Fantasy Football 2025 Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickup Advice
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.
Immediately Useful
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR, Chiefs (25% Rostered): Can’t say you weren’t told! Brown was the most targeted Chief on Friday night in Brazil vs. the Chargers, earning 16 targets and turning in a 10-catch, 99-yard performance. Of course, Brown’s usage was aided by Xavier Worthy getting KO’d from the game early with a dislocated shoulder, but Brown is not only able to serve in the slot where Worthy was set to operate, but also on the outside threatening defenses over the top. He did a little bit of everything, with seven of his catches going for seven yards or fewer, and one late in the fourth quarter that went for 49 yards. Worthy’s injury looks like it’ll force him to miss time, and we know Rashee Rice is set to miss five more games. TE Travis Kelce is no longer a player who can be counted on to be peppered week after week with targets and absorb punishment, so Brown is about to be he focal point of this passing game.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Browns (25% Rostered): Cleveland’s offense was no great shakes vs. the Bengals in a Week 1 loss, but Tillman caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown while playing 88.2% of the snaps. The Browns offense isn’t going to be high scoring, but every NFL offense has players produce, and Tillman is locked in with Jerry Jeudy atop the WR depth chart. In Tillman’s brief time when he was both healthy and playing with Jameis Winston at QB last season he put up big numbers. This performance wasn’t quite that, but he looks very much like a stable presence and a useful depth option for fantasy managers.
Dylan Sampson, RB, Browns (46% Rostered): Sampson led the Browns in carries (12), and while he only racked up 29 yards on the ground, he contributed eight receptions for 64 yards as a receiver out of the backfield. That’s not likely sustainable, but it’s worth noting how much more effective he was than Jerome Ford. Whenever fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins is available to play, he’s the player you’ll want from this group, but until then Sampson appears to be a good bet for decent volume. He, like Tillman, can serve as quality depth with an assured role in the early going.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons (32% Rostered): Penix Jr. threw for nearly 300 yards in Week 1 with a touchdown, and he actually showed some wheels in this one, picking up 21 yards and a rushing touchdown on six attempts. Don’t get used to that production on the ground, but it’s nice to know it’s there. With upcoming games against the Vikings, who can force a pass-happy game script, and the Panthers, who shouldn’t be a tough defensive test, Penix can be a short term option for those who waited on QB in drafts and weren’t happy with who they ended up with.
Speculative/Deep Cuts
Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals (39% Rostered): Benson was in the handcuff grouping last week, but after earning eight carries and turning them into 69 yards, he showed that he might be more involved than he’s been previously. James Conner is still their established lead back and bell cow, but Benson is immensely talented and he can put up fantasy relevant numbers even in a limited role as long as it’s consistent. Benson’s not ready to be placed into lineups just yet, but he’s worth rostering now even by managers who don’t have Conner.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Steelers (14% Rostered): In this game, being stubborn can cause you to miss out on major opportunities. I wasn’t a believe in the Rodgers and Steelers pairing, and I continue to have doubts, but we cannot ignore a four-touchdown performance vs. a talented Jets defense. This level of efficiency is unlikely to continue for Rodgers, but the Steelers deployed D.K. Metcalf in ways that got him in space, they kept the Jets off balance with the RB tandem of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, and they made good use of their TEs. Rodgers still looked like he had concrete feet, and his elusiveness in the pocket was completely non-existent. These are reasons he remains a speculative add. But he’s also as seasoned as it gets, capable of getting rid of the ball quickly, and still accurate.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Steelers (15% Rostered): Speaking of Rodgers, Jonnu Smith is with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith on the third different team. The Steelers, devoid of reliable receivers behind Metcalf, are going to make their TEs a key part of the game plan and Smith saw five targets. He only turned them into 15 yards this time, but he did find the end zone. Smith was a very reliable, high-floor TE last season and this role points to him remaining that in 2025.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers (9% Rostered): Johnston put up five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns, continuing a trend from last season of having a nose for the end zone. He’s a third option in L.A. now, but he was on the field for 81.9% of the Chargers’ snaps, and he’s got an elite QB running the offense. Johnston has lots of weaknesses, but he’s also big and fast and dangerous in space. I am in no rush to put him in a lineup, but he can definitely have spike weeks as a desperation FLEX.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Browns (2% Rostered): Fannin Jr. received a ton of offseason hype here, and he rewarded it with seven catches and 63 yards in Week 1 for the Browns. The rookie TE is a total mismatch, and his college stats, while against questionable competition, where nonetheless completely absurd. He was on the field for more than 70% of the snaps in Week 1 and was frequently open and presenting a big target for Joe Flacco. He should continue to be heavily featured, and if he has another strong week he’s going to be costly on waivers. I’d strike now.
Juju Smith-Schuster, WR, Chiefs (1% Rostered): You’re laughing. That’s okay. I realize Smith-Schuster is not a player anyone believes is good anymore, but he can run slants out of the slot. With Worthy on the shelf, and nothing of note on the outside, Juju is going to spend time in the slot when Brown moves outside, and he can get open. He put up 55 yards on five catches vs. the Chargers. He caught every target, and was on the field for 80.3% of snaps. He’s about to be involved.
Juwan Johnson, TE, Saints (1% Rostered): Like the Browns, the Saints are an offense nobody is expecting much from. That doesn’t mean there isn’t value on that team. Johnson put up eight receptions and 76 yards in Week 1, but more importantly, he was on the field for 98.7% of New Orleans’ snaps. This is a player who, in the past, has shown himself to be a major red zone and goal line option in the passing game. He’s now on a team whose top two WRs are on the smaller side, and their “offensive weapon” Taysom Hill recovering from massive knee injuries. He’s a big old chain mover whom they can throw it up to when they get close. At a position with extreme volatility, having a player who is on the field for nearly every snap, and whose competition at the position in house has been pared down, can return value.
IR Stashes
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (34% Rostered)
Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers (10% Rostered)
Handcuffs
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Dolphins (42% Rostered)
Ray Davis, RB, Bills (33% Rostered)
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons (32% Rostered)
Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers (20% Rostered)
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears (5% Rostered)