It’s only Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, but some fantasy football managers are already on edge due to key injuries. Packers quarterback Jordan Love is out for several weeks with a knee injury, Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is being placed on the injured list and Christian McCaffrey was surprisingly injury-free before Monday night’s game.

So let’s find some streaming options that you can integrate into your offering.

The players listed below are candidates for deeper leagues, rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues entering the waiver period this week. While you may notice an overlap with Eric Moody’s Waiver Wire column, which is published on Mondays, one important difference is that the options mentioned in that column are strictly for this week’s matchups and are not based on the players’ values ​​for the rest of the season.

We’ll start in San Francisco with an obvious replacement for McCaffrey and then turn our attention to the quarterback position with three players who can deliver a serviceable performance for Week 2.

All references to fantasy points refer to PPR leagues.

Running backs

Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers (37.5% in the squad; with the Vikings)

Mason, starting in place of McCaffrey (calf) against a high-caliber New York Jets defense, earned 22.2 fantasy points on the national stage Monday night. Mason logged 28 carries – the second-highest total of any running back in Week 1 – for 147 yards (5.3 YPC) and a touchdown. While Mason was not used in the passing game (one pass reception, five yards), he played a volume role that suited his determined and urgent running style. He runs downhill with a lot of power. If McCaffrey can’t play in Week 2 against Minnesota, Mason should be viewed as an easy addition to Kyle Shanahan’s offense, where he can start as the RB1 in all scoring formats.

Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (4.6% in squad; against Browns)

Bigsby rushed for a career-high 73 yards in Week 1 and had the same number of carries as starter Travis Etienne Jr. (12), who also had a costly fumble at the goal line. Although Bigsby was clearly the more efficient runner on Sunday (6.1 YPC), he will remain the No. 2 player in the Jags’ backfield. However, if you’re in a big league, there might be enough here to put Bigsby in your lineup.

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (34.0% in the squad; with the Lions)

Mayfield scored 29.66 points and threw four touchdown passes against the Washington Commanders defense in the Buccaneers’ Week 1 win. He was also efficient throwing the ball, completing 24 of 30 pass attempts. Yes, Mayfield and the Bucs have a much tougher opponent in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, but don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay has to throw with more volume here. Last season, in the playoff loss to Detroit, Mayfield attempted 41 passes and rushed for 349 yards. His aggressive throwing mentality and ability to extend plays make him a solid option in 12-team leagues.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (35.8% in the squad; with the Cardinals)

Stafford will be without Nacua (knee), but I like the Rams’ passing game against an Arizona Cardinals defense that will rely on split safety coverage (52% of coverage snaps in Week 1). Sean McVay will have answers to create open gaps for Stafford, who attempted 49 passes against Detroit in Week 1 and finished with 319 yards and a touchdown. I fully expect Stafford to return to passing the ball with volume to Cooper Kupp (14 receptions, 110 yards, a touchdown in Week 1). You can stream Stafford as a deeper league option here.

Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers (11.1% in the squad; with the Broncos)

We’ll have to keep an eye on Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation this week with Fields and Russell Wilson (calf). However, if Fields is named the starter again, he offers streaming value due to his dual-threat traits and the explosive playmaking ability of wide receiver George Pickens. Fields recorded 14 carries in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over Atlanta and finished the game with 56 rushing yards. Despite only attempting 23 passes, Fields connected with Pickens on six of seven attempts, including a 40-yard pass on a deep ball. They’re taking advantage of Fields as a runner in Week 2 in Denver, along with his ability to drive the ball vertically down the field.

Wide receivers

Greg Dortch, Arizona Cardinals (1.6% in squad; against Rams)

If you need a flex in a deeper league, look at Dortch because he can make himself available in the route tree for QB Kyler Murray. Dortch finished the Cardinals’ loss to the Bills in Week 1 with 11.1 points and caught six of his eight targeted passes, five of them from slot alignments. Now, Dortch won’t provide “big play juice” or consistent scoring opportunities right away, but he is a volume target in the Cardinals’ passing game who will play the ball underneath.

Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys (29.7% in the squad; with the Saints)

Cooks scored 14.7 points in the Cowboys’ Week 1 win over the Browns, catching four of seven passes for 40 yards, including Dak Prescott’s only touchdown pass of the day on a 21-yard corner route. Cooks’ seven pass catcher passes were second-most on the team behind CeeDee Lamb (10), and he’s pegged as the No. 2 prospect to Prescott. This is another tough passing game against the New Orleans Saints, but there’s enough volume and third-level throws here to keep Cooks playing this week.

Demarcus Robinson, Los Angeles Rams (14.8% in the squad; with the Cardinals)

Tyler Johnson is another Rams wideout to keep an eye on here, but I like Robinson as a potential streaming replacement for Nacua this week in Arizona. Robinson caught four of his seven passes for 42 yards in the Week 1 loss to Detroit. Yes, the bulk of the passes will go to Kupp (21 passes in Week 1), but Robinson is a viable option that can be used as a high-level red-zone target for Stafford.

Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants (6.8% in squad; at Commanders)

If Robinson is used as a streamer in Week 2, it will be all about target volume in a positive matchup against the Commanders’ secondary. Robinson had 11.8 points in Week 1 against the Vikings and saw a team-high 12 targets, catching six of them. Robinson also added a run attempt for 14 yards. Giants QB Daniel Jones’ shaky play is always a concern, but Robinson’s route usage as a bottom/middle-of-the-field option offers enough in deeper PPR leagues, plus he can be targeted for constructed touches.

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts (0.5% in the squad; with the Packers)

Anthony Richardson’s deep passes are an element of the Colts’ passing game, and Pierce took advantage of that in Week 1. He caught a 60-yard touchdown after an absolute rocket throw from Richardson, then added a 57-yard pass after a contested throw down the field. Pierce ended up with just 125 yards on just three pass catches. He’s a long runner who can eat grass in the vertical passing game and has the build to win at the point of attack. Of course, the target volume needs to increase, and this feels like a boom/bust play, but Richardson is more than willing to give Pierce opportunities down the field.

Tight ends

Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (9.8% in squad; against Raiders)

I fully expect Likely to be a long-term priority waiver claim this week, but given his roster percentage, I’m also mentioning him here as a streamer. The Ravens had the most snaps with two TEs in the league in Week 1 (39), which gave Likely more opportunities with Mark Andrews also on the field. Likely’s 26.1 points led all tight ends in Week 1, as he caught nine of his 12 targeted passes for 111 yards and a score, with eight of those receptions coming from two TE sets. With his formation flexibility and catch-and-run traits, Likely can be used in all formats for the Ravens’ Week 2 game against the Raiders.

Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams (1.5% in the squad; with the Cardinals)

In the Rams’ condensed sets, Parkinson can get clean free throws off the ball and serve as the underdog to Stafford in even-handed concepts, as we saw on Sunday night in Detroit. Parkinson caught four of his five targeted passes for 45 yards, with two receptions going for at least 15 yards. He has more catch-and-run ability than you think, and he’ll get opportunities this week against the Cardinals’ zone coverages.

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (19.2% in squad; against Jets)

Okonkwo was only targeted twice in the Titans’ loss to the Bears in Week 1, but scored a touchdown by catching an over-the-shoulder throw from Will Levis on a red-zone corner route. Given his matchup skills as a receiver and his potential red-zone potential, you can take a chance on Okonkwo this week against the Jets.

D/ST

Los Angeles Chargers (10.6% in the squad; with the Panthers)

The Chargers D/ST had 15 fantasy points in the team’s Week 1 win over the Raiders and recorded four sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception. Next up for them is a Carolina offense led by QB Bryce Young, who threw two interceptions and was sacked four times in the Panthers’ crushing loss to the Saints. The Chargers are a must-watch defense in Week 2.