Should I Pick Up Alec Pierce? Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups For Fantasy Football

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been a consistent wide receiver or fantasy football asset during his career.

The former Cincinnati star had 73 receptions for 1,107 receiving yards and four touchdowns over his first two seasons, totaling under 600 yards in both years. However, he had an impressive performance in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

Should fantasy players add Pierce off the waiver wire after his opening weekend performance? Let’s dive into it.

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Should I Pick Up Alec Pierce?

There were many surprise fantasy performances in Week 1. Pierce scored 20 half-point PPR fantasy points in the loss to the Houston Texans, totaling three receptions on three targets for 125 receiving yards and a beautiful deep ball touchdown from Anthony Richardson.

Effortless.

📺 #INDvsGB | 9/15 on FOX pic.twitter.com/elzjLF1KNt

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 9, 2024

While the third-year receiver was the WR8 in Week 1, fantasy players shouldn’t blow their free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) on Piece. He had 33% of Richardson’s completions in the game. That is unlikely to happen again.

More importantly, Michael Pittman Jr. (eight) and Adonai Mitchell (five) had more targets than Piece on Sunday (three). Furthermore, Josh Downs (ankle) should make his season debut in Week 2 or Week 3. While he is a decent waiver wire addition, Pierce isn’t my top wide receiver target this week.

Other Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets

Fantasy players should make Brandin Cooks their top wide receiver target off the waiver wire. The veteran was the WR19 in Week 1, scoring 12.5 half-point PPR fantasy points. He had four receptions on seven targets for 40 receiving yards and a touchdown in the win over the Cleveland Browns.

Dak to Brandin Cooks! First Cowboys TD of the year!

📺: #DALvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/VQ2JNW3GE1

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Cooks is available in over 65% of Yahoo leagues. The veteran should have an increased workload, as Jake Ferguson is dealing with a knee injury. Furthermore, he finished second in target per route run rate (28%) among the team’s wide receivers in Week 1 (per Fantasy Points Data).

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