Hard as it may be to believe, the first weekend of the NFL season is behind us. As was expected, there were plenty of injuries and poor performances around the league. This waiver moves week two is presented to help fantasy managers heal their rosters. My fantasy team wound up on the rocks, so I could use some good health myself. As usual, there is little time to waste, so let’s dive right in, shall we?

Running Backs

The running back position took a beating around the NFL in week one. There are probably quite a few fantasy owners with some gaping holes on their roster that need to be filled. The players listed below will go a long way in helping make that a reality.

Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts, 34.4% owned

Much like Parris Campbell (see below), the opening loss by Indianapolis can’t be laid at the feet of Nyheim Hines. He has been known as a top pass catching back and he was true to form with eight catches for 45 yards and a score. However, that was not the end of his stats. Hines added seven rushes for 28 yards and an additional TD.

Any runner that has 15 touches a game has outstanding fantasy value. Add in the fact that Marlon Mack is lost for the season with a torn Achilles and it is clear that Hines’ touches are secure going forward. It is true that rookie Jonathan Taylor was announced as the starter at running back, That won’t mean much, however, as Hines will see plenty of work of his own, especially in the passing game. Put it all together and I believe that Hines is at the top of the waiver moves week two list.

Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams, 7.9% owned

Would it surprise anyone that a running back scored two TDs against the underwhelming Cowboy defense? Probably not. There is little question the identity of said player that scored those TDs would be a surprise, however. Was it rookie second round pick Cam Akers? How about Darrell Henderson? Absolutely not, the correct answer is Malcolm Brown. He put a solid game together for the Rams, averaging 4.4 YPC and adding three receptions as well.

Apparently, the Rams knew what they had in Brown, even if no one else did. The team named him as their starter on their first released depth chart. The other two will get their touches, but Brown did everything possible to secure the top spot in the backfield. After a performance like that, Brown deserves to be the starter until further notice and he will be much higher owned before the weekend arrives. Get Brown on the team. You will be happy you did.

Adrian Peterson, Detroit Lions, 21.3% owned

Adrian Peterson wasn’t expected to be a part of the Lions backfield going into the season. Washington released Peterson, however, and he signed with Detroit. Peterson got up to speed quickly and made a strong debut for the Lions against the Bears. At the same time, the tandem of D’Andre Swift and Kerryon Johnson didn’t do much. In fact, they practically disappeared. Swift was especially disappointing, dropping the potential game winning TD late in the game.

On the other hand, Peterson turned his 14 rushes in the game into 93 yards. His YPC average against a strong Bears D was an eye opening 6.6. He has never been a pass catcher as a running back, but he threw in three receptions as well. It is unclear what will become of either Swift or Johnson this season. One indication that Peterson isn’t going away is that he had more touches (17) than the other two combined (13). If running back help is needed, you could do a lot worse than a future hall of famer.

Wide Receivers

There were quite a few receivers that stepped out of oblivion into the spotlight around the league in week one. The receivers below will greatly give rosters a healthy boost.

Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons, 3.8% owned

In fantasy football, garbage time counts as much as any other game, especially in PPR. The Falcons are primed for that to be their norm throughout the season. Atlanta was down big to Seattle. The Seahawks downshifted their defense and Matt Ryan began pilling up the yards. A huge beneficiary of those 450 yards was Russell Gage. He caught nine passes for 114 yards in the game.

Gage is not a house hold name, but he well could be if Atlanta has to keep throwing the ball. Their defense is soft, so there is no reason to think the forward pass will cease being called in the Falcon play book. While they do have to face the Cowboys on the road this week, the Dallas secondary is vulnerable. That 3.8% ownership will not be the case very long, so grab Gage now when you can.

Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts, 29.8% owned

A projected late round sleeper coming into the season, Parris Campbell turned in a solid game for the Colts. Campbell caught six passes for 71 yards, The yardage led the team, but the key stat to note is that QB Philip Rivers targeted Campbell nine times. That tied fellow receiver T.Y. Hilton. Any player that leads his team in yards and targets must get attention in fantasy.

Campbell has earned that attention. Indianapolis showed they have some things to work on after the loss to Jacksonville. However, Rivers looked a lot more comfortable throwing the ball than the team ever did last season. That comfort level will increase throughout the season, which will lead to more touches, catches and, hopefully, touchdowns. Campbell is worthy to be included on the waiver wire moves week two list. Check your league’s wire and make a move, if needed.

Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears, 38.2% owned

Before the season began, the number two receiver for the Bears wouldn’t make even a mother proud. That was especially true after the announcement that Mitch Trubisky would begin the season as the starter. Then something strange occurred. Trubisky, amazingly, threw for three touchdowns and led a fourth quarter comeback. One of those scores went to Anthony Miller. He finished with four catches for 79 yards and the winning TD.

Nothing to get excited about, right? Wrong. The Bears have the Giants and Falcons in the next two weeks. Those teams possess some of the worst defenses to be found in the league. If Trubisky can build off that strong first game, he will elevate everyone else around him. Notice that Miller averaged 19 yards per catch, which is outstanding. Miller can stretch defenses and respect must be paid to Allen Robinson. If receiver help is needed, Miller is an outstanding pickup.

Tight Ends

There were disappointment aplenty around the league regarding the tight end position in the first week. Poor performances and injured players littered the landscape. The position not looking so good? Never fear, as this waiver wire moves week two will help inject life back into the team.

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles, 27.2% owned

Though no one is sure what happened to Philadelphia against Washington, Dallas Goedert had a heck of a game. Goedert caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. He averaged a healthy for a tight end 12.6 YPC. There seemed little question that Zach Ertz is the number one TE for the Eagles. That is no longer a sure thing after Ertz caught just three passes for 18 yards.

Even if both Goedert and Ertz are on the field at the same time, Philadelphia is comfortable throwing to both. It’s absolutely true the injury bug has bit the Eagles again, but even when all their starters are on the field, Goedert will get his touches. For those that drafted Blake Jarwin, lost for the season with a torn Achilles, Goedert will certainly fill the void.

Greg Olsen, Seattle Seahawks, 8.9% owned

Now that Greg Olsen has his sea legs under him, look for him to flourish in the Seattle offense. In his first game against Atlanta, Olsen caught four passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are not the reason to get excited about Olsen’s fantasy prospects. The fact that Russell Wilson threw for four TDs is. Wilson likes to throw to his tight ends and the two will generate chemistry as the season moves along.

The Seahawks were expected to be a run heavy team. While that still may be the case, it is clear what their passing game is capable of. While the receivers Seattle has will demand plenty of touches, there will certainly be enough to go around to make Olsen fantasy relevant. If Goedert was claimed before you can get him, Olsen will be a good fall back position if there is a need at tight end.

Chris Herndon, New York Jets, 40.4% owned

Any time a tight end finishes a game second on the team in targets, catches and yards, that player deserves attention in fantasy. In this case, that player is Chris Herndon. While the Jets aren’t worth writing home about, they do have a wide receiver that demands the other team’s best defender. That receiver is Jamison Crowder. Herndon will have room to roam underneath on any team’s secondary.

Herndon finished the game against the hard hitting Bills with six receptions on seven targets for 37 yards. None of those stats are eye-popping, but Buffalo has one of the best defenses in the business. Next up is the 49ers, and they are no joke, either. This is one of those moves that is made with a season long view, however. Herndon has no suspension or injury concerns to worry about this year. If a roster has a tight end hole, this waiver moves week two is here to help get it filled.

Quarterbacks

Most fantasy managers will probably not be looking for a quarterback after the first week. However, there were some pretty sorry performances (see Mayfield, Fitzpatrick or Taylor) that might prompt a move. Here are some quarterbacks to consider if you find yourself in that predicament.

Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars, 14.9% owned

If the question was which quarterback completed 19 of 20 passes, threw three touchdowns and rushed five times for 19 yards, what would the correct answer be? Rogers? Prescott? Watson? None of those are right as the correct answer is Gardner Minshew. Surprised? There is little doubt a lot of managers in fantasy and the league were. Especially due to the fact that this performance came against what was judged as a strong defense in Indianapolis.

Even more surprising was the result of the game, a 27-20 Jacksonville victory. To be fair, there was some buzz in the fantasy community to keep an eye on Minshew. After one game, that buzz seems justified. With a game on the road against the Titans in the offing, this may not be the right time to insert Minshew into the starting lineup. However, the Jaguars have Miami and Cincinnati after that and a big reward may be waiting for an owner with the guts to start him. Minshew is certainly a worthy addition to the waiver moves week two list.

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers, 39.5% owned

After a home opening loss to the Cardinals, the result was obviously not what Jimmy Garoppolo was looking for. Aside from the 24-20 score, though, the fantasy prospects for Garoppolo are looking up. He threw for 257 yards and two TDs against Arizona and didn’t turn the ball over. Volume will probably never be the goal with the 49ers, but Garoppolo can fill the stat sheets for a fantasy team.

A glance at the San Francisco schedule shows they are playing the New York teams, the Jets and Giants, in the next two weeks. Absolutely no one will confuse either of being strong defensive teams. Getting out of all that smoke filled air around the Bay Area will do wonders for the team. Starting Garoppolo the next two games isn’t nearly the gamble that it looked like it would be when the season began.

Thanks for joining me with this fantasy football waiver moves week two. Feel free to make a comment on players that should be added to the list. I welcome any and all input. Have a great fantasy football week two! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and make sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest NFL and sports news!