Whether you are in one, or too many fantasy football leagues (like myself), you don’t win your league at the draft. Having a plan for the waiver wire can really kick-start your team ahead of others in the first few weeks. Whether you are grabbing a guy to plug and play, or stashing a guy who has a good match-up later on; I will be giving you one player that went undrafted from each position to pick up before Week 1. All rostered numbers come from ESPN. Don’t blink because this will be a quick one!
Quarterback
QB Sam Darnold – Carolina Panthers (6% Rostered)
Sam Darnold is being overlooked as a fantasy football option. With a plethora of elite skill players, shouldn’t the guy throwing the ball be a part of the equation as well? Sam Darnold faces his former team Week 1, as the Jets play the Panthers. The Jets have a young defense that wasn’t great last season. Look for Darnold to play well in Week 1 and be a surprisingly useful fantasy asset this season.
Running Back
RB Ty’Son Williams – Baltimore Ravens (21.6% Rostered)
Remember before J.K. Dobbins’ injury how beloved the Ravens’ backfield was that we were still drafting Gus Edwards in the 9th round? Well, now that Edwards is the starter, look for Ty’Son Williams to garner that role that Edwards was supposed to have. The Ravens’ offensive line allows for all runners in that backfield to average about five yards per carry. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Williams. Grab him now before you have to spend 30% of your FAAB or your waiver priority after their week one match-up against the Raiders.
Wide Receiver
WR Quez Watkins – Philadelphia Eagles (1.6% Rostered)
Quez Watkins has shined not only in camp, but in preseason as well. He did not produce much in his rookie year, but with Travis Fulgham being cut he has solidified his role in the slot. Playing the Falcons and Cowboys in the first three weeks, Watkins will most likely be facing the CB3 against two awful defenses. If you have an extra bench spot or you drafted Michael Thomas late and moved him to your IR, grab Watkins before it’s too late.
Tight End
TE Adam Trautman – New Orleans Saints (6.4% Rostered)
Before his injury, Adam Trautman was a lock to be taken in the double digit rounds of fantasy football drafts. After his ankle injury, he is basically going undrafted. The timeline for his return was about one to three weeks – that was 14 days ago. Trautman has a good chance to play Week 2, if not Week 1. With Michael Thomas out and no real WR2 on the team, Trautman can look to be the late round tight end that bursts into the top-12 this year.
Defense
D/ST – Cleveland Browns (63.1% Rostered)
With an awful Week 1 match-up against the Chiefs, many are fading the Browns defense late in drafts. But they are playing the Houston Texans in Week 2; a team that many consider may be the worst in the NFL this season. The Browns defense is young, active, and should be able to feast in what may be a bounce-back game after a tough Week 1. The key to fantasy football is getting ahead of leaguemates, so adding the Browns now could set your team up nicely for the rest of the season. At 63.1 rostership they are a borderline waiver add, but one that needs to be addressed now before they’re impossible to add.
Stay tuned for my weekly waiver wire piece coming every Tuesday to The League Winners. Happy waiver hunting!
