NFL Waiver Wire: Week 1 Pickups

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. 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 to another season of "Working The Wire." As always, players in all types of leagues will be addressed to target in FAAB or waivers. Any questions can be left in the "Comments" section and also use Jeff Erickson's Value Meter as a guide as to who to pick up or play in what order every week. Good luck this season and onto which players to consider if free agency run in your league this week.

QUARTERBACK

Secondary Targets

DeShone Kizer, CLE - Kizer was named the starter for the Browns and will debut Sunday against the Steelers. He'll have home-field advantage with a decent backfield behind him, and the Browns added Kenny Britt to the fold during the offseason. Last season the Steelers ranked middle of the league in most defensive passing categories (7.0 YPA) but were ninth worst in completion percentage allowed at 64.6. Kizer's biggest asset will be the use of his legs; the upside is for him to do what Cam Newton did Week 1 of his rookie season. Obviously bump up the FAAB 5x-6x in two-quarterback or super-flex leagues. FAAB: $3-6

Hail Mary

Tom Savage, HOU - To be fair to Savage, he has really never gotten a long look in games with the starting unit for the Texans. There is a chance he could be the answer this season as Houston looks to make the playoffs. Savage got a ringing endorsement from DeAndre Hopkins, who just signed a big extension. "If anybody should be a judge of quarterbacks, I've played with the most quarterbacks in NFL history throughout my first four years," Hopkins said after practice Friday. "So I put the stamp on Savage, and I think that's all that needs to be said about that." Deshaun Watson is waiting in the wings, but should Savage have some success he could be useful playing the matchups at times this season (CLE, SF, IND twice). FAAB: $1 or FCFS

Scott Tolzien, IND - It's been confirmed we won't see Andrew Luck this week, and Vegas (as well as others on this site) seemed to have known it all along, making the Rams 3.5 favorites for a while now. It's unclear when Luck will return and until then it's Tolzien under center for the Colts. The attraction is who Tolzien has to throw to: deep threat T.Y. Hilton, an emerging Donte Moncrief and a tight end with upside in Jack Doyle. Don't be surprised if Luck misses a good chunk of the season (four-plus games), given that being taken off the PUP list doesn't necessarily mean you're healthy. FAAB: $1 or FCFS

RUNNING BACK

Primary Targets

Kareem Hunt, KC - There's not much to say about Hunt considering he's 91 percent owned in Yahoo leagues. But be cautious to not blow all of a FAAB on him. Charcandrick West could vulture the goal-line work and all it could take is a fumble or missed block in pass protection for Hunt to find himself on the bench. Still, if he's available he has more upside in Andy Reid's offense as anyone on the wire. FAAB: $25-$50

Secondary Targets

Jamaal Charles, DEN - Charles made the cut for the Broncos and likely will be used to spell C.J. Anderson for a few series every game. It's unlikely we'll see the player who once churned out more than five yards per carry, but this will still be a run-heavy offense under coach Vance Joseph. Anderson is coming off a knee injury, averaged only 4.0 yards per carry and has never proven himself capable of carrying a full workload. All of those reasons give Charles hope in attempting a successful comeback. FAAB: $3-$6

Hail Mary

Mike Tolbert, BUF - The Bills, in a surprise move, released Jonathan Williams on Sunday despite him being healthy and having a strong preseason. That leaves an "older" list of suspects behind as LeSean McCoy's backup with Tolbert likely leading the committee. He's been successful in short-yardage situations, and the Bills could elect to use him at the goal line to save wear and tear on Shady. It's hard to imagine McCoy playing 16 games, especially if the Bills are out of the playoff chase late in the season. FAAB: $1 or FCFS

Austin Ekeler, LAC - It will be a while before we all get used to the "Los Angeles" Chargers. Ekeler is one of the feel-good stories of this preseason as a guy who wasn't supposed to be considered for an NFL roster. Now he finds himself third on the depth chart and possibly a Melvin Gordon injury away from being fantasy relevant. An undrafted rookie out of Western State (Division II) his strong camp and preseason performance landed him a spot on the 53-man roster. He might return punts right away, and in very deep leagues (20-plus teams) he's worth considering. FAAB: FCFS

WIDE RECEIVER

Danny Amendola, NE - The loss of Julian Edelman is a big one, considering his 159 targets last season. Those targets will be dispersed among the remaining receivers with Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan and Amendola likely the biggest beneficiaries. Amendola profiles as the most similar to Edelman as far as skill set goes. He's quick and shifty and likely will be deployed running short to medium routes, allowing Tom Brady to get the ball out of his hands quickly. As always, New England will get over the injury to Edelman and utilize its other options in his absence. FAAB: $5-$10

Secondary Targets

Kenny Golladay, DET - Golladay has gotten some buzz toward the end of the preseason due to his size/speed combination and performance in games. He's 6-foot-4, 218, and runs a 4.50 40, a great time for his size. Anquan Boldin led the Lions in receiving touchdowns last season, so it makes sense for Golladay to fill his role in the red zone. The Lions will run a lot of three-wide receiver sets this season, and his role would expand should anything happen to Golden Tate or Marvin Jones. FAAB: $3-$6

Hail Mary

Cooper Kupp, LAR - If you're asked the trivia question "who had nearly 6,500 receiving yards in his collegiate career?", would you know the answer? Obviously, it's Kupp, who was a monster at Eastern Washington, setting all kinds of receiving records. Here's the problem, though: he's fourth on the depth chart behind Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods and Tavon Austin (maybe the Rams should sign Stevie Johnson?). Watkins will be on the field (though for how long?) always and Austin is getting paid too much money (nearly $15 million) to not be on the field. Jared Goff might not be an NFL-caliber quarterback, so it will be tough initially to trust Kupp on a weekly basis. However, the upside is there should Goff develop and an injury occur to one of the players in front of Kupp. FAAB: $1 or FCFS

Phillip Dorsett, NE - The move from Indianapolis to New England is a positive for Dorsett who now has a healthy quarterback throwing the ball to him. Dorsett is on the small side as far as receivers go but is a vertical threat, giving Tom Brady another weapon at his disposal. It'll be tough to trust Dorsett every week, but if he picks up the offense quickly he could be useful by the time the bye weeks hit. FAAB:$1 or FCFS

TIGHT END

Primary Targets

Austin Hooper, ATL - His ownership in Yahoo leagues is 50 percent, and that number should be much higher. Maybe they're trying to boost his confidence, but Matt Ryan and coach Dan Quinn sung his praises throughout training camp as you can see here. Hooper has a year of experience under his belt after averaging 10.0 YPT on 27 targets last season. Look for Hooper to have a breakout season in one of the league's best offenses. FAAB: $4-$8

Secondary Targets

Vernon Davis, WAS - If the over/under on how many games Jordan Reed will play this season was 10.5, which side seems more likely? Davis quietly had 583 receiving yards last season to go with two touchdowns in a good offense that arguably plays in the most competitive division in football. Even with Reed in the lineup, Davis posted some solid performances putting him in play on a weekly basis in leagues that start two tight ends. FAAB: $2-$4