🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Week 1 Quarterbacks: Waiver Wire Pickups, Sleepers & Streamers

The regular season is right around the corner and we know you're just as excited as us! As someone who likes to wait on a QB on draft day and plays in multiple 2QB leagues, I will be scouring the waiver for the best streaming QBs on a weekly basis. For this article I will look at two QBs owned in 50% or less of Fleaflicker leagues and another QB owned in 25% or less to account for the QB scarcity in 2QB leagues. There are definitely some good QBs readily available if you need a stream in the first week!

Editor's Note: Our friends at FantasyFeud are hosting Survivor and Seasonal Leagues perfect for the non-DFS fantasy manager, and you can enter for as little as $1. If you sign up and deposit now, you'll receive a 100% bonus AND a get free full season of RotoBaller's NFL Premium Tools & DFS Lineups Picks ($39.99 value).

Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.

 

Standard League QB Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1

Andy Dalton (CIN) @ Raiders 

OWNED IN: 42% of Fleaflicker leagues

Andy Dalton is probably my favorite streaming QB for week 1. Dalton struggled tremendously in his preseason week 2 game against the Buccaneers in primetime. However he finished strong in the week 3 game going a perfect 6/6 passing on his lone drive and finishing it by running the ball in himself. In the regular season I expect a lot more of the latter.

Dalton had a down year in 2014 but he was missing several key receivers and with everyone healthy in 2015 it should show up on the field. The Raiders have a formidable front seven with Khalil Mack and company, but I don’t fear the secondary at all. Especially with the Bengals above average offensive line, Dalton should have enough time to find an open man all day long.

Dalton may struggle against better defenses but it should be smooth sailing in week 1. He has only faced the Raiders one time back in 2012 in which he threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions in that game. I predict Dalton finishes as a QB1 this week which is pretty good for someone out there in so many leagues!

 

Alex Smith (KC) @ Texans

OWNED IN: 31% of Fleaflicker Leagues

The new and improved Chiefs offense gives Alex Smith a legitimate WR1 in Jeremy Maclin plus an emerging star in Travis Kelce. They also have potential impact players in WRs Albert Wilson and Chris Conley. Smith looked pretty strong down the stretch last year, averaging over 15 fantasy points a game in his final five games played (DNP Week 17). I expect that to continue with the addition of Maclin.

Maybe the most appeal Smith has to offer is his relative safety. He almost never throws interceptions, having finished in the top three in INT% three of the past four years. I do expect a little more aggression from the Chiefs offense this year which may lead to a slightly higher chance for interceptions but Smith is still extremely safe. The Texans have a good defense so Smith's ceiling is limited but he should put up a respectable game this week.

 

Deeper League QB Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1

Tyrod Taylor (BUF) vs Colts

OWNED IN: 15% of Fleaflicker Leagues

Taylor is a bit of a wildcard, having never started a game in his career. He has played extensively just once, but he did flash fantasy potential in that one game. He played the majority of Baltimore’s 2012 Week 17 game. He had just a 149 yards passing and an interception but he was very mobile, running for 65 yards and a score. Despite almost no impact as a passer, his legs made him a viable fantasy QB that day.
Taylor looked pretty strong this preseason where he completed 77% of his passes. It’s a small sample size in meaningless games but he was worth at least 4 fantasy points in each of his preseason appearances strictly as a runner. That can turn a mediocre fantasy day into a solid one. Taylor is certainly risky because we haven’t seen a whole lot of him but he has proven he has real upside.

If you’re in a 2 QB league I think he’s worth a shot. Against the Colts you can expect the Bills to be playing from behind and therefore he’ll have more plenty of garbage time stats to accrue. I’m very interested to see how Tyrod Taylor does this week!

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Joel Embiid

on Track to Return Tuesday
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Available for Monday
Victor Wembanyama

Listed as Questionable for Tuesday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Out Tuesday, Considered Day-to-Day
Peyton Watson

Will Play on Monday
Josh Minott

Starting on Monday
Jalen Green

to Remain Out for 2-3 More Weeks
Max Christie

Sits Out Monday's Game
Klay Thompson

Available to Face Pelicans
Cooper Flagg

Available Monday
Brandon Clarke

Out Three Weeks Due to Calf Strain
Craig Porter Jr.

Returns From One-Game Absence
Sam Merrill

Available Monday
Donovan Mitchell

Cleared for Monday's Action
T.J. McConnell

Unavailable Versus Celtics
Collin Sexton

Remains Out Monday
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
Herbert Jones

Available on Monday Night
Jordan Walsh

Unavailable Against Indiana
Christian Dvorak

Returns to Flyers Lineup
Alex Caruso

Out Against Memphis
Elias Pettersson

Still Out Monday
Brandon Montour

to Miss Four Weeks After Hand Surgery
Lauri Markkanen

Back in Action on Monday
Miles Wood

Available Against Kings
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Ruled Out Against Cavaliers
Zach Werenski

Ruled Out Monday
Leo Carlsson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
TreVeyon Henderson

Exits Week 16 Victory with Head Injury
Mikhail Sergachev

Sets Up Two Goals
Fabian Zetterlund

Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Cale Makar

Has Three-Point Performance Against Wild
Tomas Hertl

Notches Three Points Sunday
Connor McDavid

Continues Scoring Tear Against Vegas
Sidney Crosby

Becomes Pittsburgh's All-Time Leading Scorer
Tristan Jarry

to Miss Couple of Weeks
Lamar Jackson

Questionable to Return in Week 16 with Back Injury
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Patrick Kane

to Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Tyson Kozak

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Jack Roslovic

Ready to Return Sunday
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Back in Devils Lineup Sunday
Timo Meier

Available Sunday
Jack Hughes

Returns From 18-Game Absence Sunday
J.T. Miller

Out Week-to-Week
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Gardner Minshew

Likely Tore His ACL on Sunday
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Woody Marks

Not Expected to Play in Week 16
Washington Commanders

Commanders to Retain Dan Quinn, Fire Joe Whitt?
New York Giants

Marcus Freeman is a Top Candidate in Giants' Head Coaching Search
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Expected to Return as Bengals' Head Coach in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll's Future with Las Vegas Raiders in Doubt
Tee Higgins

Active for Week 16 Against Dolphins
Woody Marks

Plans to Play Against Raiders in Week 16
Tee Higgins

Likely to Play at Miami on Sunday
Drake London

Expected to Return in Week 16
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play, Will Ease Back In
Romeo Doubs

Questionable to Return Against Bears in Week 16
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP