Welcome to the very first Wright On Waivers. I will be taking over this column for the season and look forward to helping you navigate your way around the waiver wire with player suggestions to help both long and short-term needs. Your previous guide was indeed a great sherpa and wanted me to send along his best. If you have read any of my previous articles, you are aware I typically launch into these drawn-out movie tirades full of terrible analogies. I can assure you I will be focusing solely on your fantasy team this year and avoiding the proverbial opening twenty-one minutes and fifteen seconds of my favorite childhood film, Jurassic Park. Are those first twenty-one minutes important to the story? Yes. Yes, they are, but we really just want to see some dinosaurs. So, let us get to the dinosaurs.
Sorry, before we go through the gates, a few notes on how this column will run every week. I want to keep it simple, player, team, roster percentage, free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) dollar amount (in percentage) I would use on the player, and of course a little background on why the player is being suggested. The players will be listed by position in order of priority. I also want to provide you something quick and easy to pull up while making your waiver claims on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. At the bottom of every article, I am going to provide a cheat sheet.
QUARTERBACK – No one worth breaking the bank or using your number one priority on, but good options for two quarterback and Superflex leagues.
Jameis Winston – New Orleans Saints
34% Rostered | 7% of FAAB
Lasik surgery was invented by accident in 1974 by Russian eye surgeon Dr. Svyatoslav Fydorov, but what happened on Sunday was no fluke. The blow-out win of the week was the New Orleans Saints 38-3 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Winston looked excellent in his first full game as the starter for the Saints, with five touchdowns and no interceptions. I repeat no interceptions. Winston’s yardage was admittedly low, but the Saints were dealing with fantastic field position throughout the game. Any worries of Taysom Hill eating into his playing time were eased as Hill only had one passing attempt on the day and two rushing attempts. I do not think we will see Hill go away, but this does look like it is firmly Winston’s job. Winston was rostered in most Superflex and two quarterback leagues but is definitely worth rostering in one quarterback leagues. His schedule is a little tough after next week until after their bye, but Winston has the potential to be a top five quarterback once Week Seven rolls around.
Teddy Bridgewater – Denver Broncos
7% Rostered | 5% of FAAB
It looks like the right man won out in Denver as Teddy Bridgewater turned in 264 passing yards and two touchdowns. His usual high completion percentage was also on display with 28 of 36 passes completed. Most of his targets went the way of Noah Fant and Jerry Jeudy, the latter who will be missing multiple weeks with a presumed high ankle sprain. Once Jeudy left the game though, Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler seemed to fill in well. The Broncos will face the Jaguars next week, who allowed Tyrod Taylor to throw for just short of three hundred yards and two touchdowns. Bridgewater is a must add in Superflex and two quarterback leagues especially for those who may have lost the service of the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Jared Goff – Detroit Lions
6% Rostered | 2% of FAAB
Nothing this offseason really excited me about Jared Goff due to the myriad of reasons in Detroit. What I might not have keyed in on is how bad the Lions defense could be leading to garbage time. The lack of dependable wide receiver options did not seem to limit Goff as he peppered his tight end TJ Hockenson and running backs D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams with thirty targets combined. I do not think the Lions will win many games, but if they are playing catchup as much as they were against the 49ers, there will be a constant floor serviceable especially in Superflex and two quarterback leagues.
RUNNING BACK- Some serviceable PPR options, but a position which looks minimal overall in terms of injury related adds.
Nyheim Hines – Indianapolis Colts
70% Rostered | 20% of FAAB
Who would have thought Carson Wentz’s favorite receiving target would have been his running back? Maybe Jim Irsay and his wallet, who recently “spared no expense.” RIP John Hammond. Hines had a solid RB2 performance in PPR leagues which is why zero RB aficionados were singing his praises all off season. Like last season, it seems like Hines will find value in this backfield even behind Jonathan Taylor who had seventeen carries and seven targets of his own. Hines’ roster percentage is admittedly high, but he is currently available in 30% of leagues which will move much closer to universally rostered by next week.
Elijah Mitchell – San Francisco 49ers
Rostered 4% | 15% of FAAB
Prior to game time on Sunday, 49ers rookie running back Trey Sermon was declared a healthy scratch. This led to a symphony of Raheem Mostert praise you could hear all the way from Isla Nublar. Sadly, after only two carries Mostert injured his knee leading to 104 yards rushing and a touchdown from backup Elijah Mitchell. Now Mostert has landed on the IR for at least eight weeks opening the door even wider for Mitchell. The backfield in San Francisco has always had a committee feel under Kyle Shanahan and even though it does not look as murky at least in the short term, I expect Mitchell to soon start splitting with Sermon and Jeff Wilson, after his own return from the IR. Still, in the immediate future, the 49ers have two good matchups against the Eagles and Packers. Mitchell is worth an add especially if you are the Mostert manager suddenly without an RB2.
Mark Ingram – Houston Texans
16% Rostered | 10% of FAAB
Usually with a performance like Mark Ingram’s, I would recommend spending a bit more FAAB. There were minimal injuries to the running backs in Week One fortunately, so 10% should get the job done. Ingram dominated the backfield of the Texans and looks to be the clear cut back in Houston. He had twenty-six carries on Sunday for 85 yards and a touchdown. A solid performance from the veteran. He was not used in the passing game, so non-PPR leagues can absolutely prioritize Ingram over Hines.
James White – New England Patriots
Rostered 40% | 8% of FAAB
The passing down’s role in New England still seems to be firmly in the grasp of James White. Damien Harris was phenomenal on Sunday, but was barely targeted by the Patriots during passing downs. Par for the course there in New England running back usage. White had seven targets in the game which he turned into six receptions for forty-nine yards. He also added four carries for twelve yards to give his stat line a little something extra. White gets the Jets next week who just allowed ninety-three receiving yards to the Panthers running backs. While I realize White is no Christian McCaffrey, it is still an exceptionally good matchup.
Tony Jones Jr. – New Orleans Saints
Rostered 19% | 8 % of FAAB
Tony Jones Jr. had a good day for the Saints on Sunday against the Packers with eleven carries for fifty yards. Latavius Murray was released earlier last week freeing up the number two running back role for New Orleans. We have seen from previous year how the role can be productive as a back-up and one of the best lottery tickets in fantasy football should last year’s number one overall running back Alvin Kamara go down. I’m adding Jones in leagues where I have Kamara if I didn’t already have him.
Kenneth Gainwell – Philadelphia Eagles
Rostered 6% | 8 % of FAAB
I would not call Philadelphia a running back by committee, but there is serviceable work for more than just one back it would seem. Kenny Gainwell only had nine carries to Miles Sanders fifteen, but his three targets and usage in the red zone lead to a total of 12.3 fantasy points. Gainwell could be a solid flex option and a nice hold-to-see player for anyone with room on their bench. He has a lot of talent and could be huge for your teams if Miles Sanders were to miss any time again like he did in 2020.
WIDE RECEIVER- Players who can provide your teams with solid WR3 and flex production.
Christian Kirk – Arizona Cardinals
9% Rostered | 12% of FAAB
The Arizona Cardinals looked unstoppable yesterday, well at least when it pertains to Kyler Murray and anyone he found on his literal receiving end. Fortunately, Christian Kirk was there. He left the Titans secondary looking like they just took 10,000 volts off a perimeter fence with five receptions for seventy yards and two touchdowns. Kirk was the second most targeted wide receiver in the game behind DeAndre Hopkins, but alongside rookie Rondale Moore. I would put the priority on Kirk for this week due to his history with Murray. If you miss on Kirk, throw a few dollars less at Moore, but my confidence is not there yet with Moore, especially in redraft.
Sterling Shepard – New York Giants
31% Rostered | 10% of FAAB
One of my big whiffs of the offseason appears to be completely ignoring the existence of Sterling Shepard. The combination of the addition of Kenny Golladay and Shepard missing six games the last two seasons had me looking for production in the Giants offense elsewhere. Shepard was targeted a team high nine times yesterday leading to a lovely 7/113/1 stat line. The Giants face a Washington secondary on Thursday night who allowed over three hundred yards receiving last week. I imagine Golladay will ramp up as the season goes on, but until then Shepard is good to start.
Nelson Agholor – New England Patriots
32% Rostered | 8% of FAAB
There were a few bright spots in New England’s one point loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. One being the performance of Nelson Agholor who led the team in yardage while scoring the Patriots lone receiving touchdown. He was out targeted by Jakobi Meyers, but Agholor looked like the better receiver. Mac Jones performed well in his debut, which gives me a little more confidence especially with the Patriots taking on the Jets next week.
Jalen Reagor – Philadelphia Eagles
39% Rostered | 8% of FAAB
While DeVonta Smith looked to be the receiver to roster for the Philadelphia Eagles, Jalen Hurts showed he can run a successful offense capable of supporting multiple receiving options. Jalen Reagor should see plenty of opportunity to produce WR2/WR3 number all season long. On Sunday, Reagor caught six passes for forty-nine yards and one touchdown which was good enough to have him currently sitting as the WR24.
Zach Pascal – Indianapolis Colts
2% Rostered | 7% of FAAB
While Nyheim Hines led the Colts in targets, Zach Pascal lead the receivers in targets, receptions, and touchdowns (2!). Once TY Hilton went on the IR, there was a bit of a guessing game to who would emerge out of the Indianapolis receiver room. Most, myself included, tipped the scales towards Michael Pittman, who was only one target behind Pascal. However, at least for week one, it was Pascal who converted when it mattered most. The Colts have a tough matchup next week against the Rams. I’d add Pascal but might wait until Week Three before rolling him out there in my lineup.
Tim Patrick – Denver Broncos
1% Rostered | 5% of FAAB
KJ Hamler – Denver Broncos
2% Rostered | 4% of FAAB
The most high-profile injury outside of Ryan Fitzpatrick was the high ankle sprain of Jerry Jeudy. The timetable for his return is six to eight weeks at this point. When Jeudy left the game in the third quarter Sunday, I was fully expecting it to turn into the Courtland Sutton show. However, from the moment Jeudy left the game, the only pass Bridgewater completed to his receivers was a twenty-two yard pass to KJ Hamler. Bridgewater instead focused on targeting his tight ends and running backs with short area targets. Call it game script if you will. If I believe Tim Patrick will benefit most from Jeudy’s absence in terms of waiver wire adds this week. Tim Patrick is a lanky receiver who can stretch the field and has performed well in his time at Denver with a career high in touchdowns, receptions, and catch percentage in 2020. Hamler will still be involved though, and fits Bridgewater’s short target tendencies. I look for Patrick and Hamler to both be involved next Sunday against Jacksonville.
Receiver is always deep, so here are a few more players rostered in less than 25% I would recommend putting on your bench:
Emmanuel Sanders – Buffalo Bills
Marquez Valdes-Scantling – Green Bay Packers
Rondale Moore – Arizona Cardinals
Terrace Marshall – Carolina Panthers
Cedrick Wilson – Dallas Cowboys
TIGHT END- serviceable options to stream, who both have great matchups next week
Jared Cook – Los Angeles Chargers
24% Rostered | 7% of FAAB
Hunter Henry departed for New England this offseason leaving many wondering who might pick up the slack. Even though he played his college ball only ten minutes from my front door, I did not think Donald Parham would be the answer. Enter Jared Cook and he looked in vintage form on Sunday hauling in five catches for fifty-three yards. He was third on the team in targets behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. The Chargers allotted 110 of Justin Herbert’s 466 attempts last year to the tight end position and it appears Jared Cook is in line to take a lion’s share of those. I love him against the Cowboys next week who just allowed Rob Gronkowski to go for ninety yards and two touchdowns.
Juwan Johnson – New Orleans Saints
6% Rostered | 4% FAAB
Juwan Johnson was out targeted by his teammate Adam Trautman, but quarterback Jameis Winston showed great favoritism to Johnson when it came to the red zone. Johnson had two touchdowns in the game with all two of his three receptions coming from inside the twenty-yard line. Johnson technically had four red zone targets, but fortunately had the play overturned by a penalty because Winston did throw an interception. The only target Trautman received in the red zone was dropped. I would still hold Trautman if you are rostering him, but I would not blame you for making the switch.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
New Orleans Saints
29% Rostered | 3% of FAAB
The New Orleans Saints defense made a mockery of what was one of the most high-powered offenses in the National Football League last year. Last year’s second-best fantasy quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, only had 133 yards passing with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Star running back Aaron Jones and sophomore AJ Dillion could not get anything going on the ground. This defense is elite and next week they will be traveling to Carolina to face the Panthers. There is no telling what they have in store for Sam Darnold next week.
Arizona Cardinals
7% Rostered | 2% of FAAB
One of the most impressive performances for me in Week One came from the Arizona Cardinals defense. Most notably was the pressure put on Ryan Tannehill highlighted by Chandler Jones and his five sacks. Derrick Henry was also kept under wraps for most of the day with his lowest rushing total since Week Four of 2020. The Cardinals will be going up against Kirk Cousins and the Vikings in Week Two.
New York Giants
7% Rostered | 1% of FAAB
The Giants did not have the best showing against the Broncos last week, but they get the Washington Football Team in a short turn-around on Thursday night. The Football Team will be without Ryan Fitzpatrick for the foreseeable future and next man up Taylor Heinicke did not do much to win fantasy managers over with his performance against the Chargers. If you are streaming defenses, the Giants are a good option in Week Two.
CHEAT SHEET
*The percentage’s after the name indicate the amount of FAAB I would spend.
