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A lot has changed since camp started. Many leagues have a preseason waiver wire run to correct course from some changes. Who should be on your preseason waiver wire list? I’ve ranked these players in order of desirability in typical PPR leagues. As always, your mileage may vary based on league size, date of draft, and scoring/lineups. In shallower leagues, someone like Antonio Gibson could be out there if the draft was early enough, so don't see this list as an end-all-be-all on the subject of the preseason waiver wire
1. Randall Cobb, WR, HOU - Cobb should have been drafted in every PPR league a potentially high value slot role with Deshaun Watson. Nothing that happened this summer has changed that.
2. Nyheim Hines, RB, IND - Hines has been all over the formation in camp and catching a ton of footballs. He has a chance to set a career high in catches and have sustained value in PPR leagues.
3. Bryan Edwards, WR, LV - Edwards has been putting on a show in camp after the Raiders expected this to be more of a redshirt year following his offseason foot injury. He’ll start now that Tyrell Williams is on injured reserve.
4. Steven Sims Jr, WR, WAS - Overlooked in early drafts despite a great December, he won the slot role in an offense that should be passing a lot more this year.
5. Benny Snell, RB, PIT - Snell showed up to camp with a new slimmer body and more burst, and finished it as the #2 back behind injury-prone James Conner.
6. Joshua Kelley, RB, LAC - Kelley has been a camp star and Justin Jackson is banged up (again), so he could be the first number called at the goal line and perhaps even lead the team in carries.
7. Jerick McKinnon, RB, SF - McKinnon has been stellar in camp and should be the dedicated receiving back for the 49ers, with room for his role to grow if he looks as good as he did before his knee injuries.
8. Devine Ozigbo, RB, JAX - A favorite 2019 UDFA, Ozigbo is a three-down back who has a chance to distinguish himself now.
9. James Robinson, RB, JAX - Robinson will split carries with Ozigbo to open the season and could earn more work with good play.
10. Chris Thompson, RB, JAX - Thompson is good for 10-15 points weekly in PPR leagues until his inevitable midseason injury. He was already in line for this before the Fournette release, but now it’s out in the open. His viability depends on whether you anticipate needing a high floor RB2/Flex because of a thin bench or problems at RB2.
11. Parris Campbell, WR, IND - Campbell has mostly been healthy this summer and flashed the speed and quickness that made the Colts so excited about him last summer. Targets could be hard come by after Hilton, the backs, and the tight ends get fed, but if Campbell pops big plays, his role will grow.
12. Hunter Renfrow, WR, LV - Renfrow was part of a more crowded passing game at the beginning of camp. Nelson Agholor hasn’t converted on some pre-camp expectations of a large role and Tyrell Williams is out for the year. Renfrow is one of the most valuable slot-only role wide receivers in PPR leagues.
13. Auden Tate, WR, CIN - Tate has made a fast connection with Joe Burrow in the red zone and his path to value is an AJ Green injury so…
14. Tyrod Taylor, QB, LAC - There wasn’t much doubt that Taylor would hold off rookie Justin Herbert. He’ll start against a weak opening schedule of Cincinnati, Kansas City, and Carolina and could have some value in deeper 1QB leagues. He should be drafted in all superflex/2QB leagues already.
15. Andy Isabella, WR, ARI - Isabella will be the #4 receiver after having a good camp, and if he busts some long plays, his role could increase quickly.
16. Chase Claypool, WR, PIT - Claypool has lit up competition in Steelers training camp and the team is going to carve out a Week 1 role for him in a crowded wide receiver room. He could leapfrog James Washington in short order.
17. Eric Ebron, TE, PIT - Ebron has looked like an athletic mismatch at tight end and Ben Roethlisberger has taken a liking to targeting him. He could be relevant in fantasy leagues again this year.
18. Logan Thomas, TE, WAS - Thomas has emerged as the #1 receiving tight end in a thin passing game. The former standout quarterback at Virginia Tech has flashed good hands and ball skills along with athleticism in a limited role with Detroit and Buffalo.
19. Darrel Williams, RB, KC - Williams has established himself as the #2 back in Kansas City over DeAndre Washington, which means he’ll lead a committee if Clyde Edwards-Helaire goes down.
20. Darrynton Evans, RB, TEN - The Titans like what they’ve seen from Evans enough to not sign a veteran and according to a Peter King source, they may make an Alvin Kamara lite role for him in the offense.
21. Miles Boykin, WR, BAL - Boykin has had a great second camp and is ready to make the leap, but targets could be an issue unless Marquise Brown gets hurt… which isn’t that remote of a possibility.
22. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, GB - Valdes-Scantling has had a redeeming camp and should get a shot to be the primary deep threat for Aaron Rodgers.
23. Van Jefferson, WR, LAR - Jefferson has dazzled in camp and could start over Josh Reynolds. He could pop with an injury to Robert Woods or Cooper Kupp, or might just force a wider target tree with his polished game.
24. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, PHI - Arcega-Whiteside had a good enough camp to likely get a start at X receiver while Jalen Reagor and Alshon Jeffery are healing.
25. Bryce Love, RB, WAS - Healthy and should get a chance to assert his right to a role in the backfield sooner than later.
26. Brian Hill, RB, ATL - Hill has earned enough praise in camp to see him as the likely lead of an RBBC in the event that Todd Gurley goes down.
27. Eno Benjamin, RB, ARI - The seventh-round pick has had a good summer and he is set as the #3 back and potential everydown player behind two backs who aren’t known for durability.
28. Mike Davis, RB, CAR - Davis has emerged as the backup to Christian McCaffrey
29. Keelan Cole, WR, JAX - Cole has had a good camp and should be the #3 in Jacksonville. If Laviska Shenault can’t stay healthy, Cole could be in a core offensive role.
30. Olabisi Johnson, WR, MIN - Strong camp and connection with Kirk Cousins earned him the WR2 role in the Vikings offense over first round pick Justin Jefferson.
31. Scott Miller, WR, TB - One of the stars of camp, only problem is what will the #3 wide receiver role be worth in Tampa?
32. Tyler Eifert, TE, JAX - Eifert was thrust into a larger role when Josh Oliver went down. He’s a two tight end or deep tight end premium league special.
33. Jimmy Graham, TE, CHI - Graham has had a great camp and should have every chance to show that Ryan Pace didn’t overpay for him when he was signed to a two-year, $16 million dollar deal.
34. Frank Gore, RB, NYJ - Gore probably earned himself 10-15 carries a game with a good camp and more urgent running style than Le’Veon Bell. There are leagues deep enough to make that worth rostering.
35. Robert Tonyan Jr, TE, GB - Tonyan is an Aaron Rodgers favorite and it sounds like he’ll get a shot to be the primary receiving tight end over Jace Sternberger to open the year.
36. Dontrelle Inman, WR, WAS - Inman has shown up and made himself an immediate starter after Kelvin Harmon went down with an ACL tear this summer.
37. Chris Hogan, WR, NYJ - In super deep leagues, Hogan making himself a Week 1 starter after Denzel Mims and Jeff Smith got hurt is a development that could help your depth. The other starter outside, Breshad Perriman, has already had knee swelling and an MRI.
38. Mike Thomas, WR, CIN - Thomas has revived his career after languishing on the Rams bench for four years. He might even start Week 1 with Tee Higgins slowed by a hamstring injury.
Redraft Cut List
(In order for easiest to most difficult to cut)
Don’t release players at the bottom of this list for players at the bottom of the above list - For reference, check my PPR Top 250
Derrius Guice, RB, WAS - Might have played his last down
Devin Funchess, WR, GB - Opted out of season
Damien Williams, RB, KC - Opted out of season
Tyrell Williams, WR, LV - Injured Reserve
K.J. Hamler, WR, DEN - Possible Injured Reserve
Reggie Bonnafon, RB, CAR - Beat out for #2 job
Mohamed Sanu, WR, NE - Released
Jace Sternberger, TE, GB - Not ready yet
Ke’Shawn Vaughn, RB, TB - #5 back
Josh Reynolds, WR, LAR - Likely overtaken by Jefferson
DeAndre Washington, RB, KC - Released
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, CHI - Meh camp
Nick Foles, QB, CHI - Meh camp
Justin Jackson, RB, LAC - Hurt, could be passed by Kelley
Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN - Not starting to open year
Denzel Mims, WR, NYJ - Coming back from hamstring, little to no camp
Tee Higgins, WR, CIN - Coming back from hamstring, little to no camp
Anthony McFarland, RB, PIT - Manufactured touch player
James Washington, WR, PIT - Could fall behind Claypool
Breshad Perriman, WR, NYJ - Knee swelling dampens hopes
