Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 1

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

You'll notice right off the top that the bids in this week's column are very small. That's because most leagues have already drafted, so if these players are available you likely won't need to spend any FAAB to get them. Despite an up-and-down preseason, Garoppolo tops the quarterback pickups thanks to his matchup against the Buccaneers, a team with a strong passing attack and a weak defense - the perfect recipe for a high-scoring affair. We're still waiting to see if Garoppolo can excel in Kyle Shanahan's system, but he gets a favorable schedule to start the season with the Bucs in Week 1 and Bengals in Week 2.

Josh Allen, Bills

If you thought Garoppolo's schedule was easy, Allen faces a pillowy soft opening slate with the Jets, Giants, and Bengals teed up. The top-scoring fantasy quarterback over the final six games of last season will get a chance to showcase his second-year development. He'll be playing behind an upgraded offensive line, with new weapons like field-stretcher John Brown (more on him later), slot receiver Cole Beasley, and rookie rusher Devin Singletary surrounding him. The Jets' defense is already dealing with injuries, making Allen a very intriguing Week 1 streamer who offers upside if he can recapture his late-season 2018 fantasy success.

Other options: Matthew Stafford at ARI (27% owned), Nick Foles vs. KC (18% owned), Sam Darnold vs. BUF (28% owned)

Running backs

Justice Hill, Ravens

Hill is among the high-quality backup running backs you should be targeting as bench stashes. The Ravens' run-heavy attack has helped support multiple fantasy producers in the backfield after Lamar Jackson took over at quarterback. Both Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon were top-30 fantasy backs over the last four games of 2018. Baltimore has reloaded now, with Mark Ingram assuming the lead-back role that Edwards occupied, and the versatile Hill replacing Dixon. Hill can give you weekly flex value, and he offers league-winning upside if Ingram gets hurt.

Peyton Barber, Buccaneers

There's nothing exciting about rostering Barber, who turned 254 touches into an RB26 fantasy finish in standard leagues, and RB31 numbers in PPR formats last season. However, the Buccaneers have failed to find a suitable replacement for the second straight year. Ronald Jones has yet to show he was worthy of a 2018 second-round pick, and third-stringer Dare Ogunbowale might pass him on the depth chart. Like it or not, Barber is Bruce Arians' starting running back, and he should be owned in fantasy leagues as a low-ceiling flex play.

Justin Jackson, Chargers

Melvin Gordon is expected to extend his holdout through Week 1 and perhaps beyond, according to the latest reports. Austin Ekeler is the Chargers' next man up, but Jackson impressed the coaching staff while getting limited touches as a rookie, and he would receive a portion of the early-down carries in Gordon's absence. If Gordon continues sitting out, Jackson will be an Ekeler injury away from starting in one of the league's better offenses.

Dion Lewis, Titans

After missing multiple weeks with a calf injury, Derrick Henry appears to be on track to suit up Week 1. Whether the Titans are willing to give him the bulk of the touches right away remains to be seen. With his team 5.5-point underdogs on the road, it's possible Lewis receives more work than expected, both in relief of Henry and as the primary passing-down back.

Carlos Hyde, Texans

Hyde is on his fifth team in two years, a career journey that could see him watching games from his couch before this season ends. Landing in Houston is the only thing keeping him on the fantasy radar, as his only competition is an unproven Duke Johnson. Though Johnson is far more likely to succeed, Hyde needs to be owned in more leagues until we know how the Texans plan to deploy both backs.

Other options: Jaylen Samuels at NE (44% owned), Alexander Mattison vs. ATL (23% owned), Ito Smith at MIN (21% owned), Ty Montgomery vs. BUF (17% owned), Frank Gore at NYJ (15% owned), C.J. Anderson at ARI (14% owned), Malcolm Brown at CAR (8% owned)

Wide receivers

Geronimo Allison, Packers

Davante Adams is Aaron Rodgers' clear No. 1 target, and the second-option battle continues between Allison and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The last time we saw Allison, he was averaging five receptions and 72 yards over the first month of the 2018 season while scoring twice. Had he kept up that pace and avoided the injured reserve, Allison would have finished as a top-15 fantasy wideout. You should want him on your roster while we wait to see if he can recreate that 2018 production.

John Brown, Bills

The Jets' injuries make their defense vulnerable. The Allen-Brown connection could surprise people this season, and the pair will get an advantageous matchup to kick things off. Though Brown's production may not be as consistent as fantasy owners would like, his big games will win them over.

Anthony Miller, Bears

Miller hasn't been showered with the same hype as some of the other sophomore receivers, but we're excited to see what he can do when healthy at the NFL level. As a rookie, he scored seven touchdowns while playing with an injured shoulder that eventually required surgery.

Tre'Quan Smith, Saints

Another member of the underrated sophomores club, Smith's doubters are likely supporting veteran Ted Ginn, who pushed his young counterpart to the bench in New Orleans when both were healthy last season. That might not be as easy to do this year, and if the preseason is any indication, we could see both players on the field together in three-wide sets.

Jamison Crowder, Jets

If you're into volume-dependent slot receivers, Crowder will get a chance to break out while catching passes from Sam Darnold, who's a soon-to-be star quarterback. Beat writers have speculated that Crowder could flirt with 100 receptions, which is hyperbole, but it hints strongly at a significant role in the offense. With Robby Anderson nursing a calf injury, Crowder's targets could increase during the opener.

Other options: Tyrell Williams vs. DEN (37% owned), Marquise Goodwin at TB (28% owned), Kenny Stills at NO (26% owned), Albert Wilson vs. BAL (5% owned), DK Metcalf vs. CIN (31% owned), James Washington at NE (37% owned), Miles Boykin at MIA (5% owned), Terry McLaurin at PHI (1% owned), Rishard Higgins (4% owned), Chris Conley vs. KC (1% owned), DJ Chark vs. KC (1% owned), KeeSean Johnson vs. DET (1% owned), Damion Willis at SEA (1% owned)

Tight ends

T.J. Hockenson, Lions

We rarely advise owning a rookie tight end in redraft leagues, especially not if you plan on starting that player. Hockenson will experience his first-year struggles, but the Iowa product's Week 1 matchup against a subpar and shorthanded Cardinals defense puts him in the mix as a streamer. Those with Trey Burton on their roster would be wise to consider Hockenson as a one-week replacement.

Darren Waller, Raiders

"Hard Knocks" has inflated the value of many fantasy assets over the years, but Waller could be an exception. The drumbeat around him has been relentless after the Raiders anointed Waller their new starting tight end early in the offseason. No matter how many people want to call him one, he's definitely not a sleeper anymore.

Other options: Chris Herndon - Four-game suspension (17% owned), Jimmy Graham at CHI (47% owned), Tyler Eifert at SEA (9% owned), Geoff Swaim vs. KC (0% owned)