Drafts are wrapping up, and now Fantasy managers are starting to focus on setting lineups for Week 1. For those of you who drafted weeks ago, you're already making moves to tweak your roster.
We've got you covered.
Welcome to the waiver wire column. Each week, we'll go through the players you should be looking to add to your roster, as well as who to drop. We'll go over injuries, give you FAB suggestions, and talk about players ranging from 10-team leagues to the deepest of formats, as well as DST and K streamers.
The draft is only the first part of your journey to a championship. Playing the waiver wire might be the most crucial thing you do all season, so make sure you check this out every week -- if you want to win.
For Week 1, this column is going to be a little bit of a different format then what you'll read during the season. We don't want you to overhaul your roster just yet, but these are some players you could consider adding if you want to tweak your roster now.
Editor's note: For this waiver wire column, we are mainly looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Week 1 Waivers
WAIVER WIRE
Quarterbacks
Add in this order:
Add in this order:
Week 1 Waiver Priority List
I love the setup for the second-year quarterback, who got upgraded weapons (Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and Tyler Boyd), an upgraded offensive line and better coaching. By the end of the season, Levis could be a top-12 quarterback in all leagues.
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Hopefully his shoulder is OK all season, and we'd love for him to get back to running the ball at a high level. In 2023, Watson appeared in six games, and he scored at least 22.6 Fantasy points in three of them. If he stays healthy he still has the potential to be a starter in all leagues.
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I don't expect Mayfield to become a weekly starter, but he can be a borderline top-15 quarterback once again. Last year, he averaged 18.6 Fantasy points per game, which was better than Tua Tagovailoa (18.4) and Trevor Lawrence (18.3).
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The addition of Ryan Grubb as the offensive coordinator in Seattle should help the entire Seahawks offense. They should run more plays and be more explosive. As long as Smith doesn't make mistakes he could return to his 2022 level of play when he averaged 20.5 Fantasy points per game.
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I'm looking forward to seeing what Nix can do in his rookie campaign, and he landed with the right coach in Sean Payton. I don't expect Nix to post dominant stats, but he could prove to be a reliable No. 2 Fantasy quarterback in 14-team leagues.
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Other quarterbacks to consider: Derek Carr (34 percent rostered), Bryce Young (23 percent), Russell Wilson (23 percent), Daniel Jones (16 percent) and Sam Darnold (17 percent)
WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
Add in this order:
Week 1 Waiver Priority List
Javonte Williams is the No. 1 running back in Denver, but McLaughlin should have a big role as the No. 2 option. And the more touches he gets the better. In 2023, he had three games with at least 10 total touches, and he averaged 16.0 PPR points per game over that span. I've drafted him in a lot of my leagues, and I love stashing him on the bench to see what develops.
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He's missed a lot of practice time with an undisclosed injury, but hopefully Charbonnet is ready for Week 1 against Denver. When healthy, he should work in tandem with Kenneth Walker III, but Charbonnet would be a starter in all leagues if Walker were to miss any time. And Walker has missed two games in each of the past two years.
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Through my first 15 drafts this season of leagues that I'm playing out, Irving was my most rostered running back. He's a lottery ticket as the No. 2 option behind Rachaad White, but hopefully Irving will get some quality playing time in tandem with White early in the season. Irving should prove to be a valuable pass catcher in Tampa Bay's offense.
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Mason is now the No. 2 running back in San Francisco behind Christian McCaffrey with Elijah Mitchell (hamstring) out for the season. That makes Mason one of the ultimate lottery tickets this year. McCaffrey is 28, coming off a season with over 400 total touches, including the playoffs, and he had a calf injury in training camp. Mason could be a league winner if McCaffrey were to miss any time.
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Perine signed with the Chiefs after getting cut by the Broncos, and he could be the third-down back in Kansas City. It helps Perine that Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) is on injured reserve, and the Chiefs have little proven depth behind Isiah Pacheco with only undrafted rookie Carson Steele. Perine also could be the preferred handcuff for Pacheco early in the year.
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Tracy will hopefully be ready for Week 1 after hurting his ankle in training camp. He should be the No. 2 running back for the Giants behind Devin Singletary, and hopefully Tracy will play on passing downs right away. He could be one of the best surprise rookies this season if he gets a big role.
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Lloyd is expected to play in Week 1 after dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for multiple weeks in training camp. With A.J. Dillon (neck) out for the season, Lloyd is the No. 2 running back in Green Bay behind Josh Jacobs. That makes Lloyd a lottery ticket to stash in all leagues.
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Gibson is the No. 2 running back on what should be a bad Patriots team, but if something happens to Rhamondre Stevenson then Gibson could be a borderline starter in all leagues. I've drafted him in a few leagues with a late-round pick, and he could be a good stash candidate to see if he'll work in tandem with Stevenson, especially in the passing game.
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There's a chance Davis could be the goal-line running back for the Bills right away, and he's worth stashing on your bench. Just keep in mind that's not the most valuable role given how Buffalo uses Josh Allen near the goal line. But Davis also could be the handcuff for James Cook, which makes Davis a lottery ticket.
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Allen should be the No. 2 running back for the Jets behind Breece Hall, which makes Allen a lottery ticket to stash in all leagues. I don't know how much Allen will play in tandem with Hall, but if Hall were to miss any time then Allen would be a borderline starter in all formats.
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I'm hopeful that Vidal will be at least the No. 3 running back for the Chargers behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, and that makes Vidal someone to stash in deeper leagues. Edwards is 29 and Dobbins can't stay healthy, so Vidal could find himself with a big role at some point this season on a Chargers team that should excel at running the ball.
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Bigsby is the No. 2 running back for the Jaguars behind Travis Etienne, and there's a chance Bigsby could get some goal-line chances this season instead of Etienne. I don't want to see that happen because it would lower the value for Etienne, but Bigsby is a good handcuff to stash in deeper leagues.
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Herbert will open the season as the No. 2 running back in Chicago behind D'Andre Swift, and we'll see if Herbert plays in tandem with Swift early in the season. Roschon Johnson could also be a factor, but Herbert is the likely handcuff for the Bears should something happen to Swift.
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IR stashes if you have IR spots: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (30 percent rostered, Keaton Mitchell (18 percent) and Kendre Miller (17 percent)
WAIVER WIRE
Wide Receivers
Add in this order:
Week 1 Waiver Priority List
Shaheed has a big opportunity this season as the No. 2 receiver for the Saints behind Chris Olave. Shaheed has to stay healthy after dealing with toe and foot injuries in training camp, but he should be a prime target -- and big-play threat -- for Derek Carr. And the new offense under Klint Kubiak should help all the pass catchers in New Orleans this year.
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Samuel will hopefully be ready for Week 1 after dealing with turf toe in training camp, and we'll see how his role is defined along with Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir. I like those two better than Samuel, but he has a history with offensive coordinator Joe Brady from their time in Carolina. Samuel can also get carries in the backfield, and he's a good stash candidate.
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The Patriots actually have four receivers you can take a chance on with Polk, Demario Douglas (26 percent), Kendrick Bourne (7 percent) and Javon Baker (0 percent). Polk and Douglas are worth rostering in all leagues, and Bourne is only worth adding if you have an IR spot. Baker is worth a flier in deeper leagues. Polk could make plenty of big plays in his rookie campaign, and Douglas could lead the Patriots in receptions this year.
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The Packers have a crowded receiving corps with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Wicks, but Wicks is still worth stashing in all leagues. He closed last season with at least 15.7 PPR points in two of his final three games with Watson hurt, and Wicks could be a starter in all leagues if any of the top three guys go down again.
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The Falcons added Mooney from Chicago this offseason to be their No. 2 receiver opposite Drake London. Mooney will likely be third on the team in targets behind London and Kyle Pitts, but Kirk Cousins should still make Mooney viable several weeks throughout the season. He's a great receiver to stash on your bench, and he could develop into a starter in three-receiver leagues.
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Cooks is dealing with a knee injury, so we'll see what his status is for Week 1 against Cleveland. When healthy, Cooks should be the No. 2 receiver in Dallas, and he's worth stashing on your bench. Last season, Cooks scored seven touchdowns in his final 11 games and reached at least 14.2 PPR points in six of those outings. In deeper leagues, you can take a flier on Jalen Tolbert (0 percent rostered) as well.
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Williams is expected to be eased into action after suffering a torn ACL last year in Week 3, but he should play in Week 1 at San Francisco. He's a big-play threat when healthy, and we'll see how he does meshing with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Just keep in mind that Williams will be 30 in October, and he will be inconsistent in his production throughout the year.
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I'm hopeful Davis will have a bigger role in Jacksonville then he had in Buffalo, and the Jaguars will be more creative with how they use Davis. At best, Davis should be No. 4 on the Jaguars in targets behind Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Brian Thomas Jr. But Davis could prove to be a valuable weapon for Trevor Lawrence, and Davis is worth stashing in deeper leagues.
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Jeudy should benefit from a fresh start in Cleveland, and Deshaun Watson will hopefully lean on Jeudy as a primary target. The Browns have a lot of mouths to feed in Amari Cooper, David Njoku, Jeudy and Elijah Moore, but Jeudy could stand out with enough targets. I wouldn't overvalue him with his move to Cleveland, but he's not a bad receiver to stash on your bench.
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Diontae Johnson is the No. 1 receiver for the Panthers, but we'll see how guys like Legette and Adam Thielen (50 percent) work in as secondary options for Bryce Young. I would gamble on Legette over Thielen based on upside, and we'll see if the rookie can make plays right away. By the end of the season, Legette could be a playmaker for the Panthers and Fantasy managers alike.
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Downs would be higher on this list if healthy, but he suffered an ankle injury in training camp that could sideline him into the season. Adonai Mitchell (35 percent) is also worth adding, and both should be playmakers for Anthony Richardson as secondary targets behind Michael Pittman Jr. I'm hopeful Downs is healthy and ready to go by Week 2.
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The Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Eagles, which opened the door for McCaffrey, Noah Brown (10 percent) and Dyami Brown (0 percent) to be the No. 2 receiver behind Terry McLaurin. None of these guys will be Fantasy starters right away, but one of them could emerge by the end of the season as an option in deeper leagues. I'd stash McCaffrey first based on upside, but this is a receiving corps to monitor early in the year.
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We're all hopeful Ja'Marr Chase will be ready for Week 1 despite his contract situation, and Tee Higgins is good to go as well. But the Bengals have an opening behind those guys, and we'll see if Iosivas or rookie Jermaine Burton (16 percent) step up to be the No. 3 receiver this season. Burton has more upside if he gets playing time, but Iosivas might play more as the slot receiver early in the year.
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It might be hard for Bateman to earn targets this season behind Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers, and we know the Ravens will be run heavy with Derrick Henry. But Bateman could have some big weeks as a key weapon for Lamar Jackson, and he's not a bad flier in deeper leagues.
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The Cardinals have two receivers that intrigue me in Dortch and Michael Wilson (20 percent), and we'll see how they do playing behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. I have slightly more interest in Dortch than Wilson since Dortch got a lot of positive publicity this offseason, and he could be someone that Kyler Murray leans on a lot this year.
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We know Malik Nabers is going to lead the Giants in targets, but Robinson could be second on the team. While this isn't a passing game you want to invest heavily in, Robinson could still be a top option for Daniel Jones, especially if he remains the slot receiver. I'm excited to see what Robinson can do in his third season in the NFL.
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McMillan should be the No. 3 receiver for the Buccaneers behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and McMillan is worth stashing on your bench in deeper leagues. He's had a solid training camp, and McMillan might surprise Fantasy managers during the season with his rapport with Baker Mayfield. There's also the potential of what McMillan could be if Evans or Godwin ever got hurt, and McMillan is one of my favorite under-the-radar rookies this year.
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WAIVER WIRE
Tight End
Add in this order:
Week 1 Waiver Priority List
Johnson was out for most of training camp with a foot injury, but he's ready for Week 1 and should be a top target for Derek Carr this season. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak should lean on Johnson a lot, and he closed last season on a high note with at least 11.8 PPR points in three of his final four games. He's one of my favorite tight end sleepers this year.
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Green Bay has a crowded receiving corps, but Musgrave should still have the chance to make plenty of plays for Jordan Love. In 2023, Musgrave was the No. 1 tight end for the Packers before missing six games in a row with a lacerated kidney from Weeks 12-17. Before getting hurt, Musgrave scored at least 8.0 PPR points in five of 10 games. If he can increase that production just slightly then he'd be a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Henry should end up being a reliable weapon for either Drake Maye or Jacoby Brissett, and Henry is a good No. 2 tight end to stash on your bench in deeper formats. New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt could help Henry in a big way since Van Pelt has been in Cleveland the last four seasons, helping to run one of the more tight end-centric offenses in the NFL. Henry had four games in 2023 with at least six targets, and he scored at least 13.9 PPR points in each of them.
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The Commanders tight ends should benefit with Jahan Dotson being traded to Philadelphia, and I like Zack Ertz (24 percent) as someone to add as well. Long-term, Sinnott should prove to be the best Washington tight end, but Ertz might be more valuable early in the season. I love the idea of stashing Sinnott on my bench to see what he can become down the road.
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I'm curious to see how Conklin does with a healthy Aaron Rodgers, and Conklin has earned exactly 87 targets for three years in a row. It wouldn't be a surprise if Conklin is second on the Jets in targets behind Garrett Wilson, and Conklin could be a low-end starter in PPR this year.
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If Dulcich stays healthy then he could emerge as a low-end starter in all leagues. The Broncos need playmakers in the passing game, and Dulcich might be their second-best receiving option behind Courtland Sutton. In deeper leagues, Dulcich is worth stashing on your bench.
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Other tight ends to consider: Jonnu Smith (21 percent rostered), Noah Fant (11 percent), Mike Gesicki (14 percent), Isaiah Likely (57 percent) and Cade Otton (18 percent)
