Waiver Wire Watch: Week 1

Sep 08, 2021

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Week 1 is here. Some people might say it is one of the year’s best holidays. And I would be among those people. By this point, most of, if not all, of your fantasy drafts should have concluded. Yet, the draft is only the beginning. Winning teams are built on the waiver wire, and there is no time like the present to start making moves.

What follows is a shorter version of the Waiver Wire Watch. The picks are more meant to highlight some decent Week 1 matchups or players to stash. The analysis is light on deep statistical analysis because, well, we’re awaiting that glorious drop of Week 1 statistics coming in mere days. Plenty of these suggestions are made with the intent to build your bench for success before the crucible of the season is upon us.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings (and prices, starting next week), if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 1.

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Football Team, 47% rostered
Sam Darnold, Panthers, 14% rostered
Derek Carr, Raiders, 23% rostered
Trey Lance, 49ers, 48% rostered
Justin Fields, Bears, 54% rostered

Fitzmagic represents one of the week’s best streamers facing the Chargers. His defense could help put him in favorable spots, and he should thrive slinging it to Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, and (hopefully) Curtis Samuel.
Sam Darnold might make you squeamish, but when you consider the talent he’s playing with (D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Christian McCaffrey, and Terrace Marshall), the coaching he’s now receiving (Matt Rhule >>>> Adam Gase) AND the revenge narrative (playing his former team), there are reasons to like Darnold as a deeper streamer.
Derek Carr could be in a shootout with the Ravens, so he’s an option as well.
As for Trey Lance and Justin Fields, their time as starters, like winter, is coming. They have league-winning upside if they take over the jobs soon enough and perform at their potential ceilings.