Fantasy Football Week 2 Waiver Wire: Run Rookies Run

With the first week of the 2021 NFL season officially in the books, we start to get a better understanding of how players stack up on their teams’ depth charts. It’s one thing to hear offseason media hype from beat reporters and coach speak, it’s another to see the results on the field. Actions speak louder than words, and although it’s only been a week, there are several players available on the waiver wire that are worth rostering.

1. Elijah Mitchell, RB, 49ers

Throughout much of the offseason, there was a debate on who the number 1 running back in the San Francisco backfield would be, the explosive veteran, Raheem Mostert, or the young, fourth-round rookie, who the 49ers traded up for, Trey Sermon. Turns out the real answer may be sixth-rounder Elijah Mitchell, rushing for 104 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown in his debut. Given Shanahan’s history of producing elite fantasy running back options out of nowhere, this shouldn't come to much of a surprise. With Mostert placed on IR, Mitchell should continue playing a significant role in one of the league’s best rushing offenses. Shanahan has shown that he’s not afraid to play the rookies. Going back to his days in Washington as offensive coordinator, specifically 2012, rookie running back Alfred Morris, also drafted in the sixth round, finished the season with 1,613 rushing yards and as an overall top 10 fantasy back. The parallels between that and this season don’t stop there with both of Shanahan’s teams selecting mobile quarterbacks in RGIII and Trey Lance with top 3 picks. If history is any indication, Elijah Mitchell is a must-add this week.

2. Sterling Shepard, WR, Giants

Even with major offseason addition Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard looks like the most consistent pass catcher in the Giants offense. Often known for his safe floor, Shepard was able to showcase his ceiling potential last week, leading the team with 11 targets, 7 receptions for 113 yards, and a touchdown. With Saquan Barkley, Evan Engram, and Kenny Golladay all coming off or dealing with some type of injury, Sheppard’s history with quarterback Daniel Jones should continue to allow him to be a reliable fantasy option with sneaky upside in any given week.

4. Larry Rountree III, RB, Chargers

There was never a doubt that Austin Ekeler was going to be the lead back in the Chargers’ backfield, the real question was who the next man up would be and right now it looks like it’s the rookie Larry Rountree. In today’s NFL, it’s often rare to find a three-down workhorse, but that doesn’t mean that two running backs can’t be relevant for fantasy in the same offense. We’ve already seen the Chargers sustain two elite running backs in the same season with Ekeler and Melvin Gordon, along with new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram during his time with the Saints. In a high-powered offense with a much improved offensive line, if Rountree is able to solidify the No. 2 role, he can end up being a weekly flex option that offers significant upside if Ekeler, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury that plagued him for most of last, were to go down once again.

5. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Eagles

Another rookie running back worth keeping an eye on is Kenneth Gainwell. Coming out of the draft, Gainwell was widely considered as the best receiving back in his draft class. This bodes well for new Eagles head coach, Nick Siriani, who heavily utilized pass-catching back Nyheim Hines during his time in Indianapolis. Already seeing double-digit touches and finding the endzone in his debut, Gainwell could be seeing high-value touches weekly, especially considering Miles Sanders injury history and struggles in the receiving game.

6. Nelson Agholor, WR, Patriots

Coming off a career year, Agholor picked up right where he left off with a 5-72-1 performance on his new team. He was the most productive receiver on his offense last weekend, an encouraging sign for what the Patriots were hoping for in acquiring him in the offseason. It seems like Agholor has already established a connection with rookie quarterback Mac Jones, coming off his own breakout season at the collegiate level, where his No.1 option, DeVonta Smith, won the Heisman. With little competition in the receiver room, along with an accurate quarterback under center, Agholor’s deep threat playmaking ability should provide fantasy managers with a safe floor and a high-ceiling most weeks.