FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast Episode: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes to Target Ahead of Week 2 (Ep. 1693) Date: September 8, 2025 Featuring: Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), Jake Seeley (The Athletic)

Overview

This episode delivers rapid-fire, actionable advice on the best waiver wire pickups and stash candidates for Week 2 of the fantasy football season. Hosts Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia) and Jake Seeley cut through the noise of Week 1's overreactions, discussing both widely available players and deeper league fliers. The focus is weighted toward injuries, player opportunity, and strategic stashing, all with the classic FantasyPros mix of humor and banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hollywood Brown: Immediate WR Pickup with a Ticking Clock

• Situation: Xavier Worthy injury opens up opportunity; Hollywood Brown posted 99 yards on 16 targets, 10 catches in Week 1.
• Availability: Rostered in only 31% of Sleeper leagues.
• Analysis:
  • Brown is an essential waiver pickup for immediate WR help, especially for those who lost Worthy or are thin at the position.
  • Caveat: His long-term value is uncertain due to health history and the upcoming return of Rashee Rice; pick up and possibly try to “flip” him after another good game.
• Quote:

  "If you need wide receiver health, you have to get [Hollywood Brown]. If you had Xavier Worthy, you have to get him...But...understand it's a limited value. So if you are in a league with some inexperienced people, try to flip them."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [02:24]

2. Cedric Tillman: High-Upside WR Stash

• Situation: Coming off a strong Week 1 (five catches, 52 yards, TD), 34% rostered.
• Analysis:
  • Significant talent and big-play upside; could outscore Jerry Jeudy this season, especially with Flacco favoring him.
  • Less competition for targets in the intermediate/deep game; tight ends (like Fannin) may cannibalize the shorter-range targets from players like Jeudy but leave Tillman’s role intact.
• Quote:

  "If we got to the end of the year and Cedric Tillman had more fantasy points than Jerry, Judy...it would be a surprise to a lot of people, but it wouldn't be shocking."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [04:17]

3. Quentin Johnston: Big Splash, Tempered Expectations

• Situation: Only 9% rostered, broke out in Week 1 with 7 targets, 5 catches, and 2 TDs.

• Analysis:

  • Don't overspend chasing the splash game; there’s competition from Keenan Allen, Lad McConkey, and rookie Trey Harris. Chargers may not be as pass-heavy in coming weeks.
  • Still of interest in deeper leagues given first-round draft capital and possible third-year breakout.

• Quotes:

  "We've seen this before. We've seen the Splash game from Quentin Johnson...is this the trap of week one that people are going to fall in and wish they never spent a dime on Quentin Johnson?"
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [07:31]

  "Johnston, can he be like Tillman, a wide receiver? Four. Yeah, but...this is still going to go through lad McConkey, Keenan Allen's still going to be a factor."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [12:38]

4. Trey Benson: Must-Stash RB with Season-Long Upside

• Situation: Only 54% rostered (even less on Yahoo, 39%), flashed in Week 1 for the Cardinals.
• Analysis:
  • Prime stash as James Conner ages out and Benson's share of the offense grows; standalone flex appeal expected soon.
  • One of the top 2–3 handcuff RBs with highest league-winning upside if the starter goes down.
• Quote:

  "Trey Benson could find his way into some of your lineups. And then, of course, the appeal as we know is...if we did a top five handcuffs show right now...Trey Benson would probably be...pushing for that number one spot."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [15:05]

5. Juwan Johnson: Tight End Flier for Deeper Leagues

• Situation: Only 5% rostered, clear TE1 for Saints with several WR injuries and Taysom Hill banged up.
• Analysis:
  • High snap percentage and strong target volume from Spencer Rattler in Week 1.
  • Solid emergency/bye-week TE while Saints' WR corps is wounded.
• Quote:

  "He was out there like 90% of the time. And who targeted him? The ton – Spencer Rattler...as long as Rattler is at quarterback and...he's basically the [Saints'] number two [weapon]."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [17:51]

6. Bonus/Deep League Stashes

• Jaden Higgins (Texans, WR) – Led team in yards (32) as a rookie starter; deep league dart throw.
  [19:32]
• Alec Alumanna (Titans, WR) – Already the No. 2 in Tennessee, another rookie worth a bench slot in desperate situations.
  [19:32]
• Kenneth Gainwell (RB, Steelers) – Involved in 50/50 split with Jalen Warren; not flashy, but worth a look if RB depth is depleted.
  [20:16]
• Caleb Johnson (RB, Steelers) – Expected to get more involved; watch-list candidate.
  [20:32]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the logic of stashing vs. flipping Hollywood Brown:

  "He is a ticking time bomb both by his health and Rashee Rice coming back."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [02:24]

• On rookie numbers in the NFL:

  "Dude, don't get me started on the numbers...When I see a wide receiver wearing the number four, it just pisses me off. I want you to wear 84."
  – Michael F. Florio, [05:51]

• On candy draft strategy (comic relief):

  "My house gave out the premium candy and I was out there walking miles for, like, candy that I didn't like. I could have just stayed at home."
  – Michael F. Florio, [07:17]

• Classic cautionary tale:

  "Is his name Kevin Ogletree is what you're asking. We're doing this again, for everybody that remembers 2012..."
  – Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia), [11:47]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Top Waiver Targets Overview: [00:38] – [03:29]
• Cedric Tillman Discussion: [03:29] – [05:32]
• Fun banter about numbers & candy: [05:32] – [07:26]
• Quentin Johnston Deep Dive: [07:26] – [13:21]
• Trey Benson Must-Stash RB Analysis: [13:21] – [16:13]
• Juwan Johnson/Deep TE discussion: [16:13] – [19:18]
• Rapid-Fire Deep League Stashes: [19:18] – [20:42]
• Wrap-Up and Closing Advice: [20:42] – [21:41]

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize Hollywood Brown and Cedric Tillman for short-term and potential long-term WR help, but manage your expectations and waiver budget accordingly.
• Don’t overspend for one-week wonders like Quentin Johnston, but don’t ignore the possibility of elevated roles for rookies and breakout candidates.
• Trey Benson is the premier RB stash, especially if you play in more casual or shallow leagues where he’s undrafted.
• Juwan Johnson and the deep stashes mentioned are mainly for deep or TE-premium leagues desperate for upside.
• Adjust FAB bids based on your league's tendencies, and be ready to “flip” hot players when the time is right.
• Have fun—a little humor never hurts in fantasy football.

For more waiver help, use the FantasyPros Waiver Wire Central tool and download the FantasyPros app.

Hosts: Joey P. (Joe P. Zapia) and Jake Seeley
Happy waiver hunting!