If you owned a time machine, wouldn’t you go back to Thursday morning and start Chiefs QB Alex Smith in your lineup? Of course, then you’d go play some lottery winners and maybe eat that roast beef in your fridge that went bad this morning. But first – you’d help your Fantasy team!
That’s what this article is – it’s a look into the future to find some players that we will have wanted on our teams before the weekend started! Wouldn’t you like to pick up a player off free agency before he blows up and becomes the No. 1 waiver pickup!?! Of course!
Despite the offensive dominance of Thursday night’s Chiefs-Patriots game, remember that defenses are usually ahead of offenses early in the NFL season. It’s easier to stop execution than it is to execute.
5 Fantasy Football Players We’ll Want Off Week 2 Waivers
We’ll only be listing players that are still available in at least 70 percent of CBS Sports leagues before Week 2’s games. But we won’t be including the teams from Thursday night’s game, since they are not addable in most league services.
DeAndre Washington, RB, Oakland – Owned in 27% of Leagues
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This is the type of bet you want to lay down in the early weeks if you have roster space. The Raiders arguably have the best offensive line in the NFL, and they brought back and old man from retirement to start at tailback in Marshawn Lynch. If Lynch gets injured (which happened regularly in his previous season), the Raiders will go with Jalen Richard and Washington. The latter of which is stellar in the passing game and elusive in open space. Grab at least one of those second-year players if you have room! (Why do you still own Dion Lewis?)
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Tony Avelar
Shane Vereen, RB, N.Y. Giants – Owned in 20% of Leagues
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The Giants already noted that Vereen will be their featured pass-catching back on third downs, and with Paul Perkins as the starting tailback, Vereen could be called on a lot for long downs. The Giants offensive line is still shaky, which prompted head coach/offensive brain Ben McAdoo to work in a passing game that will get the ball out of Eli Manning’s hands quicker than usual. That spells good things for Vereen and other short-route runners.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Winslow Townson
Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins – Owned in 23% of Leagues
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Yes, he has been battling hamstring issues, but he’s healthy now, and the Redskins lost their top two wide receivers last year – not to mention their offensive coordinator. Doctson will have to battle for targets, but Terrelle Pryor is someone I expect to bust in 2017, and TE Jordan Reed gets injured more than a crash-test dummy, Doctson had a bust freshman year, but between him and Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell, I expect some sophomore WR success.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Vance McDonald, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers – Owned in 13% of Leagues
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Fantasy tight ends seem to be a dime a dozen, but McDonald could make the position even deeper, now that he’s in Pittsburgh, where Ben Roethlisberger has grown to love throwing to now-retired Heath Miller for years. McDonald came over from San Francisco, and he’ll face a Browns defense that allowed the second-most points to tight ends last season.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams – Owned in 27% of Leagues
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Truth be known, I moved this one to the back of the pack, just because I’m so ashamed!
Scoff at Goff, go ahead! And to be honest, I scoff a little, too, but I have to pick a quarterback for this exercise, and he’s my pick to have a better Week 1 than both DeShaun Watson and DeShone Kizer. Goff has an innovative offensive mind as his head coach now, in Sean McVay, and the Rams made a move to bring in a star caliber WR in Sammy Watkins. I don’t expect Goff to start putting up Kirk Cousins Fantasy numbers, but I can see him start to post regular 240-yard passing games with a couple touchdowns. He might not be a top-12 Fantasy QB this season, but when bye weeks hit, he’ll have some start opportunities in leagues.
DeAndre Washington, RB, Oakland – Owned in 27% of Leagues
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
This is the type of bet you want to lay down in the early weeks if you have roster space. The Raiders arguably have the best offensive line in the NFL, and they brought back and old man from retirement to start at tailback in Marshawn Lynch. If Lynch gets injured (which happened regularly in his previous season), the Raiders will go with Jalen Richard and Washington. The latter of which is stellar in the passing game and elusive in open space. Grab at least one of those second-year players if you have room! (Why do you still own Dion Lewis?)
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Tony Avelar
2/5
Shane Vereen, RB, N.Y. Giants – Owned in 20% of Leagues
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
The Giants already noted that Vereen will be their featured pass-catching back on third downs, and with Paul Perkins as the starting tailback, Vereen could be called on a lot for long downs. The Giants offensive line is still shaky, which prompted head coach/offensive brain Ben McAdoo to work in a passing game that will get the ball out of Eli Manning’s hands quicker than usual. That spells good things for Vereen and other short-route runners.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Winslow Townson
3/5
Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins – Owned in 23% of Leagues
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Yes, he has been battling hamstring issues, but he’s healthy now, and the Redskins lost their top two wide receivers last year – not to mention their offensive coordinator. Doctson will have to battle for targets, but Terrelle Pryor is someone I expect to bust in 2017, and TE Jordan Reed gets injured more than a crash-test dummy, Doctson had a bust freshman year, but between him and Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell, I expect some sophomore WR success.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
4/5
Vance McDonald, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers – Owned in 13% of Leagues
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Fantasy tight ends seem to be a dime a dozen, but McDonald could make the position even deeper, now that he’s in Pittsburgh, where Ben Roethlisberger has grown to love throwing to now-retired Heath Miller for years. McDonald came over from San Francisco, and he’ll face a Browns defense that allowed the second-most points to tight ends last season.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
5/5
Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams – Owned in 27% of Leagues
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Truth be known, I moved this one to the back of the pack, just because I’m so ashamed!
Scoff at Goff, go ahead! And to be honest, I scoff a little, too, but I have to pick a quarterback for this exercise, and he’s my pick to have a better Week 1 than both DeShaun Watson and DeShone Kizer. Goff has an innovative offensive mind as his head coach now, in Sean McVay, and the Rams made a move to bring in a star caliber WR in Sammy Watkins. I don’t expect Goff to start putting up Kirk Cousins Fantasy numbers, but I can see him start to post regular 240-yard passing games with a couple touchdowns. He might not be a top-12 Fantasy QB this season, but when bye weeks hit, he’ll have some start opportunities in leagues.
