best of days for the former Bears QB, but I wonder how much Russell Wilson will play. Fields can be good in fantasy, so in deep leagues and superflex, he's worth rostering.
8. WR Allen Lazard, New York Jets
Oct 1, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (10) makes a catch as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) defends during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
He caught two touchdowns on Monday from his pal Aaron Rodgers. Hmmm.
The big-name rookie receivers of the 2024 NFL Draft showed out in a big way in Week 2. Fantasy football analyst Tera Roberts analyzes their performances.
Christian and Alexis react to the USMNT’s debut win under Mauricio Pochettino. Then, the guys react to England’s recent links to Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola. Later, Christian and Alexis discuss the end of Orlando’s unbeaten season.
Vincent Goodwill is joined by James Edwards III, who writes for The Athletic about the New York Knicks and who previously worked the Detroit Pistons beat. The guys talk Knicks, Pistons, NBA Hall of Fame and Seattle's basketball future.
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 7's loss to Tennessee and will miss the remainder of the season, ending his college career.
![San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) hangs on to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) as he passes the ball to Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) who tipped the pass for an interception during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/4WeqCWOuYET7RW3w9CtL.w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0NA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ftw_outdoors_usa_today_article_609/66c92d0a7f0cefe3ecbab5ab3476e33e)
