Fantasy football managers scouring the Week 2 waiver wire are prioritizing running back Kaelon Black and wide receiver Jalen Coker. Following an opening slate marked by heavy snap shares and breakout performances, analysts across Yahoo Sports have spotlighted these emerging targets for early-season acquisitions.
Kaelon Black and Jonah Coleman Emerge as Essential Running Back Additions
Running back Kaelon Black of the San Francisco 49ers has quickly become one of the most sought-after waiver targets heading into Week 2 according to Yahoo Sports reporting. Black played 43.1% of the offensive snaps during the 49ers’ 27-7 victory over the Rams in Australia, carrying the ball 14 times for 65 yards and adding a five-yard reception. Yahoo Sports noted that the 49ers split their backfield snaps 36-28 in the opener, with Christian McCaffrey logging 15 touches for 88 scrimmage yards while Black recorded 16 chances for 70 yards.
The question is whether 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will continue to use Black in much the same way Rams head coach Sean McVay uses Blake Corum, or whether Shanahan is managing Christian McCaffrey’s workload carefully because the game was played in Australia and McCaffrey experienced lower-body tightness in training camp.
Fantasy analysts point out that managing McCaffrey’s workload remains a priority given his age-30 season and heavy touch count last year. FantasyLife highlighted that Black stands as the direct handcuff and would immediately slot into starting fantasy lineups if McCaffrey missed time. Kaelon Black is 26% rostered, with next opponents listed as MIA, ARI, DEN.
In Denver, rookie running back Jonah Coleman has also drawn strong interest as managers look ahead to the Broncos’ backfield deployment as detailed by Yahoo Sports. While J.K. Yahoo Sports notes a recommended FAAB bid of $3 for Coleman.
Jalen Coker Commands Attention After Record-Setting Week 1 Performance
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker delivered a massive opening week performance in a historic matchup.
Quarterback Bryce Young leaned heavily on his supporting cast following an impressive season debut where he threw for 361 yards, three touchdowns and one pick, while adding 10 yards and a score on the ground, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Young is coming off an outstanding fantasy performance in the opener. The emergence of Jalen Coker gives Young another dangerous weapon to pair with Tetairoa McMillan in the passing game. Even veteran tight end Darren Waller should see his role grow as he gets more comfortable in Carolina’s offense. Waller had a touchdown called back in his Panthers’ debut on Sunday due to a penalty. Next up for Young is a Falcons defense that he’s had plenty of success against in recent years — especially in Atlanta, where this game will be played. Young has thrown three touchdown pa[sses]… Next up is at ATL with a 14% roster percentage and a $1 FAAB recommendation.
Quarterback Streaming Options and Deep Stashes for Week 2
Managers seeking quarterback help have several streaming paths available. FantasyLife points to New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who engineered a major second-half comeback against Detroit and finished as the QB8 for the opening week according to FantasyLife analysis. Shough projects as a strong streaming option in an anticipated shootout against Baltimore.
Tyler Shough is listed with a 40% roster rate. If you asked me at halftime if I could sell every piece of the New Orleans offense for pennies on the dollar … I would have jumped at the opportunity. The offensive line looked like Swiss cheese, Tyler Shough looked like he needed to get relegated to the CFL, and Chris Olave was already living in the blue medical tent. That being said … the offense couldn’t have looked more different in the second half. We started to see glimpses of the exciting offense we thought we might see from New Orleans, and Shough was a major reason behind this. He flipped a switch, leading a massive comeback against Detroit and forcing the game into overtime. The Saints lost, but [Shough showed promise].
Additionally, Drew Lock is set to start for Seattle in Week 2 after Sam Darnold exited with a hip injury after just five offensive snaps. Lock completed passes for 187 yards and a touchdown in relief duty, making him a priority addition in superflex formats.
Waiver Wire FAAB Bidding and Roster Guidelines
Waiver wire claims require careful budget allocation depending on league competitiveness and roster construction.
| Player | Position | Team | Rostered % | True Value | Desperate Need | Budget-Minded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaelon Black | RB | SF | 26% | $9 | $17 | $5 |
| Jonah Coleman | RB | DEN | 33% | $3 | $6 | $1 |
| Tyjae Spears | RB | TEN | 39% | $2 | $4 | $1 |
| Kendre Miller | RB | NO | 1% | $1 | $2 | $0 |
As managers finalize their claims ahead of Week 2, monitoring injury reports for players like Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey will dictate whether these speculative waiver additions translate into immediate weekly starters.
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