Welcome to the Week 2 waiver wire watch!
The 2025 NFL season is finally underway and so too are the fantasy football campaigns for managers across all kinds of different formats. Some of you are probably already scrambling for tight end depth following Week 1 and we’ve got you covered.
We’ll go over some Week 1 TE performers that you should consider scooping off the waiver wire ahead of Week 2. We’ll classify a waiver add as someone who is rostered in roughly 60% of leagues at maximum.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (3.7%)
Johnson was the top fantasy wideout in PPR leagues coming out of Sunday’s slate and his numbers could’ve been even bigger had he not dropped a would-be game-tying touchdown in the closing seconds of the Saints’ opener. The veteran stepped up in the team’s 20-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals with eight receptions for 76 yards and could be a reliable target for Spencer Rattler as the season rolls on. You could be getting an absolute still if you successfully bid for him off the waiver wire this week.
Week 2 matchup: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1 p.m. ET
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots (48.2%)
New England aired it out all afternoon it its 20-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday and Henry made positive contributions in the losing effort. His four receptions for 66 yards earned fantasy managers 10.6 point in PPR, not bad for a big tight end option who is still available in roughly half of leagues across the board. The chemistry between him and Drake Maye is bound to get stronger as the season goes on, so make a note of that.
Week 2 matchup: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 10 p.m. ET (Monday night)
Zach Ertz, TE, Washington Commanders (46.9%)
So far, so good for the Commanders as they knocked off the New Giants 21-7 in their Week 1 NFC East showdown. The veteran Ertz didn’t post monster numbers in his debut with the team, but he made the most of his looks with three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown. He could emerge as a go-to red zone option for Jaylen Daniels, so keep that in mind if you need some TE help.
Week 2 matchup: @ Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday night)
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns (2.7%)
Cleveland’s offense was a mess in its 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but there were a few notable things coming out of the opener. One of which was the play of the rookie Fannin, who caught seven receptions for 63 yards in his NFL debut. This far outpaced starter David Njoku, who caught just three passes for 37 yards in the opener, so there’s a chance that the first-year TE could be in line for a healthy dose of looks moving forward.
Week 2 matchup: @ Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
George Kittle’s replacement
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media on Monday that Kittle would miss anywhere from three to five weeks with a hamstring injury. Luke Farrell (0%) and Jake Tonges (0%) are the two tight ends on the depth chart that will get opportunities in Kittle’s absence. In Week 1 against the Seahawks, Farrell caught one pass for four yards while Tonges caught three passes for 15 yards and the game-winning touchdown. The 49ers are unlikely to contribute much in Kittle’s absence, but the 49ers are shorthanded in the pass-catching department. If you want to roll the dice, Tonges could be worth a lottery ticket.
