Waiver Wire Analysis: Week 1

 

As a refresher, The Drop List consists of players who are no longer must-have assets. Recommended additions are available in over 50% of ESPN, Sleeper, or Yahoo leagues. The Watch List contains in-depth notes on fringe waiver adds, and Deep Leagues includes player notes on potential waiver adds in 14-team and 20-round leagues. A change log will be added ahead of any Saturday waivers.

Is your roster top-heavy and exclusively limited to the best stashes who could become startable in a pinch? In that case, we recommend reviewing the One Injury Away list ahead of Week 2.

 

The Drop List

• QB: –

• RB: Joe Mixon, Brian Robinson Jr.

• WR: –

• TE: –

 

We began burying Joe Mixon (foot) in our rankings on July 26 and have comfortably settled on him as an undraftable player in 16-round leagues. There’s no reason to block your bench or lone I.R. spot with his presence.

Brian Robinson Jr. is rostered in 69% of Yahoo leagues, which is lightyears more than the typical contingency player — exactly how Robinson should be viewed after he was shipped to San Francisco. Friendly reminder Christian McCaffrey missed eight games and still out-touched Jordan Mason 56-7 in the three full games they overlapped. Refer to the available players in the One Injury Away list if debating who to stash over Robinson.

 

 

For those looking to roster the best available player(s) regardless of position, the rankings above weigh every position minus the players’ actual positions for all formats. These are listed in the precise order I would prioritize waiver claims in those leagues for Week 1. Adjust for what you need on your roster — immediate touches, high-upside bench stashes, targets, one-week spot starters, etc.

 

Early Week 1 Injury Report for Waivers

 

Injured player = beneficiary who is available on waivers

 

Jordan Addison (suspension) = Adam Thielen
Jayden Reed = Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks
De’Von Achane = Ollie Gordon II
Joe Mixon = Woody Marks, Dameon Pierce
Jalen Coker = Xavier Legette
Josh Downs = Adonai Mitchell
Darnell Mooney = Ray-Ray McCloud
Jauan Jennings = Kendrick Bourne
Cade Otton = Payne Durham
Sam LaPorta = Isaac TeSlaa

 

Week 1 Streaming Options

 

QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco, Bryce Young

RB: Ollie Gordon II, Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson

WR: Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Adam Thielen, Darius Slayton, Xavier Legette, Cedric Tillman 

TE: Chig Okonkwo, Brenton Strange, Juwan Johnson, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Theo Johnson

D/ST: Cardinals, Commanders, Packers, Jets, Rams

K: Jason Myers, Matt Gay, Wil Lutz, Cairo Santos

 

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Defenses | Kickers

 

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Quarterbacks

 

Trevor Lawrence is rostered in 51% of Yahoo Leagues. No. 1 QB add if available.

 

1. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins — Rostered in 26% of Yahoo Leagues (Suggested 1% FAAB Bid)

Fantasy’s QB14 in points per game during his 10 full starts, Tua checks all the boxes in the week’s fifth-highest total (46.5) behind an offensive line that’s its healthiest since last year’s season opener. Gus Bradley’s Colts finished top five in their usage of zone coverage in both 2023 (82%) and 2024 (77%), and Tua most recently led the league in completion rate (79.8%) for 8.1 yards per attempt (eighth) against said scheme, per Fantasy Points Data.