Fantasy football leagues and won on the waiver wire. Our waiver wire tools at Footballguys make it easy.
Every week, our Sigmund Bloom writes about every trending player in the NFL, moving players up and down based on what we’ve seen. For players who are mostly available in fantasy football leagues, he’ll provide an estimated amount of FAAB to bid on the waiver wire.
These waiver wire tips are essential in winning your fantasy football league. In this article, we’ll highlight a handful of noteworthy players. But for deeper leagues and more waiver wire additions, check out our full Upgrade and Downgrades feature.
Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay (bid 15-30%)
Mayfield is improving and should have a career year by a good margin under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who took the job so he could work with Mayfield again. Some of this was a poor Washington defense that we will target when we set lineups (Good luck this week, Daniel Jones), but Mayfield is set up for success and should be considered a low QB1 against Detroit.
QB Justin Fields, Pittsburgh (bid 3-5%)
Fields was safe with the ball and only threw to the outside, but he did add some value as a runner by design even though he wasn't the QB1 he has been for fantasy in the past. While he didn't run away with the job, Fields at least made a good case that he should start at Denver this week.
Waiver Wire Running Backs
RB Jordan Mason, San Francisco (bid 50-100%)
Mason was impressive in place of Christian McCaffrey, and he could start again in Week 2. With McCaffrey nursing a possible multiweek injury (achilles tendenitis) to start the season, who knows how much Mason could be worth when the dust settles.
RB J.K. Dobbins, LA Chargers (bid 25-50%)
Dobbins broke away from the Raiders defense more than once and looked like the best Chargers back by a large margin. The Panthers matchup this week is ideal, and Dobbins should be in lineups as an RB2/Flex.
RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville (bid 15-30%)
Bigsby outplayed Travis Etienne Jr., and Etienne had a costly fumble at the goal line. It's possible that Bigsby has turned this into a full-blown committee, and if he gets goal-line work, he'll have the more valuable part of it. He still needs an Etienne injury to really hit for fantasy, but Bigsby is more than a mere injury upside bench stash. Consider him a what-the-heck flex against the Browns with room to grow.
RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay (bid 10-20%)
Irving got some run at the end of the blowout win over Washington, and looked like he might deserve more early down work over Rachaad White, who was again inefficient. Irving is more than a mere backup and the Bucs offense is a rising force in fantasy football.
Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
WR Demarcus Robinson, LA Ram (bid 15-30%)
Puka Nacua is on IR with a PCL injury. Robinson should get run with the starters for at least a month, and he was fantasy-relevant even with Nacua and Cooper Kupp out there last year. He's a what-the-heck flex with upside against the Cardinals.
WR Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis (bid 5-10%)
Mitchell was open twice for plays that could have been scores in a great sign for the smoothness of his transition to the NFL. Anthony Richardson missed him on both, but bigger days could be coming, at least while Josh Downs is still out.
WR Wan'Dale Robinson, NY Giants (bid 1-3%)
Robinson is going to benefit from coverages focused on Malik Nabers and from the limitations of his quarterback, which keeps the targets short range, where Robinson operates. He's viable bench depth in deep PPR leagues.
Waiver Wire Tight Ends
TE Isaiah Likely, Baltimore (bid 50-100%)
The Chiefs made sure to take away Mark Andrews, so Likely's breakout game was out of necessity as much as irresistible ability, but we can't ignore the biggest tight end game of Week 1 by a large margin. He just got more valuable as the weekend went on with so much disappointment at the position.
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And check out some in-depth explanations on these waiver wire pickups, courtesy of Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey on a new episode of The Audible.
