Week 1 in the NFL and Week 1 in fantasy football are not the same.
In the NFL, being slow out of the gate can be disappointing. However, you can overcome it with steady play down the road. After all, 17 weeks and 16 games remain. That's a luxury fantasy football players don't have, so panic sets in sooner because the entire season has to be completed in one NFL regular season.
Whether you felt good coming out of the draft or not, a Week 1 loss is demoralizing. All that research, time and effort to only come up short.
That can be especially hard to deal with after the league tied for the highest-scoring opening week in the Super
Bowl era, meaning the points were in excess on the field and in fantasy. Luckily for us, that also means there is no shortage of players to find on waivers.
Here are 10 players worth adding ahead of Week 2.
Fantasy football quarterbacks to add for Week 2
(Roster percentages via Yahoo. Check waivers in your league for availability.)
QB Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins (39% rostered)
The Dolphins are bad, but in a good way for fantasy purposes. Willis proved that much in Week 1, scampering in for a rushing touchdown and adding 39 yards on the ground. He did throw an interception, but Willis' legs and the trailing game script make him a viable fantasy option most weeks.
QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (41%)
Like Willis, Shough faced a game script that played favorably into the Saints hands in Week 1. He totaled 410 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against the Lions, nearly pulling off the comeback victory for New Orleans. He may not have the rushing upside, but Shough makes up for that with his arm.
Other fantasy football players to add for Week 2
RB Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals (51%)
Allgeier is rostered at 51% on Yahoo, meaning he isn't available in most leagues. However, that number should be much higher. The former Falcon registered 17 carries in the opener, three of them coming in the red zone. That might not seem like a lot, but it's the same amount that Jeremiyah Love had. Allgeier has been an effective back in the past and is known as a touchdown vulture. At worst, he's a great handcuff to Love. At best, he could be a flex option that moves up the rankings if the rookie gets hurt.
RB Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (27%)
Christian McCaffrey was healthy and didn't lead the Niners in carries in Week 1. That honor would belong to Black, who finished his debut with 14 carries for San Francisco. The Indiana product could have a bigger role than anyone thought heading into the season. The McCaffrey workload concerns were well-documented this offseason and having a capable rookie take some of the burden off the veteran would be a wise move for Kyle Shanahan. If McCaffrey does suffer an injury, Black is one of the best handcuffs available and should be rostered in every league.
WR Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers (62%)
Fantasy's WR1 is on the waiver wire in 38% of leagues. That shouldn't be the case. Coker followed up a dominant playoff performance with an almost identical encore in Week 1. Don't overthink it and make sure he is rostered.
WR Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints (9%)
Someone had to step up with Jordyn Tyson being injured. Turns out, that person was Vele. He totaled seven catches (nine targets), 69 yards and a touchdown against the Lions, finishing only behind Chris Olave in the pecking order. Vele isn't just a must-add for now. His value could skyrocket if Olave finds himself on the sideline again.
WR Kalif Raymond, Chicago Bears (1%)
Ben Johnson wants to have the highest-scoring offense in NFL history. That made Raymond a fantasy weapon in Week 1, collecting 8-of-9 targets for 89 yards. He didn't score a touchdown, but he was an early beneficiary of a bigger role without DJ Moore in the receiving room. Whether it lasts or not, Raymond is certainly a player to stash in an offense that expects to light up the scoreboard. And you can never have too many shares in that situation.
TE Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (2%)
Five catches. 78 yards. One touchdown. It's safe to say no one imagined that from the Bengals tight end, especially given Ja'Marr Chase's lack of involvement. Gesicki profiles as a more touchdown-dependent fantasy weapon right now; however, we'd be willing to invest just in case he becomes something more.
TE Evan Engram, Denver Broncos (2%)
Sean Payton said that Engram would be a key for the Broncos. He didn't lie. In Week 1, the tight end hauled in four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown – already matching his touchdown number for both 2024 and 2025. We didn't learn a lot about the Broncos in the opener, but we did learn that Engram will be a factor. He's worth the add.
TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (6%)
Mike McCarthy hasn't been shy about involving tight ends in his offense, especially during his days with the Cowboys. Dalton Schultz and Jake Ferguson were two consistent fantasy weapons during his tenure in Dallas, so why can't Freiermuth be the same in Pittsburgh? This won't be a high-scoring Pittsburgh offense, but Freiermuth is likely to be the leader at the position. That means there are more touchdowns to come for the veteran.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 2
