Fantasy Waiver Wire: Coker and Montgomery Emerge as Top Week 2 Adds
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker caught eight passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 1 loss, making him a priority waiver add. Houston Texans running back David Montgomery rushed for two scores and added a receiving touchdown, showing a central role in the offense. Both players are widely available in fantasy leagues and could provide immediate value.
Coker's breakout came against a Bears defense that struggled to contain Carolina's passing attack, with the Panthers trailing throughout and forced to air the ball out. His rapport with Bryce Young, developed last season and into the playoffs, appears to have carried over into 2026. With reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan drawing defensive attention, Coker should see favorable matchups on a weekly basis.
Montgomery's versatility was on full display against Buffalo, as he handled goal-line carries and caught passes out of the backfield. At 29, he is proving he can still shoulder a significant workload. The Texans clearly intend to feature him to ease pressure on CJ Stroud. Meanwhile, Gesicki emerged as Burrow's most reliable target when the Bengals' star receivers were contained, giving Cincinnati a dependable safety blanket.
Fantasy football engages millions of participants who invest time and money into leagues, and breakout performances like Coker's and Montgomery's create immediate shifts in waiver wire activity. These pickups can alter competitive balance, rewarding attentive managers while penalizing those who miss the news. The broader effect is heightened engagement with NFL games, as fantasy owners tune in to track their new acquisitions' performances, potentially boosting viewership and league-wide interest in otherwise overlooked players and teams.