NFL Waiver Wire: True Blue

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based upon both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. During the season, this column will run every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedules. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.

Welcome back for another season of "Working the Wire." Each week potential waiver adds will be recommended for the upcoming waiver period. After the column is posted, additional information and discussion will take place throughout the week in the comments section.

Players will be divided into three categories based on their perceived value: Primary Targets, Secondary Targets and Hail Marys. Primary Targets are players for all leagues to consider; Secondary Targets are good but not great players; and Hail Marys are something of a lottery ticket that should be taken in deeper leagues or out of desperation. As always, feel free to ask about a particular player or situation below in the comments section.

Most players discussed in this column are typically less than 50 percent owned, usually much less. As it's early, it's difficult to ascertain exact ownership numbers, though all of the players mentioned appeared to fit that criteria according to early ADP.

QUARTERBACK

Primary Targets

Jameis Winston, TB - Lovie Smith announced something we all knew last week that Winston would be the Buccaneers' starter Week 1. Winston is likely on the waiver wire in many 10 or 12-team leagues that only start one quarterback. He has a nice matchup Week 1 going against the Titans in Tampa Bay, a team that was 18th in the league with 7.3 YPA allowed last season. Winston has two giants at wide receiver in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson while tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins should be effective over the middle. Winston is a stream-worthy option if you're not thrilled with your top quarterback's Week 1 matchup. FAAB: $4-$8

RUNNING BACKS

Primary Targets

Alfred Blue, HOU, Pierre Thomas, FA - The first big injury of the fantasy season occurred Tuesday when news hit that Arian Foster could need surgery and miss the first part of the season. Going by the "next man up" theory, Blue could stand to benefit the most from the Foster injury. However, it was reported that free-agent Pierre Thomas (along with Joe McKnight and Ben Malena) was headed to Houston to work out for the team; he has plenty of time to learn the playbook before Week 1 should he impress in the tryout. It's worth noting that Blue only averaged 3.1 YPC, and it didn't take the Texans long to reach out to a veteran once Foster was hurt. Even without being a sure signing, Thomas is the preferred play here. FAAB: Thomas $10-$15, Blue $6-$12

David Johnson, ARI - Johnson, a rookie out of Northern Iowa, parlayed an outstanding Combine into becoming a third-round pick for the Cardinals. Arizona brought him aboard to spell Andre Ellington, whom the Cardinals steadfastly maintain is the undisputed starter. Johnson will get his touches spelling Ellington, who averaged only 3.3 YPC last season. And with Ellington not showing the ability to handle a full workload and stay healthy over a full season, Johnson could end up with a bigger role. He also has a significant size advantage over Ellington, meaning he could get the short-yardage and goal-line work. FAAB: $5-$10

DeAngelo Williams, PIT - The reduction of Le'Veon Bell's suspension to two games was a big relief for Steelers fans, yet that still means they're going to be without their best running back for matchups against New England and San Francisco. Williams will handle the bulk of the workload for both of those games and serve as the top goal-line option as well. The Steelers had one of the league's best offenses last year, and there's no reason to think they won't be again this season. Williams should be in line for 15-20 touches for those first two games and, at the very minimum, makes for an elite flex option if he's still on your waiver wire. He'll likely be a drop in most standard formats come Week 3 but could earn a few touches even after Bell returns if he's productive the first two weeks. FAAB: $4-$8

Matt Jones, WAS - There's a plethora of rookie running back gaining attention this preseason yet for some reason Jones seems to be flying under the radar. While other rookies might have more upside competing for a starting job, Jones should settle in nicely as a complement to Alfred Morris. In keeper/dynasty league, Jones should be on everyone's list as Morris is in the final year of his contract. Jones should handle third-down duties and, for a 230-pound back, is an excellent receiver who can effectively move east to west despite his size. There's even a chance he could steal some goal-line work from Morris, and initially expecting 5-10 touches per game out of him is realistic. FAAB: $4-$8

Secondary Targets

James White, NE - Usually there isn't much to take away from the first week of camp, but there's been nothing but positive news out of New England about White. He appears to be in line to absorb the third-down role vacated by the departed Shane Vereen and put him in a sneaky fantasy role in PPR leagues. Vereen caught 47 and 52 balls in each of the last two seasons and got 96 carries a season ago leading to five touchdowns. White could be in line for similar production, provided he hangs onto the ball, and work as a nice change-of-pace player to the bruising running styles of LeGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray. He could see even more work to start the season from Jimmy Garoppolo swing passes if Tom Brady's four-game suspension is upheld in court. FAAB: $2-$4

WIDE RECEIVER

Primary Targets

Breshad Perriman, BAL - There's good and bad news for the Ravens passing attack this season as the team lost its vertical threat in Torrey Smith but brought aboard offensive guru Marc Trestman to run the offense. Ultimately, Justin Forsett likely will get the biggest uptick in value from the addition of Trestman, but someone needs to fill the role lining up opposite of Steve Smith. Speaking of Smith, he faded as the season went on and averaged 53.9 receiving yards per game and scored only two touchdowns over the final 11 games of Baltimore's season. Enter Perriman, a first-round pick, who is a burner that has good size (6-foot-2) and will try to fill the role left by Smith. Provided Perriman wins the No. 2 wideout spot, he has a great chance to produce immediately and have more fantasy value than Steve Smith this season. FAAB: $5-$10

Secondary Targets

Eddie Royal, Marquess Wilson, CHI - The Kevin White era in the windy city has been put on pause with the rookie out of West Virginia suffering a shin injury keeping him out of OTAs and early training camp. Missing time hurts his execution of route running and learning the offense/building a rapport with Jay Cutler. Royal and Wilson stand to get more playing time should White's injury impact the start of the season with Wilson likely lining up opposite Alshon Jeffery while Royal works in the slot in three-receiver sets. The Chicago defense isn't anything special, and Cutler likely will have to throw plenty in high-scoring affairs in the NFC North this season. Track White's injury the next few weeks as that will be the direct tie to the fantasy values of both Royal and Wilson. FAAB: Royal $3-$6, Wilson $3-$6

Hail Mary

Justin Hardy, ATL - One of the lesser-known moves outside of Atlanta was the loss of trusty third wide receiver Harry Douglas to the Titans to free up some cap space for the Falcons. This leaves an opening for the third wide receiver with veteran Devin Hester (who will turn 33 this season) penciled in the spot for now. Hardy is a rookie out of East Carolina who was a four-year starter and set the FBS record for most career receptions (he was a walk-on too). He'll have to unseat Hester and Leonard Hankerson to win the third wide-receiver spot and has the upside to find a bigger role should Roddy White or Julio Jones get hit by the injury bug again. FAAB: $1-$2

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Secondary Target

Tampa Bay - As mentioned, the Buccaneers appear to have a good matchup to kick off the season Week 1. They get a rookie quarterback at home, and the Titans running game is nothing special. It's tough to imagine a scenario where the Titans score a ton of points and Mariota turning the ball over a couple times is a more likely scenario. Everyone will love picking on the Browns when it comes to streaming defenses, but they travel to play the Jets Week 1, a team that was likely drafted by another owner in your league. FAAB: $1-$2