Waiver Wire: Week 1
Reunited and it feels so good. Welcome to the 2024 fantasy football season. Some of us have been at it since March. Whether you drafted that early or this weekend, perusing the fantasy football Waiver Wire: Week 1 can help fortify any roster.
The fantasy playoffs are a long way off. However, the best way to get there is to be proactive and reinforce your lineups as early as possible. Last year, I recommended players like De’Von Achane and Puka Nacua as Week 1 pickups.
It’s also not too late to build that championship contender from scratch. Fantasy Football World Championship drafts are scheduled all week. Find out if you have what it takes to win the $150,000 Grand Prize!
Let’s get to the Waiver Wire: Week 1 picks for those who drafted.
Rico Dowdle (RB) Dallas Cowboys – If you drafted early, you likely scooped up plenty of Ezekiel Elliott early. We’re off him now. Mike McCarthy said he views Dowdle as a three-down back. Additionally, Dowdle was more efficient than Tony Pollard late last season. Teammate Dalvin Cook is also worth a speculative bid for those with deeper rosters.
Darnell Mooney (WR) Atlanta Falcons – Mooney’s considerable talents were wasted in Chicago. He now finds himself in a much better situation with the Arthur Smith-less Falcons. Mooney averaged 119 targets and 71 grabs in his first two seasons. In this new-look Falcons offense led by Kirk Cousins, Mooney has weekly flex value. Not bad for a wideout who is going undrafted in many leagues.
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB) Denver Broncos – Even if you’re all in on Javonte Williams, the release of Samaje Perine indicates that McLaughlin will have a fantasy-viable role in Denver’s offense.
In his 18-year history as an NFL head coach, Sean Payton’s RB2 (RB who *did not* lead backfield in carries) has averaged >16.5 FPG five times. (For perspective, Travis Etienne ranked as the RB7 last year with 16.4 FPG.) Collectively across all 18 seasons, Payton’s RB2 averages…
— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) August 30, 2024
Samaje Perine (RB) Kansas City Chiefs – Speaking of Perine, he didn’t take long to wind up in a better locale. By quickly signing with the division rival Chiefs, Perine inherits the Jerick McKinnon role that resulted in RB26 and RB45 finishes in the last two years. Perine is younger and bigger than McKinnon as well as being an excellent receiver. Subsequently, he’s a priority waiver add for RB depth.
Andrei Iosivas (WR) Cincinnati Bengals – Iosivas will open the season as Cincinnati’s WR3- a role that Tyler Boyd made more than fantasy-relevant for years. But with Ja’Marr Chase looking very iffy to play in the season opener, Iosivas is looking like a quality start against New England.
Jalen McMilliam (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – A rookie third-rounder, McMilliam beat out Trey Palmer for WR3 duties in Tampa. Palmer posted WR75 numbers in that role last year. McMillian is bigger and more agile than Palmer and offers more big-play ability.
Zach Ertz (TE) Washington Commanders – Rookie QBs and their trusty veteran tight ends. Ertz looked good in Arizona last season and will open this year as the starter in a Kliff Kingsbury offense. If he stays healthy and keeps that job, Ertz will contend for TE1 numbers.
Jordan Mason (RB) San Francisco 49ers – Elijah Mitchell will miss the 2024 campaign. That makes Mason the undisputed No. 2 back in San Francisco. Considering the track record for running backs that eclipse 400 touches, Mason is a priority add for any fantasy managers that invested the 1.01 on Christian McCaffrey.
Jalen Tolbert (WR) Dallas Cowboys – Dallas utilized three wide receivers on 61.5% of their snaps last season. That rate could grow with the lack of a proven running back on the roster. Tolbert appears to have secured the club’s WR3 job. Therefore, he’s got middling fantasy value.
Noah Fant (TE) Seattle Seahawks – Fant missed a big chunk of preseason action. However, he’s still the unquestioned starter for a new Seattle offense that plans to push the pace. That gives Fant solid TE2 value.
Justice Hill (RB) Baltimore Ravens – Hill projects to be the main pass-catching back in Baltimore. Last year he commanded 39 targets in that role. Also, if Derrick Henry were to miss time, Hill would offer weekly RB2 value.
Kalif Raymond (WR) Detroit Lions – For the third year in a row, Raymond posted top 70 WR numbers. Yet, he went undrafted in nearly every format. With Josh Reynolds gone, Raymond has Detroit’s No. 3 wideout role secured. He’s not flashy but should be a reliable source of targets in deeper leagues.
K.J. Osborn (WR) New England Patriots – Kendrick Bourne is listed as the starter on New England’s “un” official depth chart. However, Bourne will miss at least the first four weeks of the season. Osborn is listed as Bourne’s direct backup and was running with the starters in the preseason. Ja’Lynn Polk and Demario Douglas are also worth speculative waiver adds.
Lastly, If you have time to prepare, make sure you mock in our Mock Draft World Championships. No better way to practice for the real thing.
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