Many a fantasy football championship has been won with the waiver wire. Following Week 1 action, these are the names that should be on owners' radars going forward. And fear not if your waiver priority is low-we have some sneaky pickups for you as well.
Ownership percentages are courtesy of Yahoo.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota, Titans (46 percent): It’s important not to overreact to Mariota’s four-touchdown performance. He won’t be playing the Buccaneers every week, and for as gaudy as four scores looks, he only threw 16 passes and racked up only 209 yards. Mariota is not a fantasy superstar just yet, and as a rookie coming from a spread offense in college, he is going to have growing pains.
That said, Mariota executed what his coaches asked of him with machine-like efficiency. Accuracy is his calling card, so interceptions shouldn’t be an issue when coupled with his simple reads. He’s a worthy stash, and potentially a matchup play over QBs in the back end of the to-12.
Andy Dalton, Bengals (26 percent): It’s difficult to understand why more fantasy owners don’t have Dalton as their backup. His performance in Week 1 was perfectly fine –269 yards, two touchdowns – and he’s fully capable of turning that in most weeks. With A.J. Green at receiver, he will have several games where he tops 300, and even 350 yards. He’s really not that bad guys and gals. If you have weak bench options, drop one and have Dalton as your insurance policy.
DEEP OPTION-Ryan Mallett, Texans (0 percent): Mallett replaced an utterly ineffective Brian Hoyer last week and threw for 98 yards and a touchdown. Hoyer has a reputation for competence that is mostly unearned. He was benched last year during a winning season for Johnny Manziel, and things clearly haven’t gotten better. Mallett may not be any great shakes, but at least we don’t know what he is. With Hoyer, there’s no hope.
Running Backs
DeAngelo Williams, Steelers (37 percent): Williams is only good for one more week, but if he can duplicate what he did Thursday night against a 49ers defense that should be significantly worse in 2015 than they were last year, he’s a great guy to plug in. Williams had 127 yards on the ground, and even if he scales back from there, he has as good a chance as any RB in Week 2 to find the end zone.
David Johnson, Cardinals (21 percent): David Johnson was the rookie that most expected to split carries with Andre Ellington, but then the Cardinals signed Chris Johnson and put him in ahead of David. The Cards have said CJ2K is their “lead dog” but the greater upside lies with the rookie. He took a 55-yard pass to the house on Sunday, and if he can make plays when he has the opportunity, it shouldn’t be too hard to grab the better end of the time share. Chris Johnson is not a bad pickup for right now though either.
Lance Dunbar, Cowboys (2 percent): Nobody saw this coming. Despite his two percent ownership percentage, you’ll need a hefty waiver priority to land him. He caught eight passed for 70 yards Sunday night, and with Dez Bryant set to miss several weeks, he’s going to be targeted much more. Dunbar could be a legitimate wide receiver in the Dallas offense, and therefore an absolute stud for PPR purposes. Looks like he was the best RB to own in that backfield, even if he’s not in the backfield.
DEEP OPTION- Ronnie Hillman, Broncos (31 percent): Dirty little secret of Week 1? Hillman looked much better than C.J. Anderson. Last year Hillman, not Anderson, was the man who replaced Montee Ball and he was killing it until he got hurt. Then Anderson came in, played well, and that was all she wrote.
Hillman got another opportunity and did very well. Anderson believes he may have sprained his toe, and the Broncos are playing on Thursday, which means Hillman may get the nod. It’s obviously too early to dismiss Anderson, but the questions will be asked if Hillman plays Thursday night and does well. Get him now.
Wide Receivers
James Jones, Packers (31 percent): This one’s obvious. Jones scored twice in his re-appearance with the Packers, and with Jordy Nelson out he will continue to be a big part of their offense. He’s not going to be a touchdown machine all of a sudden, but Rodgers knows him, trusts him, and will target him.
Donte Moncrief, Colts (10 percent): Moncrief was the man to soak up injured T.Y. Hilton’s targets once he was knocked out of the game, and should be heavily featured for as long as Hilton’s out. Beware in Week 2 however! Andre Johnson didn’t look threatening on Sunday, and if the Jets decide he doesn’t require too much attention, they may put star CB Darrelle Revis on Moncrief instead.
DEEP OPTION-Cole Beasley, Cowboys (7 percent): Beasley has limited upside, but with Bryant missing four to six weeks with a broken foot, there will be more looks for Beasley. Dallas has to throw more than they did in 2014 with DeMarco Murray in the backfield, so Beasley has a chance to spend the next few weeks as a poor man’s Julian Edelman.
Tight Ends
Ladarius Green, Chargers (20 percent): Green had a concussion scare but he made it onto the field, and he showed that maybe San Diego will be alright without Antonio Gates for the first four weeks. Green is comparable to Gates in size, he’s faster, and at this point his athleticism trumps Gates’. He’s not the superior player, but he will be an excellent red zone target while Gates sits.
DEEP OPTION- Eric Ebron, Lions (8 percent): Go get him now! It may take another week for fantasy owners to believe in Ebron, but he was drafted as a Jimmy Graham clone, and he looked the part Sunday.
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