Welcome to the 2023 season. We all begin the season with optimism for our players and a (mostly) healthy roster. But to win, you have to make moves that keep you ahead of the game. That’s what this weekly post is all about. Here, I’ll be looking at lightly rostered players who could benefit you this season. Here are some players to look for in Week 2. All roster percentages are courtesy of the NFL.
Quarterbacks
Zach Wilson, New York Jets
Roster Percentage: .3 Percent
About: You might have given up on Wilson. No one would forgive you. After being taken second overall in 2021, it seemed like the Jets gave up on Wilson. They acquired Aaron Rodgers this off-season and seemed poised to make a Super Bowl run. The Rodgers era lasted four plays. He has a torn Achilles and is out for the year. That puts Wilson back in the starting lineup. At the least, he should be on rosters again.
Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans
Roster Percentage: 0 percent
About: This isn’t so much about Willis as about Ryan Tannehill. The veteran looked bad in Week 1, throwing 34 times and tossing three interceptions. The Titans have time to get better, but if they don’t, they could be a team looking to the future. The Titans spent a Third-Round pick on Willis in 2022 and a Second-Round pick on Will Levis in 2023. Willis looked better in the pre-season, but many have given up on him. Perhaps it’s time for a speculative add?
Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
Roster Percentage: 14.8 Percent
About: I know we all have concerns about whether Jimmy can stay healthy. That’s still a legitimate concern. But Jimmy G. looked good in the Raiders’ offense on Sunday, connecting with Davante Adams and Jakobi Myers. He finished as QB12 but remains lightly rostered. He is looking more like a decent option for Superflex leagues.
Running Backs
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens
Roster Percentage: .3 percent
About: The Ravens lost J.K. Dobbins for the season. The team announced they won’t be signing a running back from free agency, instead running with those already on the roster—Gus Edwards, Melvin Gordon, and Hill. Hill, in particular, did well on Sunday, scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns with Dobbins out. He’s also lightly rostered and should be a top waiver wire target.
Joshua Kelley, Los Angeles Chargers
Roster Percentage: .7 percent
About: Kelley had a tremendous Week 1, finishing with more than 90 rushing yards and a touchdown. And that was despite the fact Austin Ekeler finished as RB3 for the week. Ekeler is banged up, and we’ve seen Kellen Moore use multiple backs in an offense before, such as last year when both Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott were starting options for Dallas. Kelley is still lightly rostered and should be another top waiver target.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: .2 percent
About: Not only did the Rams come up with a big win against the Seahawks in Week 1, but they also seem to have found a new weapon in the backfield. Cam Akers had the most carries with 22, but Williams was the most effective. He added two rushing touchdowns and 52 yards on 15 carries. He finished as RB6 in Week 1. We spent the off-season waiting for Zach Evans to hit, but really, it’s Williams who should be a target this week.
Wide Receivers
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
Roster Percentage: 12.5 percent
About: Michael Thomas looked good in Week 1, and Chris Olave still seems to be a focus of the New Orleans’ passing attack. But both those players are likely already rostered. Meanwhile, Shaheed, the slot receiver, is rostered in less than 15 percent of leagues. He finished as WR10 on the week. He should be a waiver target in your league if he’s not rostered, especially with Thomas’ injury history.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: .9 percent
About: There were ardent supporters in the rookie draft process. In fact, in deeper dynasty leagues, he could well be rostered or on a Taxi Squad. If not, based on Week 1 and Cooper Kupp’s time on IR, he should be picked up. Nacua finished as WR14 in Week 1 and looks to have a role moving forward.
Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots
Roster Percentage: .8 percent
About: Who is going to step up in the passing game for the Patriots? The question raged all summer. Juju Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki were the big acquisitions, and DeVante Parker got a new contract. But it was Bourne who led the Patriots in targets and receptions in Week 1, finishing as WR4 for the week. He should be a popular waiver wire target this week.
Tight Ends
Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers
Roster Percentage: 16.4 percent
About: Hurst is already the most rostered player on this list, but given the state of the tight end position and the fact he led the Panthers in targets and receptions in Week 1, he should be rostered everywhere. Hurst looks like the veteran security blanket for rookie quarterback Bryce Young, which could mean good things this fantasy season.
Adam Trautman, Denver Broncos
Roster Percentage: .2 percent
About: I mentioned this last week, but Trautman is atop the depth chart for Denver. And now, with Greg Dulcich dealing with a hamstring injury, he’s by far the most attractive pass-catching option in the Broncos’ tight end group. He should be rostered.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
