It didn't take long for the NFL to remind us how frustrating fantasy football can be at times.
Week 1 saw numerous fantasy starters go down with injuries, varying from minor to season-ending.
The official prognosis for a lot of these players is still unknown. What originally looked like a serious injury suffered by Aaron Rodgers wound up being less severe than it appeared, as Rodgers returned to the field in the second half to lead Green Bay to a miraculous comeback victory over the Bears.
However, one veteran has already received the worst possible news on his injury. Titans tight end Delanie Walker was placed on injured resereve and is likely out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle and ligament damage.
While we may not have the official diagnosis yet for some of our fantasy stars, it would still be wise to turn to the waiver wire to add an insurance player or two. With that said, here are some top waiver wire targets for Week 2.
QB Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland Browns: Taylor didn't put up good passing numbers Sunday, totaling 197 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the Browns' season-opening tie against the Steelers. However, he reminded us why he can be a reliable fantasy quarterback, and this is because of his rushing ability. The veteran QB added 77 yards and a touchdown on the ground, which helped boost his numbers up over 24 fantasy points. A Week 2 matchup against the Saints could turn into a shootout, as we saw in New Orleans' opening game against the Buccaneers. If you're looking for a QB streamer, Taylor is one of the more appealing options.
MORE: Lichtenstein: Darnold Wasn't Only Newcomer To Shine In Jets' Season-Opening Victory
RB T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars: Yeldon received the majority of carries once Leonard Fournette exited Sunday's game against the Giants with a hamstring issue. While Fournette's injury is reportedly minor, the fact that the former LSU Tiger is already banged up is not a good sign for his season. Fournette has a history of injuries, so if you have him on your team, do yourself a favor and go get his handcuff on the waiver wire immediately. Even if you don't, it could be worth it rolling the dice on Yeldon, who would become a fantasy must-start each week if Fournette were to miss time.
WR Brandon Marshall, Seattle Seahawks: Doug Baldwin suffered a partial MCL tear of his right knee Sunday, meaning Russell Wilson and the Seahawks are going to have to rely on some other pass catchers for at least a chunk of the season. While Tyler Lockett will probably see an uptick in targets and is worth an add if still available, the 34-year-old Marshall may be the receiver to own in Seattle. The veteran caught three of six targets for 46 yards and a touchdown Sunday and could emerge as Wilson's new favorite red-zone option because of his size.
WR Phillip Dorsett, New England Patriots: The Patriots' offense is just about the most frustrating offensive unit to try to figure out. Besides Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, you never know who is going to see significant playing time and touches on a week-to-week basis. But while Julian Edelman continues to serve his four-game suspension, it appears as if Dorsett will be the biggest benefactor in New England. The 25-year-old caught all seven of his targets for 66 yards and a touchdown against the Texans on Sunday, averaging 9.4 yards per catch and picking up six first downs. It may only last three more weeks, but Dorsett figures to play a big role in the Patriots' offense for the remainder of September.
RB Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos: Coming into the season, Royce Freeman was the young running back receiving the most attention out in Denver. After Week 1, that may no longer be the case. Freeman and Lindsay both carried the ball 15 times for 71 yards in Week 1. However, Lindsay proved more valuable in the passing game, catching two passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. Freeman is still the lead back for the Broncos and should continue to see the goal-line carries, but Lindsay showed that he will certainly hold some fantasy value this season. At 5-foot-8, Lindsay could carve out a Danny Woodhead-type role for himself in Denver.
MORE: Keidel: Focus For Giants Shifts From Promise To Problems
WR Ryan Grant, Indianapolis Colts: With the overall lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball, the Colts could be looking at a lot of shootouts in 2018. Of course, this bodes well for Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton, but after the season opener, it has become clear that it will also benefit Grant. Signed to a one-year, $5 million deal, the 6-foot Grant was brought to Indianapolis to line up opposite Hilton and provide Luck with a big, strong target. Week 1 saw the fifth-year receiver reel in eight of nine targets for 59 yards. Luck may not attempt 53 passes every week, but then again, given the poor outlook for the Colts' defense this year, maybe he will.
TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: If you were one of the unlucky fantasy owners to have Delanie Walker or Greg Olsen (refractured foot) on your team and Kittle is still available in your league, then this should be your No. 1 priority on the waiver wire this week. The injury to Marquise Goodwin certainly played a role in Kittle's successful season opener (five receptions for 90 yards), but the rapport between the tight end and Jimmy Garoppolo began to grow strong at the end of last season once the QB took over under center. Kittle led the team in targets, receptions and yards in Week 1, and while Goodwin and Pierre Garcon will have better days ahead, Kittle has seemingly emerged as one of Garoppolo's favorite targets.
WR Quincy Enunwa, New York Jets: In his first game back after missing the entire 2017 season, Enunwa led the Jets in all receiving categories with six receptions on 10 targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. At 6-foot-2, 225-pounds, Enunwa has developed into rookie quarterback Sam Darnold's security blanket in the Jets offense (at least for now). He will continue to compete for targets with Robby Anderson and Terrelle Pryor, and Jermaine Kearse when he returns to the field, but Enunwa could be the most consistent option in the team's passing attack. He's worth a speculative add, especially in PPR leagues.
TE Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders: What a season debut for Cook, who snagged nine receptions for a whopping 180 yards against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. While this was a great way to start the year for the veteran tight end, it's important to keep in mind that the Rams boast one of the league's top cornerback tandems in Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, so Carr's dependence on Cook might have been due to the circumstances. In addition, we have seen this song and dance before, where Cook has a stellar performance to open the season before disappearing for the next few weeks. Even so, his performance in the national spotlight Monday was enough to warrant an add for tight end-needy owners.
TE Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts: Ebron is more of a desperation add for those in dire need of a tight end. The fifth-year player out of North Carolina caught four of five targets for 51 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals on Sunday, proving he can add some fantasy value even while playing alongside Jack Doyle (who caught seven passes for 60 yards himself). As mentioned with Grant, the Colts appear as if they will be playing from behind for most of the season, meaning all of the top pass-catching options in Indianapolis could see boosts to their value. With Hilton, Doyle and Grant seemingly playing big roles in the Colts' offense, it still remains to be seen just how much you can depend on Ebron. But if you lost Olsen or Walker, Ebron could be worth the gamble.
Matt Citak is a Web producer for WFAN Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewCitak.
