NFL Waiver Wire: Players Under the Radar

Welcome back to another season of "Working the Wire." While most drafts have yet to take place, many leagues have already drafted and will be running the first wave of waivers soon. If you haven't had your draft yet, this can also be used as a list of late-round flyers to consider. This article will run a couple of more times between now and Week 1. 

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.

QUARTERBACK

Dwayne Haskins, WAS - There's plenty of time for Haskins to win the starting job, and Case Keenum shouldn't be too tough to beat out. While Haskins doesn't have the greatest receiving corps to target, defenses likely will key on stopping Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson, and Chris Thompson is one of the best pass-catching backs in the game. He's an easy drop in standard leagues if Keenum wins the job; just be ready to pick him off of waivers when he eventually gets his shot. There's more upside in taking Haskins than someone like Nick Foles or Eli Manning. FAAB: FCFS 

RUNNING BACK

Alexander Mattison, MIN - Mattison appears to be in line to back up Dalvin Cook to start the season and has widely gone overlooked by fantasy owners. Mattison showed he's capable of handling a full workload while at Boise State and can handle the role of a three-down back. Cook will obviously get the lion's share of touches, but his injury history in two seasons as a Viking is cause for concern. Mattison should get plenty of looks during preseason and should hold off Mike Boone for the backup spot. FAAB: $1 

Adrian Peterson, WAS - Not long ago, Peterson was struggling to find a team. Now he's coming off a 1,000-yard season and was rewarded with a two-year deal by the Redskins. His 4.2 yards per carry isn't exactly elite, but he could get decent volume, depending on the status of teammate Derrius Guice who is already dealing with a hamstring injury. The plan is to have a pretty even timeshare between Guice and Peterson should Guice prove healthy. If Guice misses time, remember that Peterson had at least 11.2 fantasy points (.5 PPR) in seven games last season including efforts of 23.6, 24 and 28.1. Watch how the Guice injury plays out. FAAB: $1 or FCFS 

WIDE RECEIVER

Tre'Quan Smith, NO - The upside of Smith was on display last season when he had games of 3-11-2 (24.6 fantasy points in .5 PPR) and 10-157-1 (26.7 fantasy points in .5 PPR). However, it proved tough to rely on him for consistency and predicting those two games was a crapshoot. In Year 2, though, he should have a better grasp of the offense and at a minimum will be on the field for the three-WR sets the Saints run. Ted Ginn might be ahead of Smith on the depth chart but at 34 isn't a big obstacle for Smith to leapfrog at some point this season, if not right away. FAAB: $1 or $2 

DeVante Parker, MIA - On paper, Parker has the makeup to be a No. 1 wide receiver. However, he's done little in his first four years in the league, though poor quarterback play and coaching are partially to blame. This season there's a new coaching regime and he will have either savvy veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick or upside youngster Josh Rosen throwing to him. There doesn't appear to be a lot of competition for targets besides Kenny Stills, and Parker's contract suggests his new coaches believe in him. FAAB: $1 or FCFS 

TIGHT END

Ian Thomas, CAR - Greg Olsen's ADP is on the rise, but it's tough to trust a player whose body is finally breaking down and has already contemplated retirement. It seems like one more injury might push Olsen out of the game, leaving a great opportunity for Thomas. The second-year player should have an improved understanding of the offense and will have more time to get comfortable with Cam Newton. In relief of Olsen last season Thomas scored 12.2, 12.8 and 14.6 fantasy points (.5 PPR) in three of his last four games. FAAB: $1 or FCFS