Fantasy football owners are always trying to get a leg up on their competition, and that's what our waiver wire watch list is here to do. We've created this new weekly article to try and help you beat your leaguemates to the waiver wire. Fantasy owners often enter a week knowing they have a player on their bench that's a drop candidate for the next week. Why not drop him now, pick up a player as a free agent who could have a lot of helium depending on how Week 1 goes, and not even waste a waiver claim?
That's the premise here. We can't try to predict injuries, which will ultimately affect next week's waiver wire more than anything, but we can try to predict potential opportunities. The players below all have legitimate chances to be big pickups heading into Week 2, and if you can find a place on your roster for them now, do it. Worst-case scenario, you drop them at the beginning of next week.
Week 1 Non-PPR Rankings:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
For the most part, our tight end and defense picks here will have to do with matchups for those of you streaming those positions. Since the start of a new season doesn't provide us as much insight there, we've also spotted guys who could matter if their roles are bigger than expected. At the other skill positions, that's the main idea -- if the players below see increased roles, which are within the realm of possibility, they'll have fantasy value.
You'll notice that this week, we have a bunch of Bills on our list. Part of that is due to an easy matchup with the Giants in Week 2, but it's also an offense with a young quarterback surrounded by new pieces. If it jells, there could be plenty of fantasy points to go around.
Along with the Bills, we throw in some rookie receivers and one veteran, Demaryius Thomas, who's gone to New England, the place that seems to revive careers that once seemed dead.
WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watch List
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 1, looking forward to the players that could be waiver-wire targets in Week 2.If you have a roster spot to play with, these are options you could pick up early to beat the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
Week 1 DFS Lineups:
FD Cash | DK Cash | FD GPP | DK GPP | Y! GPP | Y! Cash
Week 1 Waiver Wire Watch List: Quarterback
Josh Allen, Bills (33 percent owned)
Allen was the highest-scoring fantasy quarterback from Weeks 13-17 in 2018. Yes, you read that right. He was ahead of Patrick Mahomes and all the future Hall of Famers we've had the privilege of watching. A lot of that came via ugly points, garbage-time passing and rushing that didn't really matter to the Bills' season, but it all counts the same in fantasy. Allen makes our watch list because if he continues to play like he did down the stretch last season, he could be an every-week fantasy starter even though he was overlooked in many drafts.
Sam Darnold, Jets (27)
Darnold enters the regular season off a blazing preseason where he formed a great connection with his new slot receiver, Jamison Crowder, while continuing to show strong chemistry with deep threat Robby Anderson. Even with his strong pedigree, Darnold has been one of the odd men out at a super deep QB position. It doesn't take much to turn him from an also-ran into a relevant fantasy option, though, so keep an eye on how New York's offense looks in the early going.
Jacoby Brissett, Colts (12)
Is there a chance Brissett looks like less of a drop-off from Andrew Luck than we're all expecting? He certainly brings a rushing element that could make him a productive fantasy player, and he's surrounded by a number of talented skill-position guys. The Colts go from Weeks 2-4 against three underwhelming defenses (Titans, Falcons, Raiders), so if you're facing some QB issues maybe Brissett is a solution.
Week 1 Waiver Wire Watch List: RB
Frank Gore, Bills (14 percent owned)
The rush following the news of LeSean McCoy's release was to appoint Devin Singletary the new king of Buffalo's backfield. But even at 36, Gore has looked sharp in the preseason and averaged 4.6 yards per carry for Miami last season. There's a chance he claims the larger share of the carries early on, and that's at least worth keeping an eye on.
Jaylen Samuels, Steelers (42)
There's been chatter about Samuels being used all over the field for Pittsburgh, even joining James Conner in certain formations. It's hard to know how that'll work out in reality, but it's intriguing in an offense looking at all options to replace Antonio Brown's production. A college tight end, Samuels brings ability both as a rusher and a receiver, so if he has a solid role he should have standalone PPR value.
Justin Jackson, Chargers (41)
Assuming Melvin Gordon continues his hold out, the expectation is Austin Ekeler will claim the lion's share of the backfield touches for the Chargers. Jackson provides an alternative, though, and he'll get carries, too. If the split is closer to 50-50, Jackson will be worth owning. On top of that, the Lions' putrid defense would bode well for a sneaky Week 2 start if Jackson has a big enough role.
Ronald Jones II (29)/Dare Ogunbowale (9), Buccaneers
This is more of a directive to see what happens in Tampa Bay's backfield. Reports have Ogunbowale is the favored third-down back, while Peyton Barber is the closest thing to an incumbent. On top of all that, Ronald Jones may be the most talented back there. Week 1 might give us a better grasp of which player you'd like to own.
Week 1 Waiver Wire Watch List: WR
John Brown, Bills (49 percent owned)
Brown is Buffalo's No. 1 WR, a role that should have more respect than it does with deep-ball thrower Josh Allen as his QB. Brown's likely to have a big game in Week 1 against a poor Jets secondary, so he'll be a popular pickup in the more than half of leagues he's not owned in. Jump on the bandwagon earlier than everyone else.
Demaryius Thomas, Patriots (25)
Thomas's race to get healthy finished just ahead of the Patriots' last preseason game, where the veteran wideout starred and caught two touchdowns. Yeah, it was mostly against backups, but this is New England we're talking about. Tom Brady and co. could turn Thomas back into at least a decent replica of the star he used to be.
Deebo Samuel, 49ers (18)
Samuel is the type of big-play rookie wide receiver who will get more love the first week he breaks out. In a tantalizing Week 1 matchup in Tampa, it could be coming right away. San Francisco used him on both passes and runs during the preseason, meaning he should be involved right from the get-go. The Bengals shouldn't slow down a fast start in Week 2 either.
Preston Williams, Dolphins (2)
I've struggled to grasp how everyone thinks Williams is only fifth on the Dolphins' WR depth chart after he played every meaningful snap with Ryan Fitzpatrick in Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason. If I'm right, Williams could break out in Week 1 as the first-round talent who fell because of character concerns. He's only owned in two percent of leagues right now, so for a few days, he's available to almost anyone who wants him.
Week 1 Waiver Wire Watch List: TE
Darren Waller, Raiders (33 percent owned)
We all know Derek Carr loves to throw to his tight end -- Jared Cook proved that last season. Waller steps into that role as an athletic youngster who no one really knows anything about. Week 2 opponent Kansas City was bad against TEs in 2018, plus Waller might show in Week 1 that he's a borderline fantasy starter, especially with Antonio Brown's status up in the air. Get on the hype train early.
Tyler Eifert (9)/C.J. Uzomah (3), Bengals
This isn't about Week 2 matchup but about opportunity. One of these players probably will function as Andy Dalton's No. 2 target for as long as A.J. Green is out. Neither is highly owned. Both are talented, albeit limited, players. Even if you don't pounce on these guys ahead of the waiver wire, it's a snap-count situation worth monitoring.
Week 2 D/ST streams
Buffalo Bills (45 percent ownership). Week 2 opponent: @ Giants
Kansas City Chiefs (34). Week 2: @ Raiders
Indianapolis Colts (15). Week 2: @ Titans
Carolina Panthers (6). Week 2: vs. Bucs
New York Giants (1). Week 2: vs. Bills
These are your top lower-owned D/ST matchups for Week 2. Some, like the Giants and Panthers, are playing decent scoring offenses, but both are at home and both are facing turnover-prone QBs. Carolina is especially interesting playing at home on a Thursday night. The Bills, Chiefs, and Colts are legitimately talented D/STs who should probably be higher owned in general. Buffalo has the best matchup of the bunch, but given the dysfunction going on in Oakland, Kansas City might also be an optimal play.