NFL Waiver Wire: Week 1 Pickups

Finally, the start of the season is here. Week 1 kicks off Thursday and most leagues will have their first waiver wire moves before then. This column will now switch to being a weekly staple on the site, so look to use it as a tool to help you with your fantasy league.

If there are questions about the players mentioned or in general, feel free to hit up the comments section.

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. 

QUARTERBACK

Secondary Targets

Nick Foles, PHI - Foles might only be a one-week rental, but he's a legit option under center for the Super Bowl champs. It's possible Foles gets more than one start this season on one of the better offenses in football. Even with missing three games, Carson Wentz was the fifth-highest scoring quarterback in fantasy last season, showing the offense's upside. Remember in the Super Bowl, Foles had a 106.1 quarterback rating fueled by 373 passing yards and three touchdowns. He might need to put up similar numbers if he's going to beat Matt Ryan and the Falcons on Thursday. Foles is a fantastic streaming option; just realize it might only be for a week. FAAB: $3-$6

Sam Darnold, NYJ - Darnold was named the Jets' starter Monday, putting him on the fantasy radar for Week 1. He obviously has more value in two-quarterback/super-flex formats where all starting quarterbacks have relevancy. While speedster Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse and Quincy Enunwa aren't the greatest the wide-receiver trio, all have 800-plus receiving yards in the last 16-game season each has played. Josh McCown serving as a mentor as the team's backup should help Darnold transition into an effective quarterback more quickly. FAAB: $1-$3

RUNNING BACK

Primary Targets

Alfred Morris, Matt Breida, SF - The big news out of the weekend was that newly acquired Jerick McKinnon suffered a non-contact injury that turned out to be a season-ending ACL tear. That leaves Morris and Breida to divvy up the touches in the San Francisco backfield. It seems like coach Kyle Shanahan has faith in Morris to handle the goal-line work while Breida takes the pass-catching/change-of-pace role. Both had excellent yards per carry numbers last season (Morris 4.8 YPC, Breida 4.4 YPC) but Morris' extra 30 pounds makes him a better candidate to handle early down work between the tackles. Morris is the preferred free-agent target, though in full-point PPR Breida closes that gap to almost even. FAAB: Morris $15-$25; Breida $10-$20

Hail Mary

Boston Scott, Mike Gillislee, NO - Gillislee was released by the Patriots and picked up by the Saints, who were a bit thin at running back after releasing Jonathan Williams. It appears Boston Scott will get first crack at backing up Alvin Kamara while Mark Ingram serves his four-game suspension with Gillislee working his way into the mix as well. Of the two, Scott looks like the back to own because he was in camp longer, had enough talent to make the team and is not another team's castoff. Ultimately, this could end up meaning the Saints plan on giving Kamara a much bigger workload than initially indicated. FAAB: Scott $1-$2; Gillislee FCFS or $1

James Conner, PIT - As of this writing, Le'Veon Bell hasn't signed his franchise tender and his availability for the Sunday's game against the Browns is uncertain. Conner would likely get the start and the bulk of the carries if Bell isn't available, putting him in the RB 15-20 range given the Pittsburgh offense. Bell likely will sign the tender and reports this week, but even if he misses Sunday's game it shouldn't be a long holdout. FAAB: $1-$2

Malcolm Brown, LAR - Earlier this summer Chase Edmonds was featured in this column as a good bench stash in cash anything happens to David Johnson. Brown fits a similar mold for the Rams as he'd be the next man up if anything happens to Todd Gurley. Listed as No. 2 on the depth chart, Brown will occasionally spell Gurley, typically seeing a few touches per game. Like Edmonds, he's the type of player to pick up just before kickoff on Sunday as opposed to rostering a second defense or backup tight end, in case the unthinkable happens. FAAB: FCFS

WIDE RECEIVER

Hail Mary

Antonio Callaway, CLE - It look like Callaway, not Josh Gordon, will start Sunday, though Gordon should be available. It's uncertain what type of timeshare they're in for this game and whether it's just a unique case for this week. Callaway could be a useful streaming option at some point should Gordon mess up again and Callaway find the starting spot and targets all to himself. While Callaway has had more than his share of off-the-field issues, his 4.41 40 speed and pedigree should translate to NFL success provided he can stay focused on the game. FAAB: $1-$2

TIGHT END

Secondary Targets

Nick Boyle, BAL - Boyle will start Week 1 with the injury to Hayden Hurst (foot). The bad news is Boyle, despite being a first-round pick, has only 66 targets in three seasons (32 games). The good news is that with Ben Watson in New Orleans he leaves behind 79 targets at the position from a season ago. Those targets along with Boyle's 37 from 2017 mean there's 116 targets at tight end (7.25 per game) up for grabs. Meaning Boyle is as likely as anyone to get those targets while Hurst is on the mend (likely for the first three weeks of the season). FAAB: $1-$2