Welcome back to fantasy football! Although we are taught not to overreact to Week 1, many of us are clearly freaking out and already thinking about how to "turn it around." Deep breath, this is a marathon, not a sprint, but that does not preclude you from thinking two steps ahead of your leaguemates.
Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. Remember, your roster can constantly improve, and even if you do not need a player, you still want to keep another manager from picking them up.
You will see some overlap this week between this article and traditional waiver wire articles because we are still gathering information. Also keep in mind that we are still learning about what the defenses look like this season - sure, we have some crossover and overlap from 2025, but the picture is not yet fully in focus.
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys are not available. But if you are fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals (40% rostered on ESPN)
Even with the third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love in the Cardinals backfield, Allgeier ran the ball 17 times against the Chargers in Week 1, which was the 12th most among Running Backs. He also out-snapped Love 57% to 44%. This Arizona team may be a little better than we anticipated - at least in fantasy - and if you can grab a piece of the offense from the waiver wire to hold and see if it pans out, why not do so. In addition, Allgeier's value would skyrocket if Love's injury improvement slows down - he has been dealing with an ankle issue.
WR Deebo Samuel Sr., San Francisco 49ers (81% rostered on ESPN)
We are looking at a few things here: a team that always performs well offensively under Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, a team that has lost one of their potential new stars to IR, and a player who knows the system and can be used in many different ways. The team has lost a target in Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling to injury, and Deebo could easily slide into the WR2 position without blinking.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz and Kyler Murray (7% and 52% rostered on ESPN)
The Vikings play the Bears this week, a team that allowed Panthers Quarterback Bryce Young to throw for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Whichever guy goes this week, the matchup is solid here. The team then gets Tampa Bay and Miami, which look like good matchups right now. I would lean towards Kyler here if you are looking towards the future. You will see him dropped frequently after his injury, and managers need to remember the rushing upside he brings to the table.
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (50% rostered on ESPN)
We should feel confident in Kellen Moore's offense again this year, and even though Shough took time to get going on Sunday, he finished with 410 yards passing and three touchdowns. Overtime certainly helped, but Shough could be a fantastic QB2 for your roster as you look to solidify your depth early in the fantasy season. Also remember that rookie WR Jordyn Tyson is eligible to return from IR in Week 5, giving Shough another weapon. This is a quarterback you do not want sitting on the waiver wire, waiting for another manager to pounce on.
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (0.3% rostered on ESPN)
I hate to mention Flacco, as it is suggesting bad juju around Joe Burrow, but you must stay on the offensive as fantasy managers. Burrow reported having back tightness on Wednesday, and although he brushed it off, Burrow does have quite an injury history. Flaco has proven a startable fantasy asset before, and you never want to be caught without a starting QB at any point in the season. A precautionary pickup seems like a good plan.