The Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Starts Now — Before the Games Even Begin
These are the must-add waiver wire targets to stash before Week 1. If you play in an FFPC, NFFC, FFWC, RTS Sports league or any deep, competitive fantasy football format, I have you covered all season. If you play in a shallower league, these players likely will be available, giving you a chance to get a week ahead of your competition.
High-Stakes and Deep-League Waiver Wire — no one will be doing it like RotoWire this season.
No "Not in My League, Bro" Waiver-Wire Picks
You won't find many "not in my league, bro" waiver-wire recommendations here. You can find those on plenty of other sites. This column is designed to give you an edge in the toughest fantasy football leagues — the ones where every player the industry tells you to pick up on Tuesday was already drafted in the 10th round of your league.
We're going deeper, identifying players before the breakout and helping you find the next wave of waiver-wire adds before the rest of your league catches up.
Get access to this article, all of my fantasy football articles, and my rankings for 40% off with code THEO40.
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, news and everything going on around the NFL, head to RotoWire's NFL Fantasy Football News Today or follow @RotoWireNFL on X.
Quarterback
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Raiders
The most fun stash QB available. Klint Kubiak has been a QB whisperer,
The Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Starts Now — Before the Games Even Begin
These are the must-add waiver wire targets to stash before Week 1. If you play in an FFPC, NFFC, FFWC, RTS Sports league or any deep, competitive fantasy football format, I have you covered all season. If you play in a shallower league, these players likely will be available, giving you a chance to get a week ahead of your competition.
High-Stakes and Deep-League Waiver Wire — no one will be doing it like RotoWire this season.
No "Not in My League, Bro" Waiver-Wire Picks
You won't find many "not in my league, bro" waiver-wire recommendations here. You can find those on plenty of other sites. This column is designed to give you an edge in the toughest fantasy football leagues — the ones where every player the industry tells you to pick up on Tuesday was already drafted in the 10th round of your league.
We're going deeper, identifying players before the breakout and helping you find the next wave of waiver-wire adds before the rest of your league catches up.
Get access to this article, all of my fantasy football articles, and my rankings for 40% off with code THEO40.
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, news and everything going on around the NFL, head to RotoWire's NFL Fantasy Football News Today or follow @RotoWireNFL on X.
Quarterback
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Raiders
The most fun stash QB available. Klint Kubiak has been a QB whisperer, and we are a few Kirk Cousins losses away from a potential Mendoza debut. The No. 1 overall pick had 41 TD passes last season for the national title-winning Indiana Hoosiers.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans
The market is as low as humanly possible with Stroud. We are a long way off from his valuation coming off of a strong rookie season when he finished as the QB7 in PPG scoring. He has had two awful seasons in a row, with the bottom falling out last season with a QB28 PPG finish. Still, he is only 24 years old and in something of a make-or-break season.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Steelers
QB is barren in almost every FFPC/NFFC/FFWC type format, with more and more managers opting to draft two — and sometimes three — QBs. Rodgers is old, but he may be one of the better values available if you are looking for a depth piece floor play.
Track player roles with our NFL Depth Charts to see who's in line for snaps this season.
Running Back
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers
I shockingly have several dynasty leagues — even high-stakes FFPC ones — where Lloyd is available. Matt LaFleur has produced a top-12 PPR RB in points per game in six of the last seven seasons, and Lloyd is now officially in the driver's seat to be the next one if the streak continues. Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner's Exempt List — a potential death sentence. If you are in a redraft format where Lloyd is available, it is time to make it rain.
Kaleb Johnson/Chris Brooks, RB, Packers
Johnson, a 2025 third-round pick out of Iowa, was a massive college producer who fizzled out with two coaching staffs in Pittsburgh. He now has a chance to establish himself in Green Bay. Brooks will have an early season role and is a threat to Lloyd's touch share. This coaching staff likes him. Both players are worth rostering in deep formats like the FFPC, FFWC and NFFC, but my bet would be on Johnson.
Najee Harris, RB, Giants
Back on the fantasy radar. Tyrone Tracy seems to be falling out of favor with this coaching staff. Harris could end up cutting into Tracy's role and possibly even Cam Skattebo's. Harris is a Greg Roman favorite.
Seth McGowan, RB, Colts
The rookie has been well ahead of second-year back DJ Giddens. He is a Jonathan Taylor injury away from being fantasy relevant.
Samaje Perine, RB, Bengals
The direct handcuff behind Chase Brown. He would be a valuable short-term spot start if Brown missed time due to his ability as a pass catcher.
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints
Alvin Kamara is banged up, and Miller is the direct backup to Travis Etienne to start the season.
George Holani, RB, Seahawks
No, Holani is not going to supplant Jadarian Price, but he should see some early season work, including snaps in the passing game.
Jacob Saylors, RB, Lions
Isiah Pacheco will begin the season on IR, and Saylors appears to be the backup behind Jahmyr Gibbs.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Bears
Keep an eye on the Kyle Monangai injury timeline. Johnson could be one play away from being relevant in one of the league's top offenses.
Wide Receiver
Ja'Kobi Lane, WR, Baltimore Ravens
A third-round draft pick who has been a standout throughout the preseason. Lane has earned praise from both the coaching staff and notable beat reporters. He has great size (6-foot-4) and length, with the potential to be a strong red-zone presence all season. This Ravens offense should be more pass-happy than in previous years. He will also see at least some time operating in the slot. Priority add.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens
If you don't believe in Lane, then Bateman is free.
Pat Bryant, WR, Broncos
Bryant, a 2025 third-round pick, stood out during Denver training camp and looks poised for a strong role as the Broncos' No. 3 WR behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. The coaching staff seems to love him, and he could be a real threat to challenge Sutton for the No. 2 role as the season progresses. Bo Nix had the most pass attempts in the NFL last season.
Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Eagles
Makai Lemon missed significant time in the preseason, and Wicks took advantage, standing out throughout training camp. We have seen notable spike weeks from Wicks during his time in Green Bay, and he finally looks set for consistent usage. Sleeper.
Malachi Fields, WR, Giants
Fields is a beast. Just how much target volume he sees this year remains to be seen, but he should be on the field a ton. He is one of the best blocking wide receivers in this rookie class, if not the best, and has massive size and red-zone ability. I like having him on rosters with Malik Nabers as a contingent-upside hedge bet.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Buccaneers
McMillan is one of my favorite last-five-round targets in FFPC and NFFC drafts. Emeka Egbuka has a toe injury that seems like nothing serious, but toe injuries can be tricky. Chris Godwin is 30 and has missed considerable time in each of the last two seasons.
Ted Hurst, WR, Buccaneers
Even cheaper than McMillan. Hurst is probably a better best-ball player, but he could have some usable weeks if there is attrition in the wide receiver room. He is a talented player with an elite size/athleticism profile.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, Texans
Boutte should be in store for a career year in the Jayden Higgins role opposite Nico Collins in two-wide receiver sets. He is still only 24 years old. Sleeper.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Texans
Noel will battle it out with Boutte, TE Dalton Schultz, and Xavier Hutchinson for targets. He is a valuable special teams player, but he was also a mega-producer at Iowa State with dominant slot usage. A third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Noel is being ignored by drafters. He is a fun low-FAAB-bid type.
Caleb Douglas/Chris Bell, WR, Dolphins
Douglas has been impressive in the preseason and will be on the field in two-WR sets early on. Bell has beaten all injury timeline return expectations. There will be a ramp up period, but he could be the most valuable Dolphins wideout by the second half of the season. Both players are worth taking shots on.
Malik Washington, WR, Dolphins
Washington is in store for a valuable role early on as the de facto WR1 in a run-heavy offense. He profiles as the leading target earner among all Dolphins WRs this season. If the Phins beat expectations even slightly in terms of pass volume, Washington could have some theoretical season-long PPR value.
Devaughn Vele, WR, Saints
Vele is a very underrated addition. He will step into the vacated Jordyn Tyson role while Tyson is on IR and should maintain a role as the team's WR2 for as long as Tyson misses time. He had 26 targets over the team's final four games last season.
Cyrus Allen, WR, Chiefs
Allen is a promising rookie and was a training camp standout. He's worth a speculative stash.
Antonio Williams, WR, Commanders/Germie Bernard, WR, Steelers
WR3s behind older starters. It feels like a pair of players who will churn at the bottom of benches and on the wire, but would be huge additions if there was any sort of an injury in front of them. Williams has been very impressive in Commanders training camp.
Tight End
Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans (NFFC, FFWC, RTS)
Schultz fell through the cracks in a number of early non-TE Premium format drafts. He should be picked up by anyone looking for a reliable TE2 option. His role should remain solid, and he is one of the biggest beneficiaries from the Higgins injury. Schultz was fifth in targets and third in catches (82) at the TE position last season.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Jets (NFFC, FFWC, RTS)
A quiet summer — and drafters avoiding Jets — has pushed Sadiq's ADP down so much that he is available on multiple waiver wires. Completely fading a player with rare athletic gifts that was the 16th overall pick in the NFL draft is probably the wrong process. Sadiq can thrive off of YAC. He makes for a great speculative addition.
Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders (FFPC/TE Premium)
The available TE market is bone dry in FFPC leagues, but Mayer pops up in a lot of leagues. Brock Bowers is going to dominate usage in the Vegas passing game, but Mayer can find a role. We rarely see two TEs on the same team that are fantasy-relevant, but Mayer has the talent and pedigree to excel if Vegas is in 12 personnel at a high rate.
