Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 1

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

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Sam Howell, Commanders

With the top eight fantasy quarterbacks locked in place and another eight quality options immediately behind them, most fantasy managers in start-one-QB leagues won't need to turn to the waiver wire before Week 1.

However, Howell is on a short list of sleepers who could challenge for a spot in the QB1 fantasy finishers this season.

The second-year passer showed poise in the pocket during his lone start as a rookie and again this preseason. With a strong supporting cast and the ability to rack up yards with his legs, he has the right profile to overachieve in fantasy.

He enters Week 1 as a seven-point favorite against a severely depleted Cardinals team whose defense projects to be one of the worst in the league in 2023.

Streaming options: Jordan Love at CHI (30% rostered), Derek Carr vs. TEN (41% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Bryce Young at ATL (19% rostered), Ryan Tannehill at NO (8% rostered), Kenny Pickett vs. SF (39% rostered), Matthew Stafford at SEA (31% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo at DEN (17% rostered), Baker Mayfield at MIN (10% rostered), Desmond Ridder vs. CAR (5% rostered), C.J. Stroud at BAL (10% rostered), Mac Jones vs. PHI (8% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Clayton Tune (0% rostered) or Joshua Dobbs (1% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Kyler Murray (24% rostered)

Running backs

Zack Moss/Deon Jackson/Evan Hull, Colts

Jonathan Taylor is out for at least the Colts' first four games, and we don't know what will happen after that. Returning to the team is possible, but with his contract situation unresolved, there are a lot of outcomes where he doesn't suit up for Indianapolis this season.

That leaves Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, and Evan Hull to handle the load for at least the opening month.

Moss, who is working his way back from a broken arm, performed well as Taylor's injury replacement down the stretch last year - posting at least 70 yards from scrimmage in each of his last four outings. While he projects to be the lead back when healthy, he might not be available for the season opener.

Jackson is viewed as the Week 1 starter and has delivered as a relief option in the past. He'll be a nice flex starter versus the Jaguars, but his fantasy value could be short-lived if Moss takes over as the early-down grinder in Week 2.

Fifth-round rookie Hull has the best athletic profile among the Colts' backups and has potential as a long-term stash who could emerge as a starter if Taylor has indeed played his final snap for the organization.

All three backs deserve to be rostered until we see how this situation plays out - just don't break the bank to acquire them.

Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, Tank Bigsby, and De'Von Achane are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Roschon Johnson (16% rostered), Tyjae Spears (15% rostered), Ty Chandler (7% rostered), and Sean Tucker (2% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Chuba Hubbard at ATL (17% rostered), Kyren Williams at SEA (3% rostered), Joshua Kelley vs. MIA (3% rostered), Gus Edwards vs. HOU (16% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Jerome Ford vs. CIN (9% rostered), Kendre Miller vs. TEN (19% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Chris Evans at CLE (1% rostered), Rico Dowdle at NYG (1% rostered), Keaontay Ingram at WSH (2% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Devin Singletary (25% rostered), Zamir White (9% rostered), D'Onta Foreman (31% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (20% rostered), Deuce Vaughn (18% rostered)

Deep stashes: Leonard Fournette (5% rostered), Kareem Hunt (16% rostered), Latavius Murray (1% rostered), Trayveon Williams (0% rostered), Jordan Mason (0% rostered), Justice Hill (0% rostered), Craig Reynolds (0% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1% rostered), Emanuel Wilson (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Jeff Wilson (27% rostered)

Wide receivers

Marvin Mims, Broncos

The waiver-wire pickups you make before Week 1 depend greatly on your roster. If injuries have already struck and you need an instant starter, then Van Jefferson might seem enticing with Cooper Kupp slated to miss time at the beginning of the season.

Unfortunately, Jefferson's ceiling will be capped when Kupp returns to action. That's why we recommend aiming for wideouts with more upside - like Mims.

The first pick of the Sean Payton era in Denver has already carved out a starting role in three-wide sets and should see an even bigger bump in playing time as Jerry Jeudy deals with a hamstring issue and is likely to miss the opener.

Mims is expected to start across from Courtland Sutton, and his field-stretching ability was already on display when he came down with a 50-yard grab in the third preseason game.

The Broncos also have one of the easiest early-season schedules, paving the way for Mims to make his presence felt immediately.

Jonathan Mingo, Panthers

Similar to Mims, if you're looking for long-term upside, Jonathan Mingo is the type of rookie who could turn into a difference-maker as the season progresses.

The 22-year-old earned a starting spot in the Panthers' offense, and the only thing standing between him and the No. 1 receiver role is a past-his-prime Adam Thielen and a banged-up DJ Chark.

Mingo stood out in offseason practices, and it didn't take him long to begin making plays in the preseason, where he flashed his yards-after-catch ability.

We might be talking about Mingo and fellow rookie Bryce Young as one of the more exciting QB-WR pairings in the second half of the season. Fantasy managers should stash Mingo and patiently wait for him to break out.

Van Jefferson, Rams

Cooper Kupp is visiting a specialist in Minnesota to get additional information about his hamstring injury, which he recently aggravated. Normally, you don't go out of town for a second opinion when you're day-to-day, so it seems like the veteran receiver could miss more than just Week 1.

That positions Jefferson to be the Rams' No. 1 wideout when the season starts. While he hasn't posted massive fantasy numbers with his previous opportunities, it'll be hard to rank him as anything less than a WR3 for however long Kupp is sidelined.

Nico Collins and Rashee Rice are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky flex options: Romeo Doubs at CHI (31% rostered), Zay Jones at IND (31% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. GB (42% rostered), Rondale Moore at WSH (14% rostered), Parris Campbell vs. DAL (4% rostered), Josh Reynolds at KC (1% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): DJ Chark at ATL (17% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Darius Slayton vs. DAL (4% rostered), Curtis Samuel vs. ARI (11% rostered), Rashid Shaheed vs. TEN (12% rostered), Michael Gallup at NYG (31% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. CIN (15% rostered), Jayden Reed at CHI (8% rostered), K.J. Osborn vs. TB (11% rostered), Alec Pierce (7% rostered), Puka Nacua at SEA (2% rostered), DeVante Parker vs. PHI (3% rostered), Isaiah Hodgins vs. DAL (7% rostered)

Other receivers to roster: Jameson Williams (34% rostered), Jalin Hyatt (21% rostered), Tyler Boyd (46% rostered), Justyn Ross (5% rostered)

Deep stashes: Demario Douglas (0% rostered), Josh Downs vs. JAX (2% rostered), Tank Dell (6% rostered), Michael Wilson (1% rostered), Trey Palmer (1% rostered)

Tight ends

Juwan Johnson/Taysom Hill, Saints

There are a couple of tight ends sitting on most waiver wires who will have a chance to push for low-end TE1 numbers this season.

Johnson is the obvious one after he put up a strong 42-catch, 508-yard, seven-touchdown campaign a year ago. By all accounts, he's shown excellent chemistry with new starting QB Derek Carr, and Johnson has spoken about wanting to take his game to the next level in 2023.

If Johnson isn't available in your league, you could consider his teammate Hill. He's been a part-time gadget player in the Saints' offense and a boom-or-bust fantasy play for managers without a reliable starter.

Hill averaged the seventh-most fantasy points among tight ends last year and could get more work with Alvin Kamara suspended for the first three games.

Risky streamer options: Jake Ferguson at NYG (32% rostered), Gerald Everett vs. MIA (42% rostered), Greg Dulcich vs. LV (42% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Hunter Henry vs. PHI (16% rostered), Trey McBride at WSH (3% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. BUF (6% rostered), Luke Musgrave at CHI (15% rostered), Irv Smith Jr. at CLE (12% rostered), Michael Mayer at DEN (18% rostered), Cade Otton at MIN (2% rostered), Hayden Hurst at ATL (10% rostered), Logan Thomas vs. ARI (1% rostered)

Deep stashes: Cole Turner (0% rostered), Durham Smythe (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 1 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Packers DEF (35% rostered), Giants DEF (4% rostered), Colts DEF (2% rostered), Bears DEF (3% rostered)