RADIO
It didn't take long for the scoreboards to start lighting up in Week 1. About halfway through the first quarter, we were all ready to open up our FAAB wallets for Marquise Brown. In fact, rookie wide receivers stole the show on Sunday, with a handful of them looking as if they could be meaningful contributors.
Each week, we will advise you which players to consider picking up on waivers that are owned in approximately 30% or fewer of Yahoo leagues so that you can make an educated decision about how to improve your fantasy football team. If higher-owned players such as Justin Jackson, Jamison Crowder or D.K. Metcalf are available in your league, by all means, prioritize them as pickups before these players.
Let’s look around the league at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends who are worth targeting on waivers. Be sure to also check out our weekly rankings and analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all options heading into Week 2.
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Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - 26% owned
That's the old Matty Stafford we all know and love. 385 yards and three scores are more like the numbers we were accustomed to over the years. For all the concern over this Lions offense becoming more conservative and run-focused, Matt Patricia decided to continue his vendetta against Kerryon Johnson owners and limit him to 16 carries. All told, Detroit finished with a 45-32 pass-run split for plays run even though they led the entire way until the very end when Arizona forced a tie. Stafford should continue to benefit from the return of Marvin Jones and arrival of T.J. Hockenson this season. He could be forced into more pass attempts next week against the Chargers, who will challenge more so than the Cards.
Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts - 12% owned
The Luckless Colts didn't come away with a win in Week 1 but they showed that they still have an offense. Brissett found T.Y. Hilton twice for a touchdown and spread the ball around to eight different receivers in typical Colts fashion. The loss of Devin Funchess hurts but there is enough firepower here to make Brissett a decent start in two-QB leagues. Just not next week. Indy travels to Nashville to take on the Titans, who just picked off Baker Mayfield three times and shut down the Browns.
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals - 10% owned
He continues to get no respect from the fantasy community, as shown by his sparse ownership. All Dalton did in Week 1 was throw for a league-high 418 passing yards with a pair of touchdowns. The fact he tossed 51 attempts is the main factor but this game was close throughout and Cincy wound up losing by one point, so none of this came in garbage time. New offensive-minded coach Zac Taylor could be another wunderkind like his mentor, Sean McVay. If that's the case, Dalton could continue to surprise with gaudy stats, even without A.J. Green. He gets a nice matchup against the Niners next, so make him your top streamer along with Stafford.
Case Keenum, Washington Redskins - 2% owned
Sure, you played him in DFS... We all wish we saw this coming but we didn't. Keenum is barely owned and as such will see a spike in adds this week. He's been an effective passer in the past, leading Minnesota to the NFC Championship game just two years ago while throwing 22 TD over 14 starts. He actually improved his yards per game average last year up to 243. That won't make him a fantasy starter most places but he is on the streaming radar. The next two weeks are a no-go as the Skins face Dallas and Chicago but Week 4 he gets the Giants.
Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars - 0% owned
Of all the rookie quarterbacks taking their first snaps in the league, Minshew was completely unanticipated. Nick Foles is out for the foreseeable future with a broken collarbone, so Minshew gets to run the show. He showed great moxie right away, completing the first 13 passes of his career and completing 22 of 25 throws on the day with two TD and one INT. He has some talented skill players around him but the problem is a brutal defensive schedule coming up that includes road games at Houston, Denver, and Carolina, as well as home games against Tennessee and New Orleans. He is certainly worth adding in two-QB or Superflex leagues but not elsewhere.
Edit: Joshua Dobbs has been acquired by Jacksonville and may push for playing time if Minshew struggles but at this moment, he will be the backup and should not affect Minshew's value.
Others to consider: Sam Darnold, New York Jets (26% owned); Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans (7% owned); Joe Flacco, Denver Broncos (7% owned)
Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 28% owned
Well, he wasn't terrible. The same can't be said for his quarterback or the offense as a whole. Jones and Peyton Barber were at an even split in terms of touches until the fourth quarter when Jones got the bulk of the work. Jones was also more effective, averaging 5.8 yards per carry compared to 4.1 for Barber. Surprisingly, Barber saw a 4-1 target advantage and Dare Ogunbowale still lurks to take the occasional passing down away. Jones may or may not be ready to break out this year but he's still part of a committee, so temper expectations until this offense morphs into something more effective. A road game against the Panthers in Week 2 doesn't seem like the best opportunity for that to happen. Jones can be stashed but isn't a must-start by any means.
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens - 32% owned
Sadly, the Ravens won't get to face the Dolphins every week. That doesn't mean this offense can't keep clicking though. The "hot hand" approach proved to be true, as Ingram had it going early and then gave way to the other two backs later on. Hill was out-touched by Gus Edwards 17-7 on the ground but this game allowed the Ravens to do as the pleased. Other matchups may require them to play from behind and that favors Hill, the better pass-catcher. He remains on the radar as a player to watch.
Mike Davis, Chicago Bears - 14% owned
Davis led the Chicago backfield in touches, much to the dismay of David Montgomery owners. Neither was effective and all three Bears RBs will see touches in the foreseeable future. We have to think the Bears offense will get better than what they showed against Green Bay. A road contest against Denver is not the best time to deploy any of them but Davis could be a deep-league stash for those looking for a path to a few easy points without need of a high ceiling.
Jalen Richard, Oakland Raiders - 14% owned
Last week, Richard was recommended in this space as a pass-catching option behind Josh Jacobs. While Oakland has yet to play their Week 1 matchup, it's safe to say he'll be leaned on even more with Antonio Brown off the team. Richard offers a nice floor for full PPR leagues.
Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals - 13% owned
He was recently extended for two years, so we know he still figures into the team's plans. Rodney Anderson is out for the year, Trayveon Williams missed Week 1 and could miss more time, and Joe Mixon left the season opener with an ankle injury. Bernard could once again become a short-term fantasy factor with a decent home matchup against the 49ers on deck. If Mixon is ruled out early enough in the week, Bernard is the most favorable waiver add among running backs.
Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins - 12% owned
Thompson was a factor in Week 1 although not for the reasons you'd expect. The Skins were ahead most of the game before falling short to the Eagles but it was encouraging to see the passing game move the ball so effectively. Derrius Guice caught all three of his targets but Thompson was targeted 10 times, hauling in seven for 68 yards. With Adrian Peterson a healthy scratch, Thompson is also second in line for carries and has solid flex value in full-PPR leagues.
Malcolm Brown, Los Angeles Rams - 11% owned
For all the hype Darrell Henderson was getting this preseason in the face of Todd Gurley's knee issue, we forgot about the guy who was there all along. Brown was heavily involved and extremely effective, averaging nearly five yards per carry. Gurley outrushed him 97-53 but it was Brown scoring twice while Gurley was held out of the end zone. It's OK to cry, Gurley owners... just let it all out.
Brown may not see as much action every week but it's obvious he is worth owning in all standard leagues and anywhere that RB depth is scarce. If you are a Gurley owner, you should be ponying up as much as it takes to acquire him because he is one knee flareup away from becoming a fantasy RB1.
Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers - 1% owned
It turns out that the ankle injury Tevin Coleman suffered against the Bucs could be more serious than initially suspected. The team is still waiting on MRI results but they fear it could be serious. If that's the case, Matt Breida gains immediate RB2 value but Mostert also becomes intriguing. He had a touchdown run called back by penalty and was involved in Week 1 with nine carries for 40 yards. He averaged an outstanding 7.7 yards per carry last year (albeit for 34 attempts) and has sneaky value on the wire this week.
Others to consider: Carlos Hyde, Houston Texans (31% owned); Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (21% owned); C.J. Anderson, Detroit Lions (14% owned); Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (9% owned); Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (3% owned); D'Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns (0% owned)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens - 31% owned
"Hollywood" sure seems fitting because he made his NFL debut into a blockbuster premiere event. Brown took advantage of the hapless Dolphins secondary in the first quarter by taking a short slant to the house for a 47-yard touchdown. Minutes later, he turned on the jets again for an 83-yard score. He finished with 147 yards on four receptions. Next week, he gets to play at home against a Cardinals secondary still missing Patrick Peterson. Yes, he's worth your #1 priority because regardless of how you feel about Lamar Jackson, Brown is the WR1 on an NFL team and a first-round pick with tons of upside.
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs - 15% owned
Hardman literally did nothing in his NFL debut but he's still among the top adds at receiver this week. Tyreek Hill will miss several weeks due to a collarbone injury, so Hardman is going to get some action in the best offense in the league. He outsnapped Demarcus Robinson 52-46, so it's fair to say he could be the #2 receiver. With the Raiders on deck next, he could be a smart sleeper if you miss out on Hollywood Brown.
Hunter Renfrow, Oakland Raiders - 13% owned
We don't know the outcome of Oakland's first contest but we do know that Renfrow will be busy out of necessity. Antonio Brown's departure makes the rookie slot receiver the de facto WR2, so targets should be plentiful, especially if the defense is as bad as expected.
Randall Cobb, Dallas Cowboys - 10% owned
Pretty much every receiver in a Dallas uniform did well on Sunday and Cobb was no exception. In his first game with the Boys, Cobb pulled in four catches for 69 yards and a TD. He was third in targets but didn't rely on volume alone, showing off his signature speed to gain yards after the catch. The Giants are admittedly a bit of a pushover, however, the Redskins are the next opponent followed by the Dolphins. This is the time to stream Cobb.
Rashard Higgins, Cleveland Browns - 5% owned
Higgins didn't stand out but he wasn't the least disappointing Browns player of Week 1... Two catches for 46 yards won't move the needle but better days could be ahead if the Browns can get their act together. The Jets Defense looked stout for one half before falling apart, so there will be chances for Higgins. He remains a flex consideration at least until Week 5 when Antonio Callaway is eligible to return.
A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans - 3% owned
Another Brown, another rookie WR making a splash. Brown far outshone third-year wideout Corey Davis, going for a cool 100 yards receiving while Davis caught none of his three targets. As infuriating as this is for Davis owners hoping for a breakout, it might further serve to reinforce that idea that Marcus Mariota alone isn't to blame for Davis' struggles. Brown may not show up this way each and every week, but he is certainly on the radar in 14+ team leagues.
D.J. Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars - 3% owned
It wasn't Dede Westbrook breaking out as many expected, it was the D.J. Chark show instead. Chark led the way with 146 yards, which was only good for sixth among all receivers in Week 1 if you can believe it. The only reason for concern might be that he was tied for fifth in targets on his own team and relied on the deep ball to make his money. It also came against a very susceptible Chiefs secondary. Don't expect Chark to go boom every week. He is going to be a risk/reward streamer throughout the year.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins - 3% owned
Who needs Dwayne Haskins? McLaurin wasted no time asserting himself as the top target in an otherwise uninspiring WR corps. He caught five of his seven targets for 125 yards, all highs among Washington receivers (Chris Thompson saw 10 targets and caught seven). He'll only get better as the season wears on so now is the time to scoop him up.
Preston Williams, Miami Dolphins - 2% owned
As soon as Kenny Stills was traded, Williams slid into a prominent role. As long as Albert Wilson remains sidelined by a hip injury that bothered him last year, Williams will get run with the first-team offense. Next week could conceivably be worse than this one, as Miami faces New England. That's a good thing for the receivers, if nothing else, as there should be plenty of passes thrown.
Chris Conley, Jacksonville Jaguars - 1% owned
Conley is third in line among Jags receivers and that was before Nick Foles' injury. He had a nice debut with 97 yards and a touchdown but even with Minshew's impressive debut, there are questions about this passing offense and what it can do under different circumstances. He's an option only for the deepest of leagues right now.
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals - 1% owned
Where has this been for two years?!!?? Ross did nothing as a rookie, playing in only three games after suffering a preseason injury. In his sophomore campaign, he averaged 1.6 receptions and 16.2 per game, relying on red-zone targets for any semblance of value. In Week 1 of the 2019 season, it was a whole different ballgame. Ross showed off his signature record-setting speed by torching the Seahawks over and over again to the tune of seven catches for 158 yards and two scores. Until A.J. Green returns, there's a good chance Ross continues to be a big part of the passing game.
Others to consider: Kenny Stills, Houston Texans (23% owned); Tre'Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints (16% owned); Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills (6% owned); Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions (5% owned); Miles Boykin, Baltimore Ravens (4% owned); Phillip Dorsett, New England Patriots (4% owned)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals - 9% owned
He was mostly quiet, catching four passes for 21 yards. He and C.J. Uzomah saw an even number of targets (five) but it was Uzomah making the big play downfield and accumulating more yardage (66). Eifert should see more action as the season progresses though, and is the favored red zone target so he should be considered the better pickup.
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks - 4% owned
DK Metcalf's quick emergence may halt some of Dissly's immediate progress. He's a speculative deep-league stash at this point but still one worth watching at such a thin position.
Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins - 2% owned
Stop me if you've heard this before. Jordan Reed was out with an injury so Vernon Davis emerged as a sneaky start. Davis made a highlight-reel play for a 48-yard touchdown and was tied for second on the team with seven targets. If Case Keenum can keep the good mojo going, Davis could be worth streaming.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2% owned
The backup TE in TB caught just two balls for eight yards. However, he was targeted repeatedly in the red zone and had two touchdowns called back due to penalties. The passing game was a mess all day so it's hard to get too optimistic here but Brate is the type of player that can pull out a touchdown on any given Sunday, even if the yardage isn't there.
Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys - 1% owned
Jason Witten is back but that doesn't mean there can't be room for two pass-catching tight ends in Big D. Jarwin scored a touchdown and finished with 39 yards as the Cowboys routed the Giants. He'll never be a high-end target but at this position, he doesn't have to be. The Cowboys have the easiest schedule to start the year, as mentioned above. Jarwin can be considered a viable option for those who stream.
Others to consider: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (29% owned); Noah Fant, Denver Broncos (14% owned); Jason Witten (11% owned); Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins (3% owned)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Kansas City Chiefs DEF - 34% owned
It's rare that you would consider using the Chiefs Defense unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, they play the Raiders twice a year and this is going to be one of those times. KC's revamped defense didn't look any better in giving up 26 points to a Jaguar team led mostly by a rookie QB taken in the sixth round. They should do better this time though, as they are more familiar with their foe.
New York Jets DEF- 24% owned
Halfway through the early slate, I posed the question online: "Is the Jets defense that good or is the Bills offense that bad?" The roles reversed in the second half, as Adam Gase saw his team choke away a 16-point lead. The defensive unit wasn't to blame though, as they wound up with four turnovers and a defensive touchdown. They get to take on another team that was shockingly bad on offense, the Cleveland Browns, in Week 2. This is a big trap game for the Jets, as Cleveland could explode on them in a hurry. If you believe Week 1 wasn't an anomaly, you can take a chance here but don't say I didn't warn you.
Carolina Panthers DEF - 6% owned
The Panthers get division rival Tampa Bay at home next week and Jameis Winston is sure to serve up some turnovers, as is his custom. Carolina will look to bounce back after being handled by the Rams, allowing 30 points and 349 total yards.
