By Nan Jiang
After seven months of anticipation, fantasy football is back, and here’s some players to look out for on the waiver wire (and who to drop to get them). The percentages of ESPN fantasy players that had each player rostered as of Tuesday are listed in parentheses.
Quarterbacks
Jordan Love, GB (15.8%):
A-Rod owners, you might have to start another Packers quarterback this year. Jordan Love and the Packers showed out in Week 1 against the division rival Chicago Bears, and at the helm was Jordan Love’s surprisingly consistent quarterback play. Love threw three touchdowns with no picks in his debut, along with 12 rushing yards on three attempts. Sure, the Packers might still be last place this year in the NFC North, but for now, there’s not a good reason to doubt Love for the rest of the season. The Packers face Atlanta and New Orleans in the next two weeks, both teams with suspect secondaries, making Jordan Love a solid streaming option for desperate A-Rod owners.
Russell Wilson, DEN (67.4%):
Sure, the Broncos didn’t play a great game, but I’m definitely on the Russ + Sean Payton hype train. In his disastrous 2022 season, Wilson threw more than one touchdown with no picks only once. Him doing so in the first week of this season is a great sign. With the (hopeful) return of Jerry Jeudy next week, you can expect the Broncos pass game to be opened up a lot more, which means more plays for Russ.
Running backs
Gus Edwards, BAL (21.4%):
Another year, another JK Dobbins injury, which means once again, the hulking Gus Edwards will be fantasy relevant. At 6 ‘1 and 238 pounds, Edwards is always a fun watch out of the backfield. If he is made the lead back over Justice Hill for the Ravens, he will be an extremely efficient back, considering that when he gets 10+ carries, he averages more than 5 YPC. The Ravens face the Bengals and Colts in the upcoming weeks, both easy defenses, especially for a unique back like Edwards.
Kyren Williams, LAR (10.3%):
With each passing day, the McVay coaching staff seems to lose a little more hope in Cam Akers. Akers soaked up a ridiculous 22 carries, and gained an even more ridiculous 29 yards, for an appalling 1.32 YPC in week one. Kyren Williams, however, got fewer opportunities (15) and more yards (52) to go with two touchdowns. I’m not saying to start Kyren Williams next week, but I think Cam Akers, if he keeps playing like he does, will soon be phased out of the Rams offense and be replaced by the younger and better Williams. So for now, Williams is a worthy stash.
Wide receivers
Puka Nacua, LAR (2.8%):
Rams rookie Puka Nacua doesn’t even have a picture on ESPN, but is seemingly the Cooper Kupp replacement in the Rams passing game until Kupp returns. In week one, he saw 15 targets from Matt Stafford, converting 10 of them for 119 yards. Kupp will be out for at least four weeks, so Nacua is a good option until at least then, but even after Kupp’s return, he can play a Josh Reynolds-esque role in the Rams offense.
Zay Jones, JAX (29.9%):
Christian Kirk, the supposed WR2 in Jacksonville, went absolutely missing last weekend, finishing with one catch on the day for nine yards. Zay Jones, however, stepped up in his absence. Drawing seven targets from Trevor Lawrence in the new look, very loaded Jaguars passing attack, Jones seems to have carved out his role in the offense. He ended his day with five catches, 55 yards, and a score.
Tight ends
Sam Laporta, DET (34.3%):
With the departure of TJ Hockenson, the Lions had a hole to fill at the TE position, and Laporta definitely fills that hole perfectly. Even as a Ram, Jared Goff loved to lean in on his TEs when he couldn’t find an open receiver, leading to lots of targets for Higbee and Hockenson. I think Laporta’s role in the offense will be more of the same, and he put on a good showing in his first game with 5/5 receptions. As he gains more experience, there’s no doubt there’s going to be more Laporta involvement in the offense.
Hayden Hurst, CAR (4.9%):
Hayden Hurst had an explosive week one under first overall pick Bryce Young. With a 23% target share, and racking up the team’s only red zone target, a pass he converted for a touchdown, it’s definitely worth keeping Hurst on the roster. Hurst faces some easy offenses in the upcoming weeks, and it’s foreseeable that Young will keep counting on his TE to get open in the red zone.
Players to sell
Kadarius Toney, KC – Toney had a disastrous week, directly causing a Mahomes pick six, and is droppable at this point, especially with star TE Travis Kelce bound to return.
Najee Harris, PIT – Harris had a rare efficient game, but was used only 6 times. Following last year’s disappointing campaign, it’s hard to envision him getting better.
Cam Akers, LAR – Akers might have had the worst game I have ever seen as a running back. 22 carries for 29 yards is absurd, and this does not earn him brownie points with the Rams coaching staff, who already are doubting him.
Drake London, ATL – For lack of a better term, Desmond Ridder really just isn’t it. The ATL offense is based on the ground game, and the one who is suffering the most is very talented receiver Drake London, so until there’s a better QB in Atlanta, London isn’t going to get any good looks.
Dalvin Cook, NYJ – It seems like he’s there just in case Breece Hall sucks. In week one, we can say with great confidence that in fact Breece Hall does not suck, and with A-Rod’s injury, Hall will be involved even more in the offense as coach Saleh would rather let the special teams play than have Zach Wilson throw the football.
D’Andre Swift, PHI – The talented former Lions back was supposed to be an addition in the amazing Eagles offense, but took fewer snaps than Kenneth Gainwell. Unless that was a one-week thing, D’Andre Swift will not be fantasy relevant this year if he continues to have two touches a game.
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