Rookie WRs such as AJ Brown (Tennessee Titans), Scary Terry McLaurin (Washington Redskins), Mecole Hardman (Kansas City), and “Hollywood” Brown (Baltimore Ravens) could be welcome additions to your fantasy rosters for Week 2 action.
Untested rookies are most likely available on the fantasy football waiver wire after the opening week of the NFL season. After Week 1, several rookie wide receivers cracked the starting lineup and made major contributions on offense. At the same time, rookie Hardman earned a promotion due to a shoulder injury to Tyreek Hill.
If you’re thin on wideouts or have a deep league with 12-14 teams, then you need to consider adding rookies to bolster your wide receiving corps.
AJ Brown (Titans)
The Tennessee Titans never really had any top-level talent for Marcus Mariota to throw to since the Heisman Trophy winner arrived a few seasons ago. Then, the Titans added Brown, who they drafted in the second round out of Ole Miss.
Brown caught three passes for 100 yards, including a 51-yard catch. People are still hooting and hollering about Brown’s sizzling debut down in Jackson, where he broke a bunch of long-standing school records.
Terry McLaurin (Washington Redskins)
Pretty much everyone on the Washington Redskins were overlooked during fantasy football drafts. You probably won’t have a hard time finding any Redskins offensive players for your waiver wire pickups.
Case Keenum won the starting QB job by default when injured Colt McCoy wasn’t ready to roll by Week 1. Jay Gruden didn’t want to start an inexperienced rookie QB with Dwyane Haskins, so he tapped Keenum as the starter. Keenum looked strong in his debut, with 380 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Rookie WR McLaurin caught five passes (out of seven total targets) for 125 yards and a touchdown. McLaurin dazzled everyone with a 69-yard reception, and showed everyone why they call him Scary Terry.
“Hollywood” Brown (Ravens)
Lamar Jackson came out firing in the Baltimore Ravens blowout victory against the Miami Dolphins. Jackson found rookie WR Brown for a pair of touchdown scores in the first half. Jackson and Brown won’t be beating down on the tanking Dolphins and their weak secondary every Sunday, but the electrifying Brown is worthy of a waiver wire pickup.
TIP: Do a careful search in your fantasy football league for “Marquise Brown” because “Hollywood” Brown is just a nickname.
Mecole Hardman (Chiefs)
Hardman impressed both Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in the preseason, and during training camp. The rookie from Georgia was one of those diamonds in the rough to monitor.
Hardman got bumped up on the depth chart after Tyreek Hill went down with a shoulder and clavicle injury that will keep him out for almost a month. Even though he didn’t register a catch in the opening victory over the Jaguars, Hardman will get more reps in Week 2.