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

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 1: Top Free Agent Adds Include Marvin Mims Jr., Romeo Doubs, more

Justin Carter's fantasy football wide receiver waiver wire pickups for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. His free agent WRs to add, stream and stash off waivers.

The NFL season is finally almost here. On Thursday night, the Chiefs and Lions will get the action going to begin the 2023 season. That means you only have a few more days to get your rosters in order for the season. Maybe you drafted a few weeks back and already need to make some moves, so let's talk about some potential moves you can make at wideout.

Below, you'll find some wide receivers that you should be targeting on the fantasy football waiver wire ahead of Week 1. Not all of these waiver wire options are the same. Some players may be better in PPR or deeper leagues, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all comparison. Use your best judgment when deciding which of these players is the right fit for your roster.

Be sure to also check out our Waiver Wire Adds for Week 1 for help at all the skill positions. All players on this list are around 50% rostered or below.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 1

Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos - 34% rostered

Marvin Mims Jr.'s upside is somewhat dependent on Jerry Jeudy's hamstring injury and how long that lingers, but I don't think his upside is fully dependent on it. By that, I mean that even when Jeudy's back, Mims should be a factor in this passing game.

Last season at Oklahoma, Mims caught 54 passes for 1,083 yards. He can produce all over the field, but I think he'll be especially dangerous out of the slot. He has a big-play upside and is my candidate to be the breakout rookie wide receiver of 2023. He should see a good number of targets early on, and his talent will keep him in the mix even when the Broncos are healthy.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals - 46% rostered

Tyler Boyd feels like the forgotten man. Last season was his worst year since 2017, but he still had 58 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns. He isn't going to deliver exciting results, but he'll catch 70% of his targets and is worth a roster spot because he's a good option as an injury replacement or if you're looking ahead to bye weeks.

Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams - 14% rostered

The Rams' offense is going to be a mess this year, and Cooper Kupp's uncertain status definitely won't help that. But if this Kupp thing lingers for a bit, Van Jefferson's likely going to be peppered with targets. In the eight games he played without Kupp last season, he averaged 42.75 receiving yards per game. He averaged just nine per game in three games where he and Kupp both played.

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs - 45% rostered

I'm torn on Rashee Rice. I think the rookie out of SMU is really talented and can be productive when he's on the field, but I also know that the Chiefs' receiving room is a bit of a mystery. If he can quickly develop a rapport with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he has WR3 upside. But he also has plenty of bust potential. He's worth a roster spot early on to see which way things go.

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions - 35% rostered

Jameson Williams has a six-game suspension to serve, but he's still worth stashing until after that suspension ends. Williams, a stud in college, only saw nine targets in six games last season, catching just one pass. I can see a healthy Williams breaking out once he returns. The Lions were sixth in the NFL in passing yards last season. If Williams can get out there on the field once he returns, he'll have plenty of upside.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers - 31% rostered

Romeo Doubs is likely the No. 2 option in the Green Bay passing game, but he's not being treated like a No. 2 option in fantasy. The biggest part of that is because people are concerned about the offense with Jordan Love at quarterback, which is fair.

But I'm not saying you need to play Doubs this week. In fact, you definitely should not play him in Week 1, as he's been dealing with a hamstring injury. But if it turns out Love's for real, Doubs suddenly has a lot of value because of his projected role.

 

Wide Receiver Deeper League Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 1

Marvin Jones Jr., Detroit Lions - 2% rostered

I think Marvin Jones Jr. has a chance to be a really solid deep-league relief pitcher kind of option for the six weeks that Jameson Williams is suspended. Someone who you can plug in to fill holes. He might not have any explosive outings, but he can provide a good floor for you as he'll be on the field often in three-receiver sets with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds.

The veteran receiver caught 46 passes for 529 yards and three touchdowns for the Jaguars last year. Moving back into a more prolific passing attack should help him bounce back -- at least for the first month and a half of the season.

K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings - 10% rostered

The consensus when it comes to who takes the vacated Adam Thielen targets seems to be rookie Jordan Addison, but I don't know -- there's a steep learning curve in the NFL, and K.J. Osborn has experience playing with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Last season, Osborn saw 90 targets in this offense, catching 60 of them for 650 yards and five touchdowns. I think he can give the Vikings 750 yards or more this year.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kansas City Chiefs - 8% rostered

It's well within the realm of possibilities for Marquez Valdes-Scantling to wind up as the Chiefs' top wide receiver this season. He has a year of experience in this offense and will be competing for targets with the oft-injured Kadarius Toney, second-year player Skyy Moore, and rookie Rashee Rice. I think all of those players have better upside than MVS, but they also possess lower floors. Valdes-Scantling was third on the team in targets last season, and one of the players ahead of him is no longer in KC.

Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers - 2% rostered

It sounds like Joshua Palmer's set to begin the season ahead of Quentin Johnston on the Chargers' depth chart. I'm not sure how long that will last, but it gives Palmer some upside at the beginning of the season at least. Last season, he was targeted 107 times, catching 72 passes for 769 yards and three touchdowns. Of course, Mike Williams missed four games and Keenan Allen missed seven, which contributed to that. Still, with Justin Herbert throwing the ball, yards will happen in Los Angeles and Palmer should get some of those.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans - 6% rostered

The Texans' passing game might be the hardest to project in the NFL. Nico Collins is 51% rostered, while no one else is more than 6% rostered. The fact that the team's starting quarterback is a rookie contributes to that because there's a chance the team struggles to move the ball through the air.

Tank Dell is extremely fast but also extremely undersized. He had an impressive preseason and can make a lot of things happen when he gets the ball in space or in the deep passing game. With the Texans lacking in quality receiving options, Dell could be asked to do a ton even though he's a rookie.

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams - 1% rostered

How risky are you feeling? I detailed above why the Rams passing game is a mess, but Puka Nacua has some deep-league appeal simply because of how few weapons this team has. If Kupp misses extended time, this passing attack is Van Jefferson, Tyler Higbee, and then...Nacua, the team's fifth-round pick. The BYU product had 48 catches for 625 yards and five touchdowns for the Cougars last season.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice




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

Samuel Girard

Avalanche Hope to Have Samuel Girard Available for Start of Season
Mackenzie Blackwood

Out Week-to-Week
Alex Tuch

Day-to-Day With Undisclosed Injury
Jordan Greenway

to Sit Out Training Camp
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Considered Day-to-Day
Simon Edvinsson

to Miss a Couple of Weeks
Mikael Backlund

Signs Two-Year Extension
Connor Ingram

to Be Waived by Mammoth
Zach Hyman

Misses Start of Training Camp
Nick Paul

Out Until November
Kris Letang

Cleared for Training Camp
David Pastrnak

Out for Start of Training Camp
Matthew Tkachuk

Expected to Be Out Until December
NBA

Trevelin Queen Joins Chinese Team
Damian Lillard

Not Rushing His Return
NBA

Keon Johnson Waived by Nets
Justin Verlander

Plans to Pitch in 2026
Junior Caminero

Day-to-Day With Back Tightness
Will Smith

Won't Return When First Eligible
Tyler Soderstrom

Returns to A's Lineup
Tyler Warren

Sidelined on Wednesday with Toe Injury
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column

RANKINGS

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