At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2026 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer some late-week pickup options at each of the primary fantasy positions to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
There might not be a major need for late-week pickups this early in the fantasy football season. However, in deeper leagues or superflex formats, fantasy managers can find quality depth and ascending players. Now that all teams have a game under their belts, there are potential targets we need to discuss.
We'll start with the wide receiver position, where four players should be on the radar, including a deep-ball threat who can bring big-play ability to your lineup. There are also two quarterbacks that topped the 300-yard passing mark last week available in over 55% of ESPN leagues.
Wide receivers
Devaughn Vele, New Orleans Saints (48.7% rostered; vs. Ravens)
With rookie Jordyn Tyson on IR, Vele was elevated to the No. 2 in the Saints' offense opposite Chris Olave in the Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions. Sure, the Saints had to throw the ball because of a 21-0 deficit, but Vele caught seven of nine targets for 69 yards and a score on a 1-yard fade ball to the end zone (19.9 points). Vele can play as a power slot or win on the perimeter. Take the volume and route deployment for Vele in Kellen Moore's offense this Sunday against the Ravens.
Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (35.0% rostered; at 49ers)
Douglas caught a team-high five passes (on seven targets) for 94 yards (14.4 points) in Miami's Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Douglas worked multiple levels, catching a boundary fade, running the deep in-cut and creating quick separation underneath. Now, I don't love the matchup versus the San Francisco 49ers, but Miami could be pass heavy late in this game. And Douglas has real upside because of his movement traits.
Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (22.4% rostered; at Titans)
Wicks is a fit in deeper formats for managers who want big-play juice in the lineup. Wicks caught only two of four targets in the Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders but finished with 73 yards and a touchdown. He hauled in a 64-yard reception on a designed shot play from Jalen Hurts, plus he scored on an end zone target. Wicks has a lower floor but can turn limited volume into production. It's a positive matchup against Tennessee, too.
Kalif Raymond, Chicago Bears (9.2% rostered; vs. Vikings)
Raymond surprised in Week 1, catching a team-high eight passes (on nine targets) for 84 yards in the Bears' win over the Carolina Panthers (16.4 points). Raymond was the outlet for Caleb Williams, running the sit routes and crossers underneath, but he did get loose on a deep over route. We know Raymond has the vertical speed to threaten over the top. Now, I wouldn't count on Raymond being the main target in this offense on a weekly basis. There are a lot of options in this Bears pass game. But in deeper formats, you can take a shot on Raymond this week versus the blitz-heavy Minnesota Vikings.
Quarterbacks
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (30.4% rostered; at Falcons)
In a positive Week 1 matchup against the Bears, Young's 31.44 points were the third most among quarterbacks. The pocket movement was there, plus Young completed nine passes of 15 or more yards. With Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, Young has two matchup players, and he can extend plays as a runner (one rushing score in Week 1). He should be viewed as a starter in 2QB/superflex formats.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (43.9% rostered; vs. Jets)
Love completed only 50% of his throws in the Week 1 loss to the Vikings, and he did turn the ball over twice (one interception, one fumble) in a matchup featuring heavy pressure from Brian Flores' defense. However, Love finished with 19.48 points, thanks to 387 passing yards and two touchdowns. I assume the Packers will want more offensive balance with the run game for Sunday's home matchup versus the New York Jets, but I don't see a ton of juice in that Green Bay backfield. You can use Love as a superflex option.
Running backs
Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (47.5% rostered; vs. Dolphins)
The rookie saw a team-high 14 carries, rushing for 65 yards, in the 49ers' Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. And he looked solid on tape. Downhill and decisive with the ball. However, can we count on double-digit carries for Black again in Week 2? I believe Christian McCaffrey (10 carries in Week 1) will see a bump in run-game volume versus Miami, while Black is your change-of-pace hammer. There's still value here, but a better fit in deeper leagues.
Devin Singletary, New York Giants (10.0% rostered; at Rams)
Singletary, who totaled 10 touches versus the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, caught all four of his targets for 22 yards and a touchdown (13.8 points). There's some upside for Singletary -- the No. 2 behind Cam Skattebo -- because of his receiving usage. He should be viewed as a deeper-league flex for the Week 2 game in L.A. on Monday night.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (1.6% rostered; vs. Ravens)
In the Saints' Week 1 loss to the Lions, Miller split carries with Travis Etienne Jr. (nine each). Plus, it was Miller who got the call on a low red zone carry that went for a touchdown. Now, Miller didn't see a target, while Etienne caught seven passes, so the ceiling is limited with the Saints' No. 2. But if you need a deeper-league flier at the RB spot, Miller fits.
Tight end
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (20.2% rostered; at Patriots)
Freiermuth caught all five of his targets for 46 yards and a score in the Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He's the underneath outlet for Aaron Rodgers in Mike McCarthy's offense, plus he can run the seams, using his frame to build leverage to the ball. Deeper leagues only here, but Freiermuth did put some quality stuff on tape last week.
Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (14.3% rostered; at Texans)
Gesicki led the Bengals in receiving during the Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching five passes (on seven targets) for 78 yards and a score (18.8 points). The touchdown grab was on a schemed throw from Joe Burrow to beat man coverage. While I expect Ja'Marr Chase (two receptions) and Tee Higgins (three receptions) to see more volume Sunday versus the Houston Texans, Gesicki will still have opportunities versus DeMeco Ryans' zone coverages.
D/ST
Green Bay Packers (4.0% rostered; vs. Jets)
I don't see a ton of positive matchups among the widely available defenses in Week 2, so I'll go with the Packers at home versus the Jets on Sunday. I know the Green Bay defense gave up a lead to the Vikings in the Week 1 loss, but this unit did produce three sacks and an interception. I'll take it against the Jets' offense.