FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Has Quentin Johnston Finally Arrived? | Fantasy Football Week 2 Waiver Wire: Must-Have Players to Add to Your Roster (Ep. 1694)
Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Joe Pisapia ("Joey P")
Analysts: Derek Brown ("Dbro"), Pat Fitzmaurice ("Fitzy")

Episode Overview

This packed Waiver Wire edition dives into the top moves for fantasy football Week 2. The team weighs in on headline-grabbing Week 1 performances, debate how aggressively managers should spend FAAB on trendy adds (especially Quentin Johnston and Hollywood Brown), and identify smart pickups and sneaky stashes for varied league types. The hosts bring their usual blend of in-depth analysis and friendly banter while breaking down usage, upside, and risk profiles for every key waiver candidate. They also include actionable streaming options for quarterback, tight end, defense, and kicker as lineups and bye weeks begin to bite.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Waiver Wire Headliner: Hollywood Brown

• Situation: Stepped up with 16 targets due to Xavier Worthy’s injury and Rashee Rice’s suspension. Strong short-term value, but shelf life is uncertain once Rice and Worthy return.
• Analysis:
  • Pat Fitzmaurice (04:06): "At minimum it seems like you’re gonna get a two to four week runway with Hollywood Brown here… So if you need immediate help, I think he’s worth a fairly decent sized spend on waivers."
  • Dbro (06:03): "16 targets is 16 targets… I think you put in bids for both these guys. But we know that you’re going to have to bid aggressively to get Hollywood."
  • Bidding Advice: Both recommend being aggressive if in need of a short-term WR, but caution not to overspend (suggested cap: ~$16 or ~16-20% of budget). For deeper benches or less desperation, look elsewhere.
  • Pat Fitzmaurice (07:59): "In our waiver wire article, our desperate need bid for Marquis Brown is $16 and I think that’s a pretty good limit. Like I wouldn’t want to go over that."
  • Consensus: Must-add for teams needing immediate WR help (esp. Worthy owners), but value will plummet when the room is healthy again.

2. RB Roundup: Dylan Sampson, Trey Benson, and More

• Dylan Sampson:

  • Role: Surged ahead of Jerome Ford, even with Judkins looming.
  • Dbro (09:53): "It was very encouraging to see his usage. I mean to outcarry Jerome Ford in the first game… he got 20 total opportunities… I’m not sold when do we see Quinn Sean Judkins… He could be the leader of the backfield for most of this season."
  • Pat Fitzmaurice (12:24): "Brown’s running backs yesterday had 21 carries for 40 yards… the one thing that is encouraging is that he got eight targets, caught all of them and had 64 yards."
  • Bidding Advice: Moderate FAAB (~12-15%). Sampson praised for PPR/flex value.

• Trey Benson: Briefly mentioned as a strong stash if available—universal "go get him" in all leagues.

• Deep Cuts: Kyle Monangai (Bears RB), Kenneth Gainwell

  • Gainwell: Both Dbro and Pat unenthusiastic—usage unlikely to persist, not worth a waiver bid.
  • Monangai: Worth a speculative add in deeper formats, especially for those fading DeAndre Swift.

3. WR Deep-Dives: Tillman, Quentin Johnston, and More

Cedric Tillman (Browns)

• Production: 5 catches, 52 yards, TD. Emerging chemistry with Joe Flacco.
• Jake Seeley’s Take (relayed by Joe P 25:13): "Fannin’s presence kind of hurts intermediate targets...and that opens up the deep ball stuff for Cedric Tillman."
• Pat Fitzmaurice (25:41): Supports the take but warns: "The one splash of cold water...the upcoming schedule: at Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota. That’s a pretty tough run."

Quentin Johnston (Chargers)

• Breakout Game: 5 catches, 7 targets, 2 TDs – a surprise after offseason skepticism.
• Pat Fitzmaurice (29:59): "Since the beginning of 2024, Quentin Johnston has scored 10 touchdowns in his last 16 games… He is big and fast… Not the most reliable guy, but he looked pretty clean catching the ball against the Chiefs."
• Dbro (30:59): "It’s not the one game that got me. It’s what he did in the one game that I thought was impressive… This might be a pass-first offense this year… If he stays healthy… I’m more on the aggressive side [of bidding], like 12-15%. I think this is more real than fake."
• Joe P (34:48): "He is just under 10% rostered right now too. So QJ’s available. And if you’re hurting at wide receiver… this is a spot you might want to consider…"
• Advice: Strong add—willingness to drop even big names like Cooper Kupp for QJ was debated and ultimately agreed upon by both analysts.
  • Pat (39:01): "QJ." [Prefers Quentin Johnston over Cooper Kupp ROS]
  • Dbro (37:53): "I would [drop Kupp for QJ]."

Other WRs discussed

• Romeo Doubs & Elec Ayomanor: $1-$2 bids, decent volume stashes.
• Calvin Austin: Possibly sliding into a Randall Cobb-type role with Pittsburgh.
• Trey Harris: Relegated to drop consideration in redraft as QJ’s backup. "He has no value [in redraft]." – (Pat, 37:18)

Streaming Picks: Week 2

Quarterback

• Pat: "I’m going with Bryce Young [at Arizona]." (40:51)
• Dbro: "Geno Smith. The Raiders are apparently going to be pass heavy this year… Geno looked good." (41:35)

Tight End

• Dbro: "Juwan Johnson… 23% target share, behind only Olave. They’re going to play the 49ers. He’s a stream AND a stash." (42:23)
• Pat: "Brenton Strange... four catches for a team high 59 yards. Gets the Bengals next (weak against TEs)." (43:36)

Defense

• Pat: "Let’s go with Seattle… at least a two-week play for me. Next up: Steelers, then Saints." (44:15)
• Dbro: "49ers... for multi-week utility: Saints, then Arizona, then Jacksonville." (44:49)

Kicker

• Dbro: "Start all your Ravens, including their kicker Tyler Loup." (45:12)
• Pat: "If you can’t get Loup, go for old man Matt Prater… 3-for-3 with the Bills in his debut." (45:19)

FAAB & Waiver Priorities

Dbro’s Top 5 Waiver Adds for Week 2 (46:30)

1. Hollywood Brown
2. Quentin Johnston
3. Dylan Sampson
4. Adam Thielen (steady veteran, good matchups)
5. Juwan Johnson

Fitzy’s Top 5 (46:50)

1. Hollywood Brown (by far)
2. Kyle Monangai (high ceiling if he eclipses Swift)
3. Dylan Sampson
4. Quentin Johnston
5. Harold Fannin (rookie TE with eye-catching college numbers and big week one usage)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Quentin Johnston's sudden upside
  "What he did in week one was impressive… 2.1 yards per route run, 24% first read share, 30.6% route win rate… I think this is more real than fiction here now. I was surprised."
  — Dbro, (30:59)

• On Hollywood Brown's short window
  "A lot of those receptions were just short, nothing burgers… you don’t want him taking those shots. But it seems like he’s going to fit into that role."
  — Pat Fitzmaurice (04:06)

• On dropping Cooper Kupp for Quentin Johnston
  "Would you drop him for QJ right now?"
  "I would… You see a game where Sam Darnold goes out and throws for a buck fifty and Cooper Kupp gets three targets. That’s concerning, man."
  — Joe P and Dbro (37:54)

• On fantasy patience
  "People will be much more measured the way Pat Fitzmaurice is discussing it, which is, all right, it’s one week. Let’s not go crazy."
  — Joe P (39:03)

Quick-Fire Notes & Timestamps

• Hollywood Brown’s value window: Immediate but brief. (04:06–08:31)
• Dylan Sampson’s surprising usage: Could be season-long relevant. (09:53–12:17)
• How to handle "drop" candidates: "Don’t drop Caleb Johnson" – both warn against overreacting to Week 1 disappointments. (18:06)
• The perennial Quentin Johnston question: Is this real? Why this year’s context could make it different. (27:46–34:48)
• "Shotgun approach" to deep WRs: Bid low & see who sticks among Dobbs, Ayomanor, Austin, etc. (35:54)
• Hot take consensus: Both would drop Cooper Kupp for QJ as of Week 2. (37:53–39:01)
• Streaming advice starts at: 40:51
• Top-5 priorities: 46:30

Summary Table: Top Waiver Targets

| Player | Pos | Reason to Add | Aggressiveness / Bid | |-----------------------|-----|--------------------------|--------------------------| | Hollywood Brown | WR | Short-term WR1 upside | 16–20% if desperate | | Quentin Johnston | WR | Possible breakout, high TD rate | 12–15% if you need upside | | Dylan Sampson | RB | Flex-worthy volume+PPR | 10–15% | | Kyle Monangai | RB | Potential RB2 stash, deeper leagues | Low-moderate | | Juwan Johnson | TE | Surprising target share, red-zone role | 5–8% | | Harold Fannin | TE | Unique college profile, usage | Low-moderate |

Final Word

The analysts urge measured but proactive waiver action: be aggressive for immediate-impact guys if you’re 0-1 or have injury woes, but don’t blow your budget on one-week wonders. Tier your bids—best values may come from patient, budget-conscious stashing. If you’re searching for upside or needing a quick fix at WR/RB, this week’s crop offers real upside, led by Hollywood Brown (for now) and a possibly new-and-improved Quentin Johnston.

To paraphrase Joe P (39:03): Don’t panic after Week 1—but don’t miss your moment to get ahead of trends.