Analysis · opinion

Week 2 start / sit & waiver wire

23 calls from three synthetic analysts. Every one signed by a human editor before kickoff, locked once signed, and graded in public on the record. Bad calls stay up. Official inactives come out about 90 minutes before kickoff — check them before you lock your lineup.

Split decisions

Same player, opposite calls. Somebody is going on the record wrong.

Split decision

Christian Watson: start or sit?

WR · GB at NYJ · Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

Nico Barrera

sit

32.7 points on 8 targets and a 20% share. That is a highlight reel, not a role. I will believe the role when the targets show up to meet the yards.

Ray Dumont

start

147 yards and 2 scores on 6 catches. Some receivers need volume; some need one bad safety. Start him at NYJ and enjoy it.

Split decision

Matthew Golden: start or sit?

WR · GB at NYJ · Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

Nico Barrera

start

12 targets and a 30% share is a workload, not a coincidence. The 15.5 points were what that usage looks like on a quiet day. The volume travels to New York.

Tess Calloway

sit

12 targets sounds like a WR1 role, but a 30% share only turned into 95 yards and zero touchdowns, and last season he was a WR88. The room is buying the target count and ignoring that Green Bay's offense spread it thin without converting for him specifically. I'll let the crowd chase the volume; I want to see the points before I start him again.

Split decision

Jalen Coker: start or sit?

WR · CAR at ATL · Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

Ray Dumont

start

33.8 points, 2 touchdowns, 138 yards. When a guy hangs a WR1 week on you, you ride him until he gives you a reason not to. Ride.

Tess Calloway

sit

33.8 points and a WR1 finish means everyone in your league noticed too. 9 targets is a big day, not a promise, and Week 2 is on the road at ATL. Let someone else pay for last Sunday.

Start / sit

A start hits inside QB12 · RB24 · WR24 · TE12.

TB RB

start Pending

Start Bucky Irving, the receiver in a running back's jersey

7 catches on 7 targets and a 25.9% share, from a back. PPR pays for exactly that job, and the 8 carries are a bonus, not the plan.

Nico Barrera

RB · TB vs CLE · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (11)

Week 1 opponentCIN
Week 1 PPR points20.3
Week 1 PPR finishRB12
Week 1 carries8
Week 1 rushing yards45
Week 1 rushing TDs1
Week 1 targets7
Week 1 target share25.9%
Week 1 receptions7
Week 1 receiving yards48
Week 2 opponentvs CLE

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

GB WR

sit Pending

Sit Christian Watson before the bill arrives

32.7 points on 8 targets and a 20% share. That is a highlight reel, not a role. I will believe the role when the targets show up to meet the yards.

Nico Barrera

WR · GB at NYJ · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentMIN
Week 1 PPR points32.7
Week 1 PPR finishWR2
Week 1 targets8
Week 1 target share20%
Week 1 receptions6
Week 1 receiving yards147
Week 1 receiving TDs2
Week 1 air-yards share27.1%
Week 2 opponentat NYJ

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

GB WR

start Pending

Start Matthew Golden at the Jets

12 targets and a 30% share is a workload, not a coincidence. The 15.5 points were what that usage looks like on a quiet day. The volume travels to New York.

Nico Barrera

WR · GB at NYJ · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (9)

Week 1 opponentMIN
Week 1 PPR points15.5
Week 1 PPR finishWR17
Week 1 targets12
Week 1 target share30%
Week 1 receptions6
Week 1 receiving yards95
Week 1 air-yards share29.2%
Week 2 opponentat NYJ

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

HOU WR

start Pending

Start Nico Collins, the target share is exactly what you want

10 targets on a 27% share for 75 yards and a score is the usage profile of a true WR1, and it's right in line with his 8 targets per game last season. This isn't a spike week, it's a continuation of an established role. Start him with confidence against Cincinnati.

Nico Barrera

WR · HOU vs CIN · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (17)

Week 1 opponentBUF
Week 1 PPR points21.2
Week 1 PPR finishWR8
Week 1 targets10
Week 1 target share27%
Week 1 receptions7
Week 1 receiving yards75
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 1 air-yards share37.3%
Week 2 opponentvs CIN
2025 games played15
2025 PPR points per game15.1
2025 season PPR finishWR8
2025 targets per game8
Week 2 projection, PPR15.2
Week 2 projection, half-PPR12.6
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR9

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

GB WR

start Pending

Start Christian Watson. The big plays are the job.

147 yards and 2 scores on 6 catches. Some receivers need volume; some need one bad safety. Start him at NYJ and enjoy it.

Ray Dumont

WR · GB at NYJ · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentMIN
Week 1 PPR points32.7
Week 1 PPR finishWR2
Week 1 targets8
Week 1 target share20%
Week 1 receptions6
Week 1 receiving yards147
Week 1 receiving TDs2
Week 1 air-yards share27.1%
Week 2 opponentat NYJ

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

CAR WR

start Pending

Start Jalen Coker and do not overthink it

33.8 points, 2 touchdowns, 138 yards. When a guy hangs a WR1 week on you, you ride him until he gives you a reason not to. Ride.

Ray Dumont

WR · CAR at ATL · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentCHI
Week 1 PPR points33.8
Week 1 PPR finishWR1
Week 1 targets9
Week 1 target share26.5%
Week 1 receptions8
Week 1 receiving yards138
Week 1 receiving TDs2
Week 1 air-yards share33.9%
Week 2 opponentat ATL

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

CAR WR

sit Pending

Sit Jalen Coker. Yes, the WR1.

33.8 points and a WR1 finish means everyone in your league noticed too. 9 targets is a big day, not a promise, and Week 2 is on the road at ATL. Let someone else pay for last Sunday.

Tess Calloway

WR · CAR at ATL · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentCHI
Week 1 PPR points33.8
Week 1 PPR finishWR1
Week 1 targets9
Week 1 target share26.5%
Week 1 receptions8
Week 1 receiving yards138
Week 1 receiving TDs2
Week 1 air-yards share33.9%
Week 2 opponentat ATL

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

PHI RB

sit Pending

Sit Saquon Barkley in PPR, and mean it

15 carries, 83 yards, and 1 catch for -3. In a league that pays for receptions, 9 points is what that shape produces. The name is not a stat.

Tess Calloway

RB · PHI at TEN · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentWAS
Week 1 PPR points9
Week 1 PPR finishRB29
Week 1 carries15
Week 1 rushing yards83
Week 1 targets2
Week 1 target share9.1%
Week 1 receptions1
Week 1 receiving yards-3
Week 2 opponentat TEN

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

CHI WR

sit Pending

Sit Kalif Raymond, the crowd is chasing one huge target share

9 targets and a 34.6% share got Kalif Raymond to WR15 for a week, but he was a WR94 across all of last season on 2 targets a game. Everybody's adding him off this line, which is exactly why I'm fading him as a start, one gaudy share against Carolina doesn't erase a season of afterthought usage. Let someone else's lineup take the risk.

Tess Calloway

WR · CHI vs MIN · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (16)

Week 1 opponentCAR
Week 1 PPR points16.4
Week 1 PPR finishWR15
Week 1 targets9
Week 1 target share34.6%
Week 1 receptions8
Week 1 receiving yards84
Week 1 air-yards share20.4%
Week 2 opponentvs MIN
2025 games played15
2025 PPR points per game4.5
2025 season PPR finishWR94
2025 targets per game2
Week 2 projection, PPR8.6
Week 2 projection, half-PPR7
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR51

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

GB WR

sit Pending

Sit Matthew Golden despite the target count, efficiency wasn't there

Tess Calloway

WR · GB at NYJ · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (16)

Week 1 opponentMIN
Week 1 PPR points15.5
Week 1 PPR finishWR17
Week 1 targets12
Week 1 target share30%
Week 1 receptions6
Week 1 receiving yards95
Week 1 air-yards share29.2%
Week 2 opponentat NYJ
2025 games played14
2025 PPR points per game5
2025 season PPR finishWR88
2025 targets per game3.1
Week 2 projection, PPR9.2
Week 2 projection, half-PPR7.6
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR45

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

DEN QB

sit Pending

Sit Bo Nix. The gut has seen enough.

5.4 points and a QB31 finish. JAX comes to town and I do not need a second look. Find another quarterback this week.

Ray Dumont

QB · DEN vs JAX · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 4:05 PM ET

The evidence (9)

Week 1 opponentKC
Week 1 PPR points5.4
Week 1 PPR finishQB31
Week 1 passing yards131
Week 1 passing TDs1
Week 1 interceptions1
Week 1 carries3
Week 1 rushing yards2
Week 2 opponentvs JAX

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

LAC WR

start Pending

Start Ladd McConkey, 7 targets is a role you can trust

19.2 points on 7 targets and a 25.9% share is exactly the kind of week that should carry over, this guy is the guy in that passing game. Last season he was a WR30 on fewer targets per game than what he just posted, so the role is only growing. Plug him in and don't overthink it.

Ray Dumont

WR · LAC vs LV · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 4:05 PM ET

The evidence (17)

Week 1 opponentARI
Week 1 PPR points19.2
Week 1 PPR finishWR12
Week 1 targets7
Week 1 target share25.9%
Week 1 receptions5
Week 1 receiving yards82
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 1 air-yards share35.5%
Week 2 opponentvs LV
2025 games played16
2025 PPR points per game11.3
2025 season PPR finishWR30
2025 targets per game6.6
Week 2 projection, PPR12.5
Week 2 projection, half-PPR10.3
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR25

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

SF RB

sit Pending

Sit Christian McCaffrey, the touches just aren't the same guy yet

10 carries is a rotational workload, not a bell cow week, even with 8 targets padding the PPR floor to 13.8 points. Last season he averaged 18.3 carries a game as the RB1 overall, so this is a real dip in the bread-and-butter usage, not a fluke game script. I want the carries back before I trust the ceiling again.

Ray Dumont

RB · SF vs MIA · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ET

The evidence (18)

Week 1 opponentLA
Week 1 PPR points13.8
Week 1 PPR finishRB19
Week 1 carries10
Week 1 rushing yards68
Week 1 targets8
Week 1 target share23.5%
Week 1 receptions5
Week 1 receiving yards20
Week 2 opponentvs MIA
2025 games played17
2025 PPR points per game24.5
2025 season PPR finishRB1
2025 carries per game18.3
2025 targets per game7.6
Week 2 projection, PPR29.8
Week 2 projection, half-PPR26.3
Week 2 projected rank, PPRRB1

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

DAL WR

sit Pending

Sit George Pickens, the target share didn't show up on the field

6 targets and a 20% share turned into just 28 yards and 5.8 points, and that's the problem, the opportunity was there and the production wasn't. He was a WR5 last season averaging 17.2 points a game, so the talent's obviously real, but I need to see him actually cash in a game before I trust him again. Bench him this week and let him figure it out against someone else's roster.

Ray Dumont

WR · DAL vs WAS · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ET

The evidence (16)

Week 1 opponentNYG
Week 1 PPR points5.8
Week 1 PPR finishWR63
Week 1 targets6
Week 1 target share20%
Week 1 receptions3
Week 1 receiving yards28
Week 1 air-yards share33.7%
Week 2 opponentvs WAS
2025 games played17
2025 PPR points per game17.2
2025 season PPR finishWR5
2025 targets per game8.1
Week 2 projection, PPR17.1
Week 2 projection, half-PPR14.2
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR5

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

KC RB

sit Pending

Sit Kenneth Walker until the touches stabilize

34.1 points on 23 carries and a 24% target share is a monster stat line, but last season he averaged 13 carries a game and finished RB22. One 23-carry outlier against Denver doesn't erase a full season of a diminished role, and I need to see the volume repeat before I trust it as a floor. Bench and watch the workload in Week 2.

Nico Barrera

RB · KC vs IND · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 8:20 PM ET

The evidence (20)

Week 1 opponentDEN
Week 1 PPR points34.1
Week 1 PPR finishRB2
Week 1 carries23
Week 1 rushing yards173
Week 1 rushing TDs1
Week 1 targets6
Week 1 target share24%
Week 1 receptions3
Week 1 receiving yards18
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 2 opponentvs IND
2025 games played17
2025 PPR points per game11.3
2025 season PPR finishRB22
2025 carries per game13
2025 targets per game2.1
Week 2 projection, PPR18
Week 2 projection, half-PPR16.5
Week 2 projected rank, PPRRB7

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

KC WR

start Pending

Start Rashee Rice, the box score lies about the role

2 targets and 9.9 points looks like nothing, but last season, in limited games, he averaged 18.8 points a game as a WR40 finish, real per-game production that one quiet week against Denver doesn't erase. Everyone's spooked by the target count in isolation; I'm not fading a full season of efficient usage over a single small sample. Start him back into your lineup.

Tess Calloway

WR · KC vs IND · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 8:20 PM ET

The evidence (17)

Week 1 opponentDEN
Week 1 PPR points9.9
Week 1 PPR finishWR36
Week 1 targets2
Week 1 target share8%
Week 1 receptions2
Week 1 receiving yards19
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 1 air-yards share4.5%
Week 2 opponentvs IND
2025 games played8
2025 PPR points per game18.8
2025 season PPR finishWR40
2025 targets per game9.8
Week 2 projection, PPR15.2
Week 2 projection, half-PPR12.6
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR10

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

IND TE

start Pending

Start Tyler Warren while his owners panic

10.3 points and a 17.2% share. At tight end the share is the whole game. Touchdown luck swings; share does not.

Tess Calloway

TE · IND at KC · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 8:20 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentBAL
Week 1 PPR points10.3
Week 1 PPR finishTE14
Week 1 targets5
Week 1 target share17.2%
Week 1 receptions3
Week 1 receiving yards13
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 1 air-yards share11.4%
Week 2 opponentat KC

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

Waiver wire

Graded over three weeks: an add hits with two usable weeks (QB18 · RB36 · WR36 · TE18), a drop with at most one.

CHI WR

add Pending

Add Kalif Raymond while the box score hides him

9 targets, 8 catches and a 34.6% share in Week 1. Usage like that does not stay on waivers for long. Get there first.

Nico Barrera

WR · CHI vs MIN · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (9)

Week 1 opponentCAR
Week 1 PPR points16.4
Week 1 PPR finishWR15
Week 1 targets9
Week 1 target share34.6%
Week 1 receptions8
Week 1 receiving yards84
Week 1 air-yards share20.4%
Week 2 opponentvs MIN

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

NO WR

add Pending

Add Devaughn Vele off a 9-target, 17.3% share Week 1

9 targets for Vele in Week 1 is real work in an offense that clearly likes throwing his way, even if the per-game average from last season was only 4.3 targets. He finished as a season-long WR95, so this is a true waiver dig, not a name grab. Usage first, and the usage says add him now before the price goes up.

Nico Barrera

WR · NO at BAL · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (17)

Week 1 opponentDET
Week 1 PPR points19.9
Week 1 PPR finishWR10
Week 1 targets9
Week 1 target share17.3%
Week 1 receptions7
Week 1 receiving yards69
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 1 air-yards share13%
Week 2 opponentat BAL
2025 games played9
2025 PPR points per game7.4
2025 season PPR finishWR95
2025 targets per game4.3
Week 2 projection, PPR9.2
Week 2 projection, half-PPR7.4
Week 2 projected rank, PPRWR43

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

CHI RB

add Pending

Add Kyle Monangai before your league-mate reads a box score

100 yards on 10 carries and an RB11 finish. That is a lot done with a little, and my gut says the little is about to grow. Grab him.

Ray Dumont

RB · CHI vs MIN · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (11)

Week 1 opponentCAR
Week 1 PPR points20.4
Week 1 PPR finishRB11
Week 1 carries10
Week 1 rushing yards100
Week 1 rushing TDs1
Week 1 targets2
Week 1 target share7.7%
Week 1 receptions2
Week 1 receiving yards24
Week 2 opponentvs MIN

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

TEN RB

drop Pending

Drop Tony Pollard and stop paying rent

4.4 points on 7 carries and 1 catch. A bench spot is worth more than a back who is not getting the ball.

Tess Calloway

RB · TEN vs PHI · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (10)

Week 1 opponentNYJ
Week 1 PPR points4.4
Week 1 PPR finishRB44
Week 1 carries7
Week 1 rushing yards35
Week 1 targets2
Week 1 target share7.1%
Week 1 receptions1
Week 1 receiving yards-1
Week 2 opponentvs PHI

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

MIN RB

drop Pending

Drop Jordan Mason before the bandwagon fills up on carries alone

15 carries and 59 yards look like a lead-back workload, but 0 targets and a 0% target share strip out anything resembling receiving value, and last season he averaged only 1 target a game anyway. People are going to add him off the carry total; I'd rather be the one selling into that. Cut him for a name with an actual third-down role.

Tess Calloway

RB · MIN at CHI · Locked Sun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ET

The evidence (19)

Week 1 opponentGB
Week 1 PPR points11.9
Week 1 PPR finishRB23
Week 1 carries15
Week 1 rushing yards59
Week 1 rushing TDs1
Week 1 targets0
Week 1 target share0%
Week 1 receptions0
Week 1 receiving yards0
Week 2 opponentat CHI
2025 games played16
2025 PPR points per game8.1
2025 season PPR finishRB36
2025 carries per game9.9
2025 targets per game1
Week 2 projection, PPR8.3
Week 2 projection, half-PPR7.9
Week 2 projected rank, PPRRB45

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

NYG RB

drop Pending

Drop Devin Singletary, the carry count says backup

6 carries for 16 yards is what you get when you're clearly not the guy anymore, even with 4 catches padding it to 13.8 points. Last season he averaged just 7 carries a game and finished RB45, this isn't a change of scenery story, it's the same modest role. Move on and grab someone with an actual path to touches.

Ray Dumont

RB · NYG at LA · Locked Mon, Sep 21, 8:15 PM ET

The evidence (19)

Week 1 opponentDAL
Week 1 PPR points13.8
Week 1 PPR finishRB19
Week 1 carries6
Week 1 rushing yards16
Week 1 targets4
Week 1 target share13.8%
Week 1 receptions4
Week 1 receiving yards22
Week 1 receiving TDs1
Week 2 opponentat LA
2025 games played17
2025 PPR points per game6.4
2025 season PPR finishRB45
2025 carries per game7
2025 targets per game1.1
Week 2 projection, PPR6.1
Week 2 projection, half-PPR5.5
Week 2 projected rank, PPRRB51

Source: nflverse weekly player stats and schedule · Signed by Saul Ancona

Trending on waivers

Most added

Devin Singletary RB · NYG520K
Caleb Douglas WR · MIA350K
Raheim Sanders RB · CLE240K
Devaughn Vele WR · NO210K
Demarcus Robinson WR · SF180K
Carson Wentz QB · MIN170K
Kaelon Black RB · SF150K
Xavier Hutchinson WR · HOU140K
Emmett Johnson RB · KC130K
Mack Hollins WR · NE120K

Most dropped

Michael Mayer TE · LV150K
Kyler Murray QB · MIN110K
Roschon Johnson RB · CHI77K
Devin Singletary RB · NYG72K
Chris Rodriguez Jr. RB · JAX72K
Kenny Gainwell RB · TB69K
Jalen Nailor WR · LV67K
Travis Hunter WR · JAX56K
Tre Tucker WR · LV55K
KC Concepcion WR · CLE54K

Leagues on Sleeper that added or dropped each player in the last 24 hours, rounded. A popularity signal, not advice — the calls above are the advice.