Woof! Week 2 in the NFL season was a rough one, especially for running backs as we saw Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin, Thomas Rawls, Jonathan Stewart, Arian Foster, Ameer Abdullah and Danny Woodhead all finding themselves unable to finish Week 2.  There was also a loss at quarterback with the Patriots’ Jimmy Garoppolo suffering a sprained AC joint and Browns QB Josh McCown suffering a shoulder injury of his own.  Along with all these injuries we also saw some big time performances from players who could still be floating around your leagues waiver wire so without further ado let’s take a look at some players who would be perfect injury replacements if you found yourself in need of one as well as players who are proving capable of being weekly fantasy contributors. 

**FAAB bids based off of $100 budget

Quarterback

Marcus Mariota, TEN- Mariota should be a very popular play this week as the Titans find themselves at home against a Raiders defense that has allowed seven passing touchdowns over the first two weeks of the season.  Mariota turned in another strong performance in Week 2, throwing for 238 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.  He is currently owned in about 50 percent of standard leagues so if you find yourself in need of a quarterback in Week 2 you won’t find one with a better matchup than Mariota.

FAAB Bid- $10-$15

Joe Flacco, BAL- After a slow start in Week 2 Flacco really picked it up in the second half against the Browns and finished the game having thrown for 302 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.  Over the first two games of the season Flacco’s three touchdowns and three interceptions and while those stats are certainly nothing special he has the talent at the receiver position which should lead to much better performances over the course of the season.  In Week 3 Flacco will matchup up against the Jaguars who have already allowed six passing touchdowns over the first two weeks of the season.  Flacco is currently owned in about 25 percent of standard leagues so if you find yourself in need of QB help he is likely available for you.

FAAB Bid $5-$10

Sam Bradford, MIN- Bradford impressed in his season debut with the Vikings, throwing for 286 yards and two touchdowns against the Packers.  In Week 3 things get a bit tougher as Minnesota heads on the road to face the Carolina Panthers but with news that Adrian Peterson is could be out of the lineup the Vikings should lean heavily on their passing attack and thus presents a greater opportunity for Bradford to put up some fantasy points.  Bradford is currently owned in less than 10 percent of standard leagues so he is very likely sitting on the waiver wire if you need some QB help.

FAAB Bid $5-$10

Running Back

Matt Asiata/ Jerick McKinnon, MIN- With Adrian Peterson suffering a torn meniscus on Sunday it would seem likely that he misses at least one week and therefore his handcuffs become the top players to grab at the running back positions.  Jerick McKinnon finds himself owned in just about 25 percent of standard leagues and should be the back to see the majority of playing time in Peterson’s absence given his upside however Matt Asiata has often seen the early down work when Peterson was out of the lineup with McKinnon still filling his usual third down role.  Both players are worth putting a claim in on for Wee 3 as the Vikings face a Panthers defense that allowed 128 yards and two touchdowns to Broncos running backs in Week 1 although they did shutdown Carlos Hyde and the 49ers in Week 2.

FAAB Bid McKinnon- $30-$40

FAAB Bid Asiata- $5-$10

Fozzy Whittaker, CAR- With Jonathan Stewart suffering a hamstring strain in Week 2 the Panthers leaned on Whittaker and he took full advantage of the opportunity, carrying the ball 16 times for 100 yards while adding three catches for 31 yards.  Whittaker should be the Panthers lead back in Week 2 but it’s worth noting that Cameron Artis-Payne will also be active in Week 3 after being inactive in Week 2 so there might be some time share there.  The matchup isn’t exactly great for the Panthers either as they face off against a tough Vikings run defense but if you are a Stewart owner Whittaker is the man to claim this week.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Christine Michael, SEA- Rawls suffered a leg contusion that forced him to miss most of Sunday's game but even before the injury he had carried the ball seven times for negative seven yards.  Michael stepped in for the injured Rawls and carried the ball 10 times for 60 yards while adding three catches for 26 yards.  Michael has rushed for 60-plus yards in each of the first two games and is likely taking over as the Seahawks lead back.  He is currently owned in less than 60 percent of standard leagues and will likely be the top added back this week.

FAAB Bid- $10-$15

Jay Ajayi, MIA- In typical fashion Arian Foster went down with a groin injury in Week 2 which has him questionable to play in Week 3 for the Dolphins. With Foster out the Dolphins will feature Jay Ajayi in their backfield.  Ajayi was a popular handcuff to draft this season yet he finds himself owned in just under 50 percent of standard leagues.  Ajayi has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield as well so those in PPR formats should take an even greater interest if you are looking for some running back help in Week 3.

FAAB Bid-$5-$10

 

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Wide Receiver

Travis Benjamin, SD- Benjamin wasted no time asserting himself as Philip Rivers No.1 target now that Keenan Allen is out for the season as he caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.  Through two games this season Benjamin has already caught 13 of his 14 targets for 147 yards and two scores.  His ownership levels took a big jump last week but he is currently still available in nearly 25 percent of standard leagues so this will be your last shot to grab him off the waiver wire.

FAAB Bid- $10-$15

Mike Wallace, BAL- Wallace continued to find the end zone in Week 2 as he caught four passes for 41 yards and two scores.  He now has three touchdown grabs on the season to lead the Ravens offense and while there are a bunch of capable receivers in Baltimore these days it seems as though Wallace has already developed quite the chemistry with Joe Flacco.  Wallace is currently owned in about 60 percent of standard leagues and with a favorable matchup against the Jaguars in Week 3 he becomes a must grab.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Victor Cruz, NYG- Though Cruz caught just four of his eight targets on Sunday he was able to rack up 91 yards thanks to a big play late in the game.  Cruz has shown little trouble since returning to the field and while there is certainly more competition for targets this season with the emergence of rookie Sterling Shepard there is still some fantasy upside here given the Giants pass first offense.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Michael Thomas, NO- Thomas has been a very steady No.3 receiver for the Saints through two games, having caught 10 of 11 targets for 114 yards.  Saints coach Sean Payton joked during training camp that Thomas would be a guy to own in fantasy this season and so far he has not been wrong and while Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead have out produced him there is certainly upside in this high powered passing attack for a No.3 receiver with his skillset.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Tight End

Dennis Pitta, BAL- I was all in on Pitta in Week 2 after he and Joe Flacco appeared to be in sync during their Week 1 win over the Bills but I could not have imagined the type of day Pitta ended up having against the Browns as he caught 9-of-12 targets for 102 yards to lead the Ravens offense.  Pitta should continue to be one of Flacco’s top targets and while it’s unlikely that he begins to put up this level of production on a weekly basis he has officially entered the TE1 conversation.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Jacob Tamme, ATL- Tamme also made this list last week after catching six passes for 51 yards in Week 1 against the Buccaneers.  Tamme followed up his Week 1 performance with an even better Week 2 which saw him grab 5-of-8 targets for 75 yards and a touchdown.  Tamme has seen eight targets in each of the first two weeks which bodes well for the stability of his production and with Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu a bit hobbled Matt Ryan may look towards Tamme a bit more in Week 3.

FAAB Bid- $5-$10

Kyle Rudolph, MIN- I was high on Rudolph heading into Week 2 as Sam Bradford figured to drastically improve the Vikings passing attack and Rudolph, after his eight target Week 1, should figure to be the team’s No.2 target behind Stefon Diggs and that was the case as he saw eight targets which he turned into three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.  Obviously three catches on eight targets is nothing special but 16 targets over two games cannot be ignored.  Rudolph has proven to be a solid end zone threat and if Adrian Peterson is forced to miss extended time he could find himself as Bradford’s go to target in the red zone.

FAAB Bid $5-$10

Clive Walford, OAK- Walford was a popular sleeper heading into the season but he turned in a disappointing Week 1 which had many shying away from him in Week 2.  His value will be back on the rise heading into Week 3 however after he caught 6-of-7 targets for 50 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons in Week 2.  The Raiders defense has been terrible so far this season which has led to the Radiers offense being very pass heavy which bodes well for somebody like Walford if he can assert himself as the team’s No.3 receiving option behind Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.

FAAB Bid- $0-$5