The Phinest Waiver Wire Adds – Week 1

Week 1 Waiver Wire Adds

Fantasy drafts are heading into overdrive as we can smell the fresh-cut NFL grass on the stadium fields. The NFL regular season is just a couple more days away. But now fantasy drafts getting underway and fantasy draft season nearing its close, it’s time to see what options there are for fantasy managers who may need a little something extra post-draft. I mean, let’s face it. Sometimes there’s a little extra meat on the bone on the waiver wire. And sometimes you may get a little of that “Post Draft Regret”. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few good players or stashes that you can grab before anyone else.

If anything, you should always be looking to make additions to your team if a player doesn’t get picked up in the draft. Free Game Tip: Make sure to utilize that IR spot too. I’ll show you what I mean in a second. But here are some names that you’ll want to target in this week’s waiver wire article.

*Waiver Data via NFL Fantasy

Through The Wire

Raheem Mostert, RB – MIA (65.2% Rostered)

Raheem Mostert makes the list but just barely. At 65.2% rostered, that means there is still a chance he’s out there on the wire. You need to pick him up. With Jeff Wilson (abdomen) landing on IR and rookie running back Devon Achane working his way back from that preseason shoulder, Mostert will get the bulk of the carries for the foreseeable future. Mostert should be rostered but if the managers have let him slip into the waiver wire, you might want to go ahead and put that claim in.

Deon Jackson, RB – IND (31.9% Rostered)

With Jonathan Taylor and the Colts front office feuding over a new contract and Taylor missing the first four games of the season while on the PUP list, someone is going to have to take over and run the rock. For right now, Deon Jackson looks to be the first man to take a shot. Reports of Zach Moss (arm) should be able to return by Week 3 at the latest, but Deon Jackson will be touting the mail for the Colts until then. If you need a running back to help you get through Week 1 as a possible flex play, this could be your guy.

Elijah Moore, WR – CLE (29.9% Rostered)

Elijah Moore has been his own hype train this offseason and I’ve been trying to get a ticket myself if I don’t already have Amari Cooper on my roster. But there’s reason to believe in the hype. Moore’s connection with Deshaun Watson this offseason has been something to see and reports were that Moore was pushing for that number two WR spot against Donovan Peoples-Jones, who’s in the final year of his contract. If DPJ is on his way out, the Browns could be looking to get Moore going early and often underneath allowing him to work the field with his separation.

Marvin Mims, WR – DEN (4.6% Rostered)

It stinks to say this but we’ve entered another season of Jerry Jeudy going down with injury. The promising Broncos wide receiver will be out for an untold amount of time due to a hamstring injury. With Jeudy gone, Marvin Mims is expected to play opposite Courtland Sutton in two wide receiver sets. At 5’11, the speedy Mims could be exactly what Russell Wilson needs to get back to form since he loves to throw the ball deep. Mims averaged nearly 20 yards per catch during his college days and could be what the offense needs to get back to its former dynamic ways.

Rashod Bateman, WR – BAL (34.5% Rostered)

With the offseason signing of O’Dell Beckham and the drafting of Zay Flowers, it seems like Rashod Bateman has been left out in the cold. While it’s understandable for some to avoid Bateman because of his injury history, to not even draft him might be a tad criminal. Bateman is still a capable wide receiver and in a newly schemed offense under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Bateman should still have a role in that Ravens offense. You can get him for the low right now and hold onto him for either a nice depth receiver or a possible trade chip.

Tank Bigsby, RB – JAX (13.2% Rostered)

Tank Bigsby is a running back who shouldn’t be left on waivers. While I am hopeful of Travis Etienne having a true breakout season, Bigsby lurking in the shadows of the Jaguars backfield has me concerned. We saw what this kid was able to do during the preseason (28 carries, 157 yards, 5.7 y/a), and should anything happen to Etienne this year, Bigsby would have the backfield to himself. This particular waiver addition should be for those who have the space to add Bigsby as a stash play or maybe you simply forgot to grab your handcuff as an Etienne owner. Whatever the case, right you wrong and go pick him up.

Sam LaPorta, TE – DET (5.2% Rostered)

We know the stigma that rookie tight ends don’t really do well in their first year in the league. But that could be changing this season as several tight ends found themselves in great landing spots during the 2023 NFL Draft. LaPorta looks to be one of the spots as he landed with the Lions this offseason. The Lions do have Amon Ra St. Brown but everything behind him looks shaky. Josh Reynolds and Marvin Jones are just ok. And Jameson Williams forgot to place his bets offsite which landed him on a six-game suspension. With a lack of pass catchers at the wide receiver position, LaPorta could slide in as a top pass catcher for Jared Goff. If you have the space on your bench, make the move.

Kyler Murray, QB – AZ (8.5% Rostered)

Now this is what I mean by utilizing that IR spot. While we don’t know when Kyler Murray will be back as he had a late-season torn ACL injury in 2022, Murray may still be able to play in 2023 if he’s fully cleared to return. While we wait for that, fantasy managers have the perfect opportunity to stash him in that spot before more folks realize that he’s still on waivers. But if you should need the spot and can’t wait any longer for Murray to return, you can release him without giving up any players. It’s a win-win.

CJ Stroud, QB – HOU (6.4% Rostered)

This one feels like you need to get ahead of the curve before it’s too late. CJ Stroud feels like a quarterback that should be on fantasy rosters. I like getting ahead of the curve on some of the players that are on the wire. In 1 QB leagues, you may not feel the reason to add another quarterback but Stroud looks the part and could be a quarterback you’ll be adding off of waivers very soon, especially if you’re rocking with guys like Jared Goff as your QB1. Just remember where you heard it first.

*A few more options were added because of recent news

With the breaking news on top tight ends George Kittle dealing with a groin injury and Travis Kelce dealing with a hyper-extension in practice which is casting doubt on his Week 1 availability, here are a few more tight end options you could target on waivers this week as temporary replacements.

Jake Ferguson, TE – DAL (3.2% Rostered)

Dalton Schultz was allowed to walk in free agency this offseason for a reason. Ferguson may not have posted huge numbers last season but he was producing with what he was given, posting an 86.4% catch rate on 22 targets for 19 receptions, 174 yards, and two touchdowns. With Schultz now in Houston with the Texans, Ferguson will be the TE1 in the Cowboys offense that has seen a substantial target share over the last few seasons.

Luke Musgrave, TE – GB (6.2% Rostered)

This isn’t your Dad’s Green Bay Packers offense from back in the day and Musgrave could be one of the immediate impact players that could rise to the top this season for the Packers and new quarterback Jordan Love. Musgrave has looked good in camp all offseason and could be a reliable option for the new franchise quarterback. Reports have stated that Musgrave has looked “dynamic” during camp and with the variety of ways the Packers have been looking to involve Musgrave in the offense, he may be able to provide the spark you need to get you through until your starter returns.