Did your wide receivers survive Week 2? Congratulations, you’re one of the lucky ones. Nearly everyone else will be scrambling for options after major injuries to key players. Fortunately, there are some appealing guys on the waiver wire who could help you out for a week or two while you wait for A.J. Green to come back, along with some buy-low options that could pay off later in the season.
Fantasy football waiver wire: 6 wide receivers to target for Week 3
Injuries were the dominant theme of Week 2. Here are some wide receivers who could help you out on the waiver wire.
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Here are six wide receivers owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues who might be worth a look.
Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns (32 percent)
Josh Gordon is still in limbo, with recent reports saying that his suspension will last 10 games. That leaves Hawkins as one of Cleveland's top receivers left, and he's acquitting himself well so far. Through two games, Hawkins has 14 catches for 157 yards, seeing 22 targets from Brian Hoyer. He played a big part in Sunday's upset win over the New Orleans Saints, catching a 28-yard pass in the final seconds to set up a game-winning field goal.
Hawkins will never be a yardage monster, but he sees plenty of looks running high-percentage slot routes and is shifty in the open field. That's enough to put him on the PPR map, especially if Jordan Cameron is forced to miss more time.
James Jones, Oakland Raiders (21 percent)
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The Raiders are in early-season turmoil and their head coach is reportedly on the hot seat. It’s going to be another long season, but Jones is looking like a bright spot. People will remember his two fumbles on one play that is destined to be a Football Follies mainstay, but Jones had a solid day in the box score, securing nine passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
Jones now has two scores in two games and appears to have the trust of rookie quarterback Derek Carr. With Rod Streater suffering a hip flexor injury, look for Jones to continue racking up the targets. He's one of the few Raiders worth a roster spot.
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Aaron Dobson, New England Patriots (19 percent)
Dobson is slowly but surely rounding back into health. After missing most of the offseason and training camp with foot surgery, he made his season debut in Week 2. Dobson saw just two targets and New England mostly shelved the passing game while nursing a big lead, but he played on 31 of 67 snaps, suggesting that he's close to 100 percent. With Brandon LaFell and Kenbrell Thompkins both flopping, Dobson should be the clear No. 2 receiver behind Julian Edelman. Look for his role to expand.
John Brown, Arizona Cardinals (9 percent)
The Cardinals couldn’t stop raving about Brown in training camp, and he had a promising debut in Week 1, catching the game-winning touchdown. Things are a bit more murky now with Carson Palmer’s shoulder injury, but Brown played 36 of 69 snaps in Week 2 and seems to have the slot role locked down. We probably won’t know his true upside until Palmer returns, but Brown is free in way too many leagues to not be at least a speculative add.
Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals (9 percent)
A.J. Green is expected to miss at least one game and Marvin Jones is still out, leaving Sanu atop the depth chart against the Tennessee Titans. He got lost in the shuffle last year but played a big part after Green went down in Week 2, recording 84 yards and a touchdown on three catches. Sanu also got to show off his versatility, throwing a 50-yard pass. He will have WR3 upside in 12- and 14-team leagues.
Stedman Bailey, St. Louis Rams (less than 1 percent)
This one is by far the biggest long shot, but it’s worth exploring. Bailey is currently serving a four-game suspension, but could be immediately reinstated once the NFL finalizes a new drug policy. Bailey had a quiet rookie year in 2013, but the Rams were expected to expand his role. Some draft scouts considered Bailey a better pure receiver prospect than his West Virginia teammate Tavon Austin. With Austin showing next to nothing at the NFL level, Bailey has a real chance to claim the slot position. The Rams are in desperate need of reliable pass catchers.
Of course, the Rams’ quarterback position is a tire fire, so I’m not telling you to rush out and grab Bailey right this second. He’s just someone to keep an eye on for now and has stash appeal in deep dynasty leagues.
