Fantasy Football Week 1 Waiver Wire: Players to add post-draft

Every Monday throughout the season, Justin Boone breaks down his high beneficial waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo fantasy soccer leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) quantities are primarily based on a $100 wage cap. Only gamers rostered in lower than 50% of leagues are thought of.

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Quarterbacks

Michael Penix Jr., Falcons

We solely bought a glimpse of Penix because the Falcons starter final season, however in these three video games his manufacturing ramped up, culminating in a QB6 end in Week 18. In his first begin as a sophomore, he’ll draw one in every of his best matchups of the 12 months in opposition to the Buccaneers’ pass-funnel protection that allowed the fourth-most fantasy factors to quarterbacks in 2024. Last 12 months on this similar offense, Kirk Cousins threw for 785 yards and eight touchdowns over his two matchups with Tampa Bay, ending as a top-three fantasy QB each weeks. With Darnell Mooney again at follow, there’s an opportunity Penix may have his full complement of weapons within the opener. Consider Penix an intriguing QB2 with QB1 upside this week.

Trevor Lawrence is simply above the 50% rostered mark however could be the highest add if accessible.

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Streaming choices: Bryce Young at JAX (27% rostered), Tua Tagovailoa at IND (25% rostered), Geno Smith at NE (22% rostered)

Risky streaming choices: Matthew Stafford vs. HOU (27% rostered), Sam Darnold vs. SF (14% rostered), Daniel Jones vs. MIA (5% rostered)

Desperation streaming choices: Russell Wilson at WAS (5% rostered), Aaron Rodgers at NYJ (14% rostered), Joe Flacco vs. CIN (4% rostered), Cam Ward at DEN (26% rostered), Spencer Rattler vs. ARI (2% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Jaxson Dart (6% rostered), Anthony Richardson Sr. (4% rostered)

Running Backs

Ollie Gordon III, Dolphins

De’Von Achane was again on the follow subject and dealing off to the aspect firstly of the week as he tries to return from a calf damage. The expectation is that Achane will swimsuit up within the opener, however whether or not the Dolphins give him a full workload is but to be decided. With Jaylen Wright set to miss a number of video games after leg surgical procedure, Gordon is about to parlay his robust preseason right into a Week 1 position. Even if Achane sees a standard quantity of snaps, the rookie can supply RB3/flex worth as an even bigger again and potential goal-line possibility in an offense that’s struggled in that space of the sphere. Gordon wants to be rostered in every single place till we affirm Achane is 100% heading into the weekend.

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Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders

With Brian Robinson Jr. out of the image in Washington, there’s a gap for fantasy worth to emerge. Some (*1*) have steered will probably be Rodriguez who will get the Week 1 begin, which wouldn’t be surprising since an early-season committee appears probably. Rookie Bill Croskey-Merritt is essentially the most explosive of the Commanders’ remaining backs and has acquired a ton of hype, whereas veteran Austin Ekeler ought to proceed to function the primary passing-down possibility. With Rodriguez projected to have a job, he wants to be picked up in additional leagues as a possible flex possibility or at worst a wait-and-see stash.

Dylan Sampson, Quinshon Judkins and Jerome Ford are shut to or under the 50% rostered mark however must be rostered in most leagues till we get readability on the Browns’ backfield scenario.

High-upside backups like Trey Benson (39% rostered), Ray Davis (35% rostered) and Tyler Allgeier (34% rostered) must be rostered in most leagues.

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Flex choices: Rico Dowdle at JAX (21% rostered)

Flex choices (if wholesome): Rachaad White at ATL (44% rostered)

Risky flex choices: Jaydon Blue at PHI (38% rostered), Woody Marks at LAR (9% rostered), Keaton Mitchell at BUF (3% rostered), Brashard Smith at LAC (2% rostered)

Risky flex choices (if wholesome): Najee Harris vs. KC (45% rostered), Kyle Monangai vs. MIN (5% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices: Justice Hill at BUF (3% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Will Shipley (12% rostered), DJ Giddens (3% rostered), Tahj Brooks (2% rostered), Kendre Miller (3% rostered), Kareem Hunt (17% rostered), Jarquez Hunter (2% rostered), Blake Corum (10% rostered), Dameon Pierce (4% rostered), Sean Tucker (3% rostered), Kalel Mullings (0% rostered)

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Deep stashes: Chris Brooks (0% rostered), Zamir White (1% rostered), Miles Sanders at PHI (2% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (1% rostered), Ty Johnson (1% rostered), Hassan Haskins (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Tyjae Spears (36% rostered), MarShawn Lloyd (3% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Christian Kirk, Texans

This isn’t the primary time I’ve talked about Kirk as a really underrated wideout whom fantasy managers are sleeping on this season. So, let’s recap why he must be rostered in most leagues. Kirk has already established himself as a starter in each two- and three-receiver units, in a Texans’ passing assault that’s primed for a bounce again after they reloaded the receiving corps. He additionally earned nicknames like “slot magician” and “slot demon” from teammates and folks shouldn’t be shocked. Kirk is only a couple years faraway from being the WR19 in fppg and was a top-30 possibility over the primary 12 weeks of 2023 earlier than accidents derailed every of his previous two campaigns. A wholesome Kirk may return fantasy-WR3 worth, so don’t let him linger on the waiver wire.

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Darnell Mooney and Keenan Allen are shut to or above the 50% rostered mark however must be rostered in most leagues.

WR4/flex choices (if wholesome): Marvin Mims Jr. vs. TEN (40% rostered)

Flex choices: DeMario Douglas vs. LV (16% rostered), Cedric Tillman vs. CIN (24% rostered), Xavier Legette at JAX (17% rostered), Romeo Doubs vs. DET (14% rostered), Wan’Dale Robinson at WAS (19% rostered)

Flex choices (if wholesome): Hollywood Brown at LAC (17% rostered)

Risky flex choices: Rashod Bateman at BUF (46% rostered), Joshua Palmer vs. BAL (25% rostered), Dont’e Thonton Jr. at NE (9% rostered)

Dart-throw flex choices: DeAndre Hopkins at BUF (9% rostered), Adam Thielen at CHI (27% rostered), Jayden Higgins at LAR (39% rostered), Tory Horton vs. SF (3% rostered), Isaac TeSlaa at GB (9% rostered), Tyler Lockett at DEN (4% rostered), Darius Slayton at WAS (2% rostered), Amari Cooper at NE (15% rostered), Adonai Mitchell vs. MIA (2% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. MIA (5% rostered), Dontayvion Wicks vs. DET (1% rostered), Michael Wilson at NO (2% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs. PIT (0% rostered), KaVontae Turpin at PHI (3% rostered), Troy Franklin vs. TEN (2% rostered), Malik Washington at IND (2% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud III vs. TB (1% rostered), Olamide Zaccheaus vs. MIN (0% rostered)

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Dart-throw flex choices (if wholesome): Quentin Johnston vs. KC (5% rostered), Jalen Nailor at CHI (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Jalen Coker (8% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Kyle Williams (11% rostered), Pat Bryant (4% rostered), Luther Burden III (25% rostered), Tre’ Harris (11% rostered), KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1% rostered), Elic Ayomanor (3% rostered), Jalen Royals (2% rostered), Jaylin Lane (0% rostered)

Tight Ends

Chig Okonkwo, Titans

Okonkwo has ended every of the final two years robust, ending because the TE15 in fantasy factors per sport over the ultimate seven weeks of 2023 and because the TE12 over the identical interval final season. More importantly, Okonkwo’s enjoying time ramped up down the stretch and his close to full-time standing carried over into the preseason. He’s an athletic pass-catching menace who has an opportunity to be one of many top-two targets in a Titans offense that simply bought a large improve at quarterback. After back-to-back seasons with no less than 70 targets and 50 receptions, I’m projecting a profession 12 months from Okonkwo, which might put him within the low-end TE1 dialog for fantasy.

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Zach Ertz is simply above the 50% rostered mark however could be the highest add if accessible.

Streaming choices: Brenton Strange vs. CAR (22% rostered), Jonnu Smith at NYJ (34% rostered)

Risky streaming choices: Mason Taylor vs. PIT (12% rostered), Ja’Tavion Sanders at JAX (2% rostered), Theo Johnson at WAS (7% rostered)

Risky streaming choices (if wholesome): Cade Otton at ATL (7% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming choices: Darren Waller at IND (12% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. ARI (1% rostered), Mike Gesicki at CLE (7% rostered), Tyler Higbee vs. HOU (2% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. KC (0% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Harold Fannin Jr. (1% rostered), Isaiah Likely (14% rostered), Elijah Arroyo (5% rostered), Terrance Ferguson (1% rostered), Noah Gray (1% rostered), Cade Stover (0% rostered)

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Defenses

Week 1 streamers

Kickers

Week 1 streamers