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.

QUARTERBACK

Primary Targets

Dak Prescott, DAL - Tony Romo was placed on the PUP list with a back injury, meaning he'll miss at least six games. Prescott will take over as the signal caller and is an intriguing fantasy option. He's a dual-threat quarterback, and while he played mostly against second- and third-team defenses in preseason he didn't turn the ball over. This isn't a case of a sudden freak accident to a starting quarterback; Prescott has had plenty of time to work with the first team. While he's likely not going to start the whole season, he has upside for the first half of the season, especially with weapons like Dez Bryant and Ezekiel Elliott at his disposal. FAAB: $8-$12

Secondary Targets

Trevor Siemian, DEN - Not only didn't Mark Sanchez win the starting job for the defending champs, he was released and is now backing up Prescott in Dallas. Siemian won the starting job with his strong arm, and despite a less than stellar college career, he has garnered a lot of faith from Broncos brass. It's his job to lose, but keep in mind that Paxton Lynch lurks in the shadows waiting to take over. Siemian isn't a runner by any means but has a decent running game in C.J. Anderson and Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders on the outside to target. FAAB: $2-$4

Hail Mary

Carson Wentz, PHI - The trade of Sam Bradford to Minnesota opens the door for Wentz to start Week 1. Like any rookie, there will be a lot of ups and downs with Wentz, who's not being placed in an ideal situation in Philadelphia. To start, he missed much of preseason with a rib injury and his receivers don't have a ton of upside. Still, he's going to have a long leash as the quarterback of the future and will be relevant in any league where it's possible to start two quarterbacks. FAAB: $1-$2

RUNNING BACK

Primary Targets

Spencer Ware, KC - Ware has a 56 percent ownership in Yahoo leagues and is available in a lot of leagues that had early drafts. It appears the Chiefs are going to ease Jamaal Charles back into the mix, which benefits Ware the most. Charcandrick West (think $2-$4 on him) battled an elbow injury through camp and is probably the second option to Ware to open the season. Ware is a solid running back, averaging 5.6 yards per carry last season and finding the end zone six times after Charles went down. After Charles' second major knee injury, it's likely the Chiefs employ a RBBC even after Charles is 100 percent healthy, putting Ware in play the whole season. FAAB: $8-$12

Christine Michael, SEA - Thomas Rawls is back in the fold and the Seahawks claim he's 100 percent healthy following a season-ending ankle injury despite limited exposure during preseason. That said, all reports have been positive on Michael with his attitude and approach being commended by the coaching staff since re-joining Seattle. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season while amassing 70, 84 and 102 yards in three of his last four games last season, showing his potential. It remains to be seen how Pete Carroll uses the tandem of Rawls and Michael, but it seems obvious Michael has carved out a role in this offense. He's 50 percent owned in Yahoo leagues. FAAB: $6-$10

Terrance West, BAL - The surprising release of Justin Forsett puts West in line to be the starting running back Week 1 at home against the Bills. He appears to have leapfrogged Javorius Allen on the depth chart, and it should be a month before Kenneth Dixon (knee) is back in the mix. West has looked impressive in preseason games, and while it's probably just coach speak, it doesn't hurt to hear the coaches rave about his maturity and grasp of the offense. Javorius Allen ($2-$4 FAAB) will have a role, but look for West to be the main ballcarrier to start the season. FAAB: $6-$10

Secondary Targets

James White, NE - Dion Lewis is on the PUP list, which leaves White to occupy the role of the third-down/pass-catching back, putting his value a couple ticks higher in PPR formats. With Jimmy Garoppolo under center the first four weeks, there's a good chance he'll check down to White once his first or second options are covered. It's possible that Lewis is sidelined longer than six weeks with his knee injury, so White could have fantasy relevance into the second half of the season. FAAB: $4-$8

WIDE RECEIVER

Primary Targets

Tajae Sharpe, TEN - The Titans jettisoned Dorial Green-Beckham to Philadelphia, suggesting they are impressed with their rookie out of the University of Massachusetts who caught caught 111 passes for 1,319 yards in his senior year. Marcus Mariota should improve in his second season and it appears that he has a good rapport and trusts the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Sharpe. The running game between DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry should open the passing game and get Sharpe in a lot of one-on-one matchups. FAAB: $4-$8

Secondary Targets

Tyler Boyd, CIN - Boyd is another rookie wide receiver who appears ready to contribute right out of the gate and has earned snaps opposite of A.J. Green. Brandon LaFell remains in the mix, but Boyd who has the better upside. Boyd, a second-round pick out of Pittsburgh, had more than 3,800 yards from scrimmage and 22 touchdowns in three season for the Panthers. Boyd will see a lot of single coverage playing opposite Green, and the only red flag is how much LaFell will cut into his snap count/targets. FAAB: $3-$6

TIGHT END

Hail Mary

Virgil Green, DEN - Green almost by default won the starting tight end job with basically all of his competition sidelined by some sort of injury. Green was stellar in preseason, grabbing all 10 targets and could be relied upon (especially in the red zone) with a young, new quarterback at the helm. He's not in the discussion to starter in most standard leagues but is worth a bench spot (isn't almost everyone?) since he has the starting job. FAAB: $1-$2

DEFENSE

Hail Mary

Cleveland Browns - It's not a bad idea to punt defense during a draft and just play the streaming game throughout the season. The Browns travel to take on the Eagles on Sunday, and, as noted, Philadelphia will start a rookie quarterback. It's tough to see Carson Wentz making it through his first professional game without committing a turnover, and it's not like the Philadelphia offense should strike fear in the hearts of any opposing defense. The Browns are a serviceable option thanks to the matchup rather than the idea that they are some kind of elite defense. FAAB: $1-$2