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Fantasy football waiver wire rankings for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Top free agent options to add off waivers, and our rankings will help you prioritize.
The 2025 fantasy football season is almost here RotoBallers! It's an exciting time, and after your drafts are completed it's always time to check the waiver wire for pickups. Below you'll find our first waiver wire article of the season -- our Week 1 fantasy football waiver wire rankings for 2025 to help guide you through the waiver wire and make sure you pickup the right players.
There are several players who still have low ownership percentages, and could make immediate fantasy impacts in 2025. Will Joshua Palmer (17%) make an impact in his first year on the Bills, and emerge as a primary receiving option? Will Ollie Gordon (14%) get enough touches to make him viable, and is he a must-stash with De'Von Achane nursing an injury? Will Chris Rodriguez be utilized enough in the rushing rotation to be a viable bench stash or FLEX option?
Our Week 1 fantasy football waiver wire rankings will help answer these questions and many more -- they've been a staple on RotoBaller for years, bringing readers a quick-hit list of the top 75 fantasy football player names to consider as free agent pickups. For those new to this articles series, RotoBaller's lead NFL analyst Nick Mariano brings you these waiver wire rankings in priority order. Good luck on waivers!
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Who To Pickup for Fantasy Football Week 1?
Waiver wire pickup options, including how to prioritize them for your league - depending on the league size. Quarterbacks and Defenses (D/ST) are grouped together at the bottom of the list:
| Rank | Player Name | Pos. | % Ros. | Baller Move |
| 1 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | RB | 51 | Add in All Leagues |
| 2 | Rashid Shaheed | WR | 59 | Add in All Leagues |
| 3 | Nick Chubb | RB | 46 | Add in All Leagues |
| 4 | Keon Coleman | WR | 54 | Add in All Leagues |
| 5 | Dylan Sampson | RB | 32 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 6 | Austin Ekeler | RB | 50 | Add in 10+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 7 | Bhayshul Tuten | RB | 46 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 8 | Keenan Allen | WR | 40 | Add in 10+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 9 | Braelon Allen | RB | 38 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 10 | Marvin Mims Jr. | WR | 39 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 11 | Jerome Ford | RB | 34 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 12 | Joshua Palmer | WR | 17 | Add in 10+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 13 | Darnell Mooney | WR | 44 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 14 | Jaydon Blue | RB | 34 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 15 | Hunter Henry | TE | 60 | Add in 10+ Team Leagues |
| 16 | Rashod Bateman | WR | 37 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 17 | Zach Ertz | TE | 50 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 18 | Tyler Allgeier | RB | 30 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 19 | Ollie Gordon II | RB | 14 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 20 | Christian Kirk | WR | 33 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 21 | Luther Burden III | WR | 25 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 22 | Roschon Johnson | RB | 10 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 23 | Jayden Higgins | WR | 37 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 24 | Romeo Doubs | WR | 12 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 25 | Brenton Strange | TE | 20 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 26 | Marquise Brown | WR | 16 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 27 | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | RB | 6 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 28 | Will Shipley | RB | 9 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 29 | Dont'e Thornton Jr. | WR | 5 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 30 | Chig Okonkwo | TE | 20 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 31 | Wan'Dale Robinson | WR | 12 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 32 | DeMario Douglas | WR | 13 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 33 | Keaton Mitchell | RB | 3 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 34 | Woody Marks | RB | 6 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 35 | DJ Giddens | RB | 3 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 36 | Elic Ayomanor | WR | 3 | Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 37 | Jalen Coker | WR | 2 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 38 | Isaac TeSlaa | WR | 4 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 39 | Dameon Pierce | RB | 2 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 40 | Darren Waller | TE | 13 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 41 | Brashard Smith | RB | 3 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 42 | Jarquez Hunter | RB | 3 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 43 | Dyami Brown | WR | 2 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 44 | Pat Bryant | WR | 4 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 45 | Cade Otton | TE | 10 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 46 | Tre' Harris | WR | 16 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 47 | Tory Horton | WR | 2 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 48 | Darius Slayton | WR | 2 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 49 | Jalen Royals | WR | 2 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 50 | Mason Taylor | TE | 10 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 51 | Ray-Ray McCloud III | WR | 1 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 52 | Troy Franklin | WR | 2 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 53 | Jordan Whittington | WR | 1 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 54 | Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | 1 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 55 | Tutu Atwell | WR | 1 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 56 | Malik Washington | WR | 1 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 57 | Keandre Lambert-Smith | WR | 1 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 58 | Theo Johnson | TE | 5 | Add in 14+ Team PPR Leagues |
| 59 | Tahj Brooks | RB | 2 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 60 | Trevor Etienne | RB | 1 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 61 | Trevor Lawrence | QB | 44 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 62 | Michael Penix Jr. | QB | 6 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 63 | Cam Ward | QB | 16 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 64 | Bryce Young | QB | 18 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 65 | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | 14 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 66 | Matthew Stafford | QB | 10 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 67 | Geno Smith | QB | 3 | Add in 2QB Leagues |
| 68 | Joe Flacco | QB | 3 | Add in 2QB Leagues |
| 69 | Jaxson Dart | QB | 0 | Add in 2QB Leagues |
| 70 | Arizona Cardinals | DST | 22 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 71 | Washington Commanders | DST | 23 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 72 | San Francisco 49ers | DST | 31 | Add in 12+ Team Leagues |
| 73 | New England Patriots | DST | 15 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 74 | Cincinnati Bengals | DST | 11 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
| 75 | Miami Dolphins | DST | 4 | Add in 14+ Team Leagues |
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlooks
Some of the top names include Ollie Gordon, Joshua Palmer, Romeo Doubs, Woody Marks, Luther Burden, Chris Rodriguez, and Dont'e Thornton. We recap why these players rostered under 55% in Yahoo! leagues should be on your waiver wire radar for Week 1:
Joshua Palmer, WR, Buffalo Bills
Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings: 12
After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Chargers, Joshua Palmer signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the Buffalo Bills this offseason. Palmer's best year with Los Angeles was a 72-769-3 effort he put together during his sophomore season in 2022. Every other year, he failed to eclipse 40 receptions or 600 receiving yards.
Palmer now enters a very crowded Buffalo receiving room where he'll compete for targets with Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Dalton Kincaid. The Buffalo passing game adopted a "spread the wealth" approach last year. This is likely to continue in 2025 and probably means Palmer doesn't carry much fantasy value outside of being a bye-week filler. However, the team saw something in Palmer that they liked and made an investment in him during free agency. He also gets the luxury of playing alongside reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen.
If injuries strike the depth chart, Palmer could emerge as a viable WR3 or flex play. For now, though, fantasy gamers should feel comfortable leaving Palmer go undrafted in standard 12-team leagues. He's a good name to monitor during the first few weeks of the 2025 season.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings: 24
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs dealt with concussions and an internal team suspension in 2024, ending the season with 46 receptions for 601 yards and four touchdowns. Doubs ranks 23rd in touchdown catches out of all receivers over the past three seasons, his first three in the league.
There is no question that he is a great red zone target for quarterback Jordan Love. Competition for targets will not look much different than it has in the past. The Packers drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, but Christian Watson (knee) will likely miss most of, if not all of, the 2025 season.
Doubs should remain the go-to target in the red zone, making him a viable fantasy option even if not the most consistent. Doubs currently goes off the board as WR70, basically free in drafts. His upside is worth taking a stab at the low cost.
Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings: 21
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which is valuable enough draft capital to put him on the fantasy football radar as a rookie. Marks spent four seasons at Mississippi State before one season in Los Angeles with USC. He hauled in a whopping 261 receptions in 57 career games and had a career-high 83 catches in 2021.
His receiving skills give reason for optimism in PPR setups, but he was more than just a scat-back at the collegiate level. He accumulated 1,883 rushing yards overall and averaged 5.0 yards per carry, finding the end zone 22 times on the ground. Chubb is likely to be a shell of his former self after multiple major injuries. The 28-year-old Mixon, who is injured now, and missed three games last year, is highly likely to miss at least a few contests in 2025.
Whether Marks carves out a receiving role that gives him standalone value, or Mixon misses time, there is a clear path to fantasy relevance in 2025. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider stashing Marks, and he's a solid best ball dart throw for potential spike weeks.
Luther Burden, WR, Chicago Bears
Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings: 34
The Chicago Bears selected former Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III with the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Once considered a first-round talent, Burden's junior season was disappointing as he only recorded 676 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
His sophomore season was much more promising, as he went for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. Burden is often compared to Washington Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel, and could take on an Amon-Ra St. Brown-esque role in first-year head coach Ben Johnson's offense.
However, Burden has to compete for touches with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore. He has also missed a significant amount of time in summer camps with a soft tissue injury, although he is expected to be ready for training camp. Burden is rightfully priced as the WR53, and could either boom or bust this season.
Running Backs - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order:
| Player Name |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt |
| Nick Chubb |
| Dylan Sampson |
| Austin Ekeler |
| Bhayshul Tuten |
| Braelon Allen |
| Jerome Ford |
| Jaydon Blue |
| Tyler Allgeier |
| Ollie Gordon II |
| Roschon Johnson |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. |
| Will Shipley |
| Keaton Mitchell |
| Woody Marks |
| DJ Giddens |
| Dameon Pierce |
| Brashard Smith |
| Jarquez Hunter |
| Tahj Brooks |
| Trevor Etienne |
Wide Receivers - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order:
| Player Name |
| Rashid Shaheed |
| Keon Coleman |
| Keenan Allen |
| Marvin Mims Jr. |
| Joshua Palmer |
| Darnell Mooney |
| Rashod Bateman |
| Christian Kirk |
| Luther Burden III |
| Jayden Higgins |
| Romeo Doubs |
| Marquise Brown |
| Dont'e Thornton Jr. |
| Wan'Dale Robinson |
| DeMario Douglas |
| Elic Ayomanor |
| Jalen Coker |
| Isaac TeSlaa |
| Dyami Brown |
| Pat Bryant |
| Tre' Harris |
| Tory Horton |
| Darius Slayton |
| Jalen Royals |
| Ray-Ray McCloud III |
| Troy Franklin |
| Jordan Whittington |
| Tutu Atwell |
| Malik Washington |
| KeAndre Lambert-Smith |
Tight Ends - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order:
| Player Name |
| Hunter Henry |
| Zach Ertz |
| Brenton Strange |
| Chig Okonkwo |
| Darren Waller |
| Cade Otton |
| Mason Taylor |
| Harold Fannin Jr. |
| Theo Johnson |
Quarterbacks - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order, with emphasis on Week 1:
| Player Name |
| Trevor Lawrence |
| Michael Penix Jr. |
| Cam Ward |
| Bryce Young |
| Tua Tagovailoa |
| Matthew Stafford |
| Geno Smith |
| Joe Flacco |
| Jaxson Dart |
Defenses (D/ST) - Week 1 Waiver Wire Rankings
Pickups are in priority order, with emphasis on Week 1:
| Player Name |
| Arizona Cardinals D/ST |
| Washington Commanders D/ST |
| San Francisco 49ers D/ST |
| New England Patriots D/ST |
| Cincinnati Bengals D/ST |
| Miami Dolphins D/ST |
Week 1 Waiver Wire Articles
After diving into the Week 1 rankings, read about some other free waiver wire resources available at RotoBaller, which are coming soon.
Each week, our NFL team puts out a complete array of fantasy football waiver wire articles to compliment our slick Who Should I Pickup? Waiver wire player comparison tool. Bookmark it!
In addition, be on the lookout for our other waiver wire articles all season long. We will be releasing weekly waiver wire articles for each position, FAAB bidding recommendations, streamers and more. Stay tuned!
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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
