Waiver Wire Targets For Week 1

Waiver Wire Targets For Week 1

Yes, it’s that time once again! Week 1 is officially here, and the season kicks off Wednesday with the Seattle Seahawks taking on the New England Patriots. With that being said, fantasy managers are already setting lineups and preparing for the start of the regular fantasy football season. Here is where all the hard work, research, and planning take off. But as you prepare your lineups, you shouldn’t neglect what may be out there on the waiver wire.

If you don’t normally do this next step, always build up a watch list post-draft. That way, you can track potential players as news, injury reports, and the like affect player value. Your league’s waiver wire should still hold some value even after the draft, so that’s what we’re looking for. For these articles, I try to aim for targets that are around 50% rostered or less. We’ll be using ESPN fantasy for their roster percentages  for availability.

Week 1 Waiver Wire Targets

Keaton Mitchell – RB, LAC

Keaton Mitchell may have missed a huge chunk of training camp behind injuries, but that hasn’t stopped new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels from talking about him. Mitchell is expected to be the “lightning” to Omarion Hampton’s “thunder” in the Chargers’ backfield. Mitchell is an explosive back with big-play potential every time he touches the ball. We’ve also seen this kind of tandem work under McDaniels before with De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. In 2023, both Mostert and Achane were top 10 running backs in fantasy points per game. Rostered at just 22%, Mitchell is worth a stash to see how McDaniels deploys the backfield this week.

Malachi Fields – WR, NYG

Malachi Fields looks to have won a starting job in the Giants’ offense. This was made even more apparent after the Giants cut wide receiver Darius Slayton. Now Malik Nabers has a big-bodied wide receiver on the outside, with Darnell Mooney being able to play out of the slot. Fields looks to be a dangerous weapon in the red zone, and the more trust he garners from Jaxson Dart, the better. Fields stands at 6’4″, making him an appealing flex option for fantasy. Fields is rostered at just 6% on ESPN fantasy right now.

Emmett Johnson – RB, KC

Drafting handcuffs has never been a part of my strategy, but you should always cover your back, just in case. Kenneth Walker is a great RB, in my opinion. But many are concerned about his injury history. Walker did miss a significant chunk of time back in 2024, losing out on six games. But Walker did bounce back in 2025, playing the entire season. But if you need a handcuff, grabbing the Chiefs’ fifth-round rookie running back Emmett Johnson would be the right move, in case of an emergency. Johnson saw encouraging remarks from head coach Andy Reid during the offseason and performed well during the preseason games. Rostered at just 6.5%, Johnson locks in as a solid handcuff for Walker.

Denzel Boston, WR – CLE

Boston still not being rostered higher is a bit of a puzzler. The Browns made Boston a starter during training camp. Then they cemented the move by releasing wide receiver Cedric Tillman. Boston is another big-bodied wide receiver (6’4″, 21t lbs, as you can see, I have a type) in a starting role who should be rostered higher than the 26% he currently stands at. I understand the apprehension of taking a Browns player with the offense not looking great, but Boston could be a piece that benefits from volume as the defacfo leader of the new wide receiver group.

Tyler Allgeier – RB, ARI

There’s hope for Tyler Allgeier yet! Initially, I thought Allgeier’s fantasy value was capped when the Arizona Cardinals drafted rookie running back Jeremiyah Love. But Love is currently working his way back from a high ankle sprain. Current reports suggest Love could have a limited snap count to start the season until he’s 100%. That would open up more work for Allgeier to have more of a command of the backfield touches. Allgeier is a former 1,000-yard rusher back when he was with the Atlanta Falcons. Rostered at about 36%, grabbing him off the wire early could be useful. Especially if Love goes down again. Or the Cardinals continue to split work between both backs.

Greg Dulcich – TE, MIA

The Miami Dolphins are lacking in bona fide pass catchers. But Dulcich could be a new quarterback’s best friend in these kinds of situations. Dulcich has an opportunity to lock in as a reliable pass catcher for Malik Davis, especially in the middle of the field in quick passing situations. Dulcich is a player that you can add to watch lists 8f you don’t want to take the chance. Dulcich is only rostered at 3%. This one is up to you if you need an option at TE behind your starter.

Kaleb Johnson – RB, GB

Kaleb Johnson was traded to the Packers from Pittsburgh after the news of Josh Jacobs landing on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. If Jacobs misses more time, more opportunity for Johnson to carve out a role in the Packers’ offense becomes available. Marshawn Lloyd will likely lead off as the top running back option but has had durability concerns for most of his career. The Packers could opt to make it a committee backfield until more clarity comes out of the Jacobs situation. Johnson had a rough start with the Steelers but lands with a team post-trade that ran the Packers’ offensive scheme during his time with Iowa. That could give him a leg up in picking up the scheme faster and possibly leaping ahead of Chris Brooks and challenging Lloyd for reps. Kaleb Johnson is rostered at just 8%.

I have a few more players to target off the waiver wire, so be sure to follow me on X/Twitter @ Hype_phinest and join the fantasy football discussion. You can also follow the Fantasy’s Phinest on social media @ FFPhinest. Lock in with us. We have you covered for the 2026 fantasy season.