Waiver Wire Analysis: Week 1

For new subscribers: The Drop List (beginning in Week 2) 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 with an updated injury report and streamers list will be added ahead of any Saturday night waivers.

If your roster is top-heavy and exclusively limited to the best stashes who could become startable in a pinch, we recommend following the updated One Injury Away list ahead of Week 1.

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

Jeremiyah Love = Tyler Allgeier
Jordyn Tyson = Devaughn Vele
Rome Odunze = Zavion Thomas
Christian McCaffrey = Kaelon Black

Week 1 Streaming Options

QB: Tyler Shough, Malik Willis, Daniel Jones, Geno Smith, C.J. Stroud, Jacoby Brissett, Kirk Cousins, Bryce Young, Cam Ward

RB: Tyler Allgeier, Keaton Mitchell, Jonah Coleman, Dylan Sampson

WR: Devaughn Vele, Keenan Allen, Tre Tucker, Dontayvion Wicks, Ja’Kobi Lane, Adonai Mitchell, Pat Bryant, Jaylin Noel

TE: Dalton Schultz, Terrance Ferguson, Cade Otton, T.J. Hockenson

D/ST: Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans

K: Cairo Santos, Jake Elliott, Daniel Carlson, Harrison Butker

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

Quarterbacks

1. Tyler Shough, Saints — Rostered in 42% of Yahoo Leagues (Suggested 1-2% FAAB Bid)

Featured in the week’s second-highest implied total (49.5) against Detroit, Shough enters the season opener with Brandon Thorn’s No. 6 offensive line and a structural edge: Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard rivaled for the league’s highest rate of man coverage (38.4%, second) last year, which Shough scorched for a 64% completion rate (fourth) and 8.3 yards per attempt (fifth). The sophomore’s 3.3 weekly rushing points could elevate him to top-12 status as an elite QB2 with upside.

 2. Malik Willis, Dolphins — Rostered in 41% of Yahoo Leagues (1-2%)

The Raiders’ prized free-agent acquisitions, Quay Walker (83rd among 99 qualifiers in Run Stop Rate at his position) and Nakobe Dean (95th), can’t match Willis’ mobility. He tacked on 6.6 per-game rushing points since 2024. With only 89 total pass attempts in that span, anything managers get from him through the air — a volatile projection that could leak in either direction — merely adds to Willis’ ceiling in this juicy indoor environment. For what it’s worth, the 27-year-old led the NFL in EPA/dropback (on a very small sample) with Green Bay.