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As the fallout from a typically crazy Week 1 settles, it’s time to pick up the pieces and get our teams set up for future success. We’re all either 1-0 or 0-1 so don’t you dare let a bad opening salvo diminish your competitive spirit. Things are just getting started.
As always, if you are looking for more analysis on each individual player or if you play in deep formats, my expanded waiver wire will go up at Rotobahn.com later this afternoon. I will also have a waiver wire podcast posted at Rotobahn at about the same time. It’s all free, so dig in and enjoy.
It’s early Tuesday as I write this and I was up until all hours last night—watching Jon Gruden’s Raiders vs. the Rams. I will be spending the rest of today watching the games I haven’t gotten to yet and going through snap totals and ownership rates. I’ll most definitely have more ideas and recommendations by this evening. What you see below is merely a starting point.
If you have specific questions about your moves this week, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @Rotobahn. I’ll be online tonight and will do my best to get to all of your questions.
Week 1 Injuries
Delanie Walker (ankle/IR) Greg Olsen (foot) Doug Baldwin (knee)Leonard Fournette (hamstring)Marcus Mariota (elbow)Aaron Rodgers (knee) Devonta Freeman (knee)Marquise Goodwin (quad)
It’s ugly stuff, and a few are serious or potentially serious. Walker is done for the year. Olsen looks to be out for a significant period as the foot he injured is the same foot he had surgery on months ago. Baldwin has an MCL tear in his knee. He’ll miss time for sure—probably about three weeks but that’s just an approximation. They are calling Fournette’s injury minor, but he was not able to continue, so a one week absence seems possible. T.J. Yeldon is the back to go after in Jacksonville.
Mariota’s elbow should be ok, but his Week 2 status has yet to be confirmed. Rodgers’ knee injury was seen by all and his return probably calmed his fantasy owners, but once he stiffens up there could be an issue, so keep tabs on him this week—especially if he is your only rostered quarterback. Freeman’s knee appears to be a minor thing, but if Tevin Coleman is somehow available, he’s a mandatory handcuff even in smallish formats. Goodwin is a guy to watch, but it appears that his quad injury is just a contusion. It will be a pain tolerance issue. There’s a good chance that he plays in Week 2.
QUARTERBACK
Pat Mahomes, ChiefsTyrod Taylor, BrownsSam Darnold, JetsCase Keenum, BroncosRyan Fitzpatrick, Bucs
I’m seeing Mahomes available in some places so check his status in your league. He was a highly rated QB2 in my preseason rankings and he moved up a spot or two on Week 1. He must be owned in all leagues. Prioritize FAAB bids based on your need and league makeup.
We knew Taylor was an explosive point scorer but this offense is now looking very strong and Taylor will be a fantasy asset for as long as he can hold off Baker Mayfield. Be careful with your bids here, because the rookie could nab the job at any time.
Darnold checked all the boxes in his first start and he looked really good in doing so. The Jets play a favorable schedule, so he’s worth owning as a QB2 in most formats. He gets the Eagles this week, which is sobering.
Keenum was mediocre, but his team looked very strong around him. He should be a functional backup if you need one. Fitzpatrick has teased us like this before and while most analysts will probably tell you to stay away, his weapons are so good in that offense that he could help you if you are in need for some reason—obviously that’s in the near term only. Jameis Winston returns in a few weeks.
RUNNING BACK
Marlon Mack, ColtsNick Chubb, BrownsNyheim Hines, ColtsT.J. Yeldon, JagursLatavius Murray, Vikings Jordan Wilkins, ColtsJames White, PatriotsPhillip Lindsay, BroncosAustin Ekeler, ChargersJavorius Allen, Ravens
Some solid options here, but the one who caught my eye was Hines, who was written off too soon due to training camp struggles. Wilkins will be higher on all waiver wire lists you’ll see, but he looked like a very ordinary talent to me. He’ll have value if there are injuries, but I suspect that he’ll fall in behind a healthy Marlon Mack and Hines as the season move on. Yeldon is a mandatory handcuff for Fournette owners and he could have stand alone appeal if Fournette can’t go this week.
Murray looked very good and with Dalvin Cook’s injury history, I’d be adding him as a handcuff while he’s inexpensive. The Vikings are going to spend a ton of time in the red zone this season. Lindsay is something special as I told you all in my pre-draft rookie rankings. Can he keep playing so much? It’s hard to know, but he must be rostered in all league with 12 or more teams.
Ekeler, Allen and White all have flex appeal in larger leagues—12 teams and above. Chubb is included because he is below 50 percent ownership and is a must-own guy in all leagues with 10 teams or more. We’re talking RB1 upside and Carlos Hyde had a mediocre Week 1.
WIDE RECEIVER
Chris Godwin, BucsQuincy Enunwa, Jets Geronimo Allison, PackersTyler Lockett, SeahawksJohn Brown, Ravens John Ross, Bengals Calvin Ridley, FalconsRyan Grant, ColtsPhillip Dorsett, PatriotsBrandon Marshall, SeahawksMike Wallace, EaglesTed Ginn, SaintsDede Westbrook, JaguarsDante Pettis, 49ersCourtland Sutton, BroncosCole Beasley, CowboysTrent Taylor, 49ersBruce Ellington, Texans
I will get into all these receivers individually over at Rotobahn, but for now, let’s focus on the top eight options, because I think they all have season-long value if they stay healthy. Godwin has serious breakout potential in PPR leagues. I know there’s a playing time issue, but he looks like he’s forcing his way into the full time mix—taking snaps away from Cameron Brate, DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries. I think he’ll be the second most targeted player in the offense behind Mike Evans.
Enunwa is healthy and playing with the best quarterback he’s ever played with in his entire life—by far. He may not dominate targets all year as he did in Week 1, but he’s got weekly WR3 ability and he’s got the role in the offense to make it happen. He should be owned everywhere. Allison is Aaron Rodgers’ third receiver, but in that offense he has weekly flex appeal and is one injury away from WR2 stats. He should be rostered in all leagues.
Lockett just moved up in the pecking order due to Baldwin’s knee injury. He’s a weekly WR3 until further notice. Ross looked good and his role could keep growing. He’s a must-add due to his high ceiling. He’s Will Fuller without the recognition.
Ridley is being dropped due to one bad stats game, but he looked good to me and should pick it up going forward. Grant looks like a very steady presence for the Colts and he can be a weekly flex play in deeper leagues. I see him getting better and better as he works more with Andrew Luck, who’s been in need of a good technical receiver for long while. He now has one.
TIGHT END
George KittleJared Cook Ian ThomasJonnu SmithAustin Seferian-JenkinsBen WatsonRicky Seals-JonesEric Ebron, ColtsJake Butt, BroncosWill Dissly, SeahawksAntonio Gates, ChargersJordin Akins, Texans
Kittle’s preseason injury apparently caused some folks to let him go undrafted. Get him if you can. He has a chance to be a high-end TE1 all year and could end up being Jimmy Garoppolo’s favorite target. Cook has big games and then fades away. He’s a solid option, but not really a guy I am going after.
I love Ian Thomas and he could be a weekly play if Olsen’s injury ends up being serious. It may not happen in a flash because he’s a rookie, but his talent is real, and he’s a red zone weapon. Great hands and body control. He should be owned in all dynasty leagues and all leagues with 12 or more teams.
Smith is going to be the starter in Tennessee and should be a high priority in large leagues. He has big upside. Seferian-Jenkins was playing hurt Week 1, but he’s a red zone presence on a team that will give him plenty of chances. In fact, he had a score called back last week. Watson, Seals-Jones and Ebron can all start for you if need be.