Many drafts have happened, and many things have changed since those drafts. Some leagues do not open the waiver wire until after Week 1's games, but many have a pre-Week 1 waiver run. There are even leagues that leave the waiver wire open first-come, first-served until some time before Week 1. If you have a chance to make moves before the season starts, here's some guidance.
Players To Drop
First off, to add players, you have to make room on your roster.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB-NYG)
- Isiah Pacheco (RB-DET)
- Keaton Mitchell (RB-LAC)
- James Conner (RB-ARI)
- Ricky Pearsall (WR-SF)
- Jayden Higgins (WR-HOU)
- Omar Cooper Jr. (WR-NYJ)
- Jerry Jeudy (WR-CLE)
- Jalen Nailor (WR-LV)
- Antonio Williams (WR-WAS)
- Kenyon Sadiq (TE-NYJ)
- Oronde Gadsden (TE-LAC)
- Eli Stowers (TE-PHI)
Marquee Names to Add
How much should I bid on De'Zhaun Stribling, MarShawn Lloyd, and Mike Washington Jr..?
- Stribling Suggested Bid: 80-100% of annual FAAB budget
- Lloyd Suggested Bid: 80-100% of annual FAAB budget
- Washington Suggested Bid: 50-75% of annual FAAB budget
Stribling has done everything the 49ers could have asked of him to feel comfortable using the #33 overall pick in a large passing game role from day one. Mike Evans isn't certain for Week 1, so Stribling could assert himself with a big splash early in the season and not look back. A season with 80 catches in his range of outcomes, and it's probably not the top of that range.
Lloyd probably went undrafted in a lot of July/early August leagues, and depending on the length of benches, leagues that were drafting up until Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list on Sunday. Lloyd has a lengthy injury history, but he spent months at the Meyer Institute of Sport this offseason to learn why he had so many injuries, fix his body, and regain confidence in his durability. From all indications, it worked.
Washington could start Week 1 (and more) after Ashton Jeanty suffered an ankle injury on August 23 that had his team taking a knee and praying. It's uncertain if Jeanty will be ready to play in Week 1, but he avoided the PUP list, so the Raiders must expect him to be ready before Week 5. Washington was one of the stars of the preseason, breaking off multiple long runs with vision, patience, and footwork to unlock his rare size/speed combination. He appears to be a great fit in the Raiders' running game.
We overestimate how many true waiver wire hits there are in any given season. The reality is that, at most, there are 2-3 real difference-makers. Lloyd obviously has the opportunity to be one, Stribling sure has looked like one, and Washington can be one if Jeanty has a recurrence of his ankle injury. Remember, the earlier you land a waiver wire pick, the more weeks you can reap the rewards. Be aggressive.