Week one of the fantasy football season is always a joy! The first full week of playing the waiver wire is too. There is a balance to be met between properly evaluating your team needs versus the talent available. Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one.
I have in the past cautionedof players who post fluke stats in Week 1. Every single quarterback listed below poses their own set of risk for the remaining season. They are best viewed as QB2s in deeper leagues as well as options in two quarterback leagues with Andrew Luck out and Nick Foles injured.
Also, I have laid out some lengthy lists because of fantasy football team owners in 16 team leagues. Indeed, view the lists as rankings of this week’s potential waiver wire adds.
QUARTERBACKS
1 Matt Stafford, Lions
2 Case Keenum, Redskins
3 Andy Dalton, Bengals
4 Marcus Mariota, Titans
5 Gardner Minshew, Jaguars
All of these quarterbacks are likely on your fantasy football waiver wire. None are a must add.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Matt Breida, 49ers
2 Adrian Peterson, Redskins
3 Ronald Jones, Buccaneers
4 Malcolm Brown, Rams
5 Chris Thompson, Redskins
6 Gus Edwards, Ravens
7 Rex Burkhead, Patriots
8 Darren Sproles, Eagles
9 Mike Davis, Bears
The fantasy football running backs waiver wire list runs down from starters to running backs better suited for points-per-receptions leagues (PPR). Matt Breida and Ronald Jones have potential staying power for the rest of the season while Adrian Peterson will lose his role whenever Derrius Guice returns from injury. Gus Edwards had a surprising seventeen rushes while Rex Burkhead had 8 targets on 13 touches and Chris Thompson has 10 targets.
Wide Receivers
1 DeSean Jackson, Eagles
2 Michael Gallup, Cowboys
3 John Brown, Bills
4 Jamison Crowder, Bills
5 Davante Parker, Dolphins
6 Marquise Brown, Ravens
7 John Ross, Bengals
8 DJ Chark, Jaguars
9 Terry McLaurin, Redskins
10 Donte Moncrief, Steelers
11 Danny Amendola, Lions
12 Chris Conley, Jaguars
13 Keeshaun Johnson, Cardinals
DeSean Jackson seems to have re-found his home in Philly and was targeted 10 times. Michael Gallup finally lived up to the hype with 7 targets going for over 150 yards. With the exception of Marquise Brown, most of the above referenced players were heavily targeted in their team offenses. As to Marquise Brown, he’s still a solid add but don’t be surprised if he is boom or bust as he was targeted five times but made the most of it. Donte Moncrief is an add if JuJu Smith-Schuster is caused to miss any games due to his injury.
Tight Ends
1 TJ Hockenson, Lions
2 Mark Anderson, Ravens
3 Darren Waller, Raiders
4 Greg Olsen, Panthers
5 Jimmy Graham, Packers
6 Vernon Davis, Redskins
7 Tyler Eifert, Bengals
8 Mike Gesicki, Dolphins
This week’s waiver adds for fantasy football tight ends is dominated by rookies who made an impact last week and are certain to continue doing so. Look to Vernon Davis if Jordan Reed misses time.
Defenses
1 Texans (v. Jaguars)
2 Panthers (v. Buccaneers)
3 Cowboys (at Redskins)
4 Jets (v. Browns)
5 Broncos (v. Bears)
These defenses each play teams that struggled in Week 1 to produce on offense. The Dolphins look like this season’s defensive punching bag and they play the must start Patriots defense this week.