Oh baby, we are so back. It's almost football season and whether you're just finishing up your drafts or you had some couple weeks ago, the same sentiment holds true: this is a really important waiver wire week. I would argue that the week before the season starts and the waiver run after Week 1 can help change the course of your season.

A lot has changed over the past couple of weeks with trades, injuries and just overall bad vibes. Now is the chance to snag a few players off waivers that might bring some fantasy goodness to your team. Just like last season, this article is for leagues of all shapes and sizes. Yes, I will mention Jacory Croskey-Merritt because he might still be available for some people. I will also be hitting on guys deep down depth charts for those in really deep leagues who just need a wing and a prayer. The season is here and now it's time to get to work. All rostership percentages are from Yahoo. Also, don't forget our Waiver Wire Tool, which will have even more targets on a weekly basis.

 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Before NFL Week 1

Chris Rodriguez, RB, Commanders (6% Rostered)

Brian Robinson Jr. was traded to the San Francisco 49ers and while everyone is ecstatic to draft Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merrit (rightfully so), we should still be paying attention to another back on the Commanders who could be available for you. In the second preseason game he was singled out for goal-line work and during the season we should see him play into the early-down/short-yardage game as well.

Rodriguez had only 34 carries in 2024, but they came with a 74% success rate, according to The Athletic. I think the Commanders were comfortable shipping off Robinson because of what they saw in Bill AND Rodriguez—both should be primed to handle much of the early-down work.  

BONUS: If JCM is on waivers, then yes, absolutely go get him and gloat to everyone around you if you're able to pull this off. 

Dameon Pierce (4% Rostered) / Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans (8% Rostered) 

The vibes seem bad for this Texans backfield, but that doesn't mean we're staying away entirely. I've been very vocal about passing on both Nick Chubb and Joe Mixon in drafts this season. Mixon was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list to start the week, which means he's going to miss a minimum of four games to start the season. But I wonder if we are going to see Mixon at all in 2025, because the Texans are somewhat noncommittal already. 

If I'm wrong about not drafting Chubb, then so be it because that means we get the Chubb of old. I'm just not tying my team to an older running back with a serious injury history who recorded career lows in yards per attempt (3.3) and percentage of carries that gained at least 10 yards (4.9%) last season.

Enter: Dameon Pierce and Woody Marks. These are not sexy pickups, but if we see Chubb go down then there is an obvious path to bigger workloads. If you need an upside waiver wire pickup then the rookie Marks is your pick—he could potentially be involved in the passing game, too. This could also be the perfect storm for Pierce, where sudden opportunity knocks and fantasy relevancy could be on the horizon. If he sucks then just drop him, it's not like you spent any draft capital on either of these guys! 

Ollie Gordon, RB, Dolphins (24% Rostered)

De'Von Achane suffered a calf injury a few weeks ago, but is on track to play in Miami's Week 1 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. While this is great news for Achane managers, we also want to be ready for any setbacks that could come Achane's way. For a good portion of the offseason, Jaylen Wright looked to be the backup to Achane, but now we need to set our sights on Ollie Gordon. 

Wright is dealing with an undisclosed leg injury and Gordon handled 100% of the starter snaps and all of the rushing work with Achane and Wright sidelined during the final preseason game. He is a great late-round target in drafts right now and should be immediately scooped up off waivers if available.

Harold Fannin, TE, Browns (1% Rostered)

If you're not listening to Fantasy Life on SiriusXM Radio with myself and Adam Ronis I must say you are missing out. We spoke with The Athletic's Zac Jackson weeks ago about the outlook of the Browns, and he had nothing but glowing recommendations for Harold Fannin heading into the 2025 season.

Fast forward to now and the Browns have released Diontae Johnson (a move that supports the idea that Fannin could be relevant) and his stock is trending up. In the final preseason game, we saw Fannin in the first quarter with David Njoku and he finished with 60% snaps, 60% routes, 33% TPRR. According to our own Thor Nystrom, in his final season at Bowling Green, Fannin shattered single-season FBS records for the TE position in both receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,550). He also set three different PFF-era records: yards after contact (868), missed tackles forced (32), and receiving grade (96.5). Oh, and Njoku is in the final year of his contract extension. 

Jalen Coker, WR, Panthers (2% Rostered)

The Minnesota Vikings traded for Adam Thielen this week and one of the bigger winners was all the Coke Heads (yes, I am allowed to say that). Jalen Coker is now in a starting role for the Panthers—last season he averaged 10.4 yards per target and in four of the final five games had at least a 19.2% target share. If we're being honest, Coker is also just the better player compared to Xavier Legette, and unless Legette turns things around we can probably expect even more from Coker in 2025. 

Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Lions (7% Rostered)

Thor Nystrom has texted me about Isaac TeSlaa since last November and I am genuinely not kidding. The Lions receiver was the star of the preseason and the overall training camp darling of 2025. Detroit traded Tim Patrick to the Jaguars in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, bumping TeSlaa up the depth chart just a little bit more.

I took him at the end of a 20-round draft and if he is floating around your waiver wire and other receivers on your bench don't have much life then it's fine to snag him. Just know he is still behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Kalif Raymond. There is not a clear path to immediate playing time, but we know if injuries were to occur then his stock would rise. Just realize TeSlaa is someone you'll have to be patient with. 

Troy Franklin, WR, Broncos (1% Rostered)

The Broncos receivers are interesting to break down right now. Marvin Mims is probably the guy you want to target in drafts after Courtland Sutton, especially after we saw Mims playing a near every-down role alongside Bo Nix and the Denver starting offense in the preseason. I've also taken fliers on Pat Bryant, but right now it's time to focus on Troy Franklin. We are likely going to see him in three-WR sets with Sutton and Mims. Remember: The Broncos ranked 10th in scoring despite operating with a rookie quarterback last season.

Franklin has led all Broncos in targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns with the starters this preseason, and if you have any question marks in your receiver depth then this is definitely someone to target.

Tory Horton, WR, Seahawks (2% Rostered)

Seahawks rookie receiver Tory Horton suffered an ankle injury last week at practice and did not participate in the final preseason game, but the Seahawks released Marquez Valdes-Scantling leaving the door open for Horton to have a role. He's going to be the WR3 in this offense and while this is projected to be a more run-heavy team, we can't ignore his potential.

Brashard Smith, RB, Chiefs (2% Rostered)

Brashard Smith looks like the RB3 in this backfield, but he is also a package player who the Chiefs might look to feed when he is on the field. In the final preseason game, he was targeted on both of his routes with the starters. We usually see the Chiefs deploy a designated third-down back, but they didn't give us any clue this preseason and it seems like a role that we won't figure out until the season starts. Regardless, Smith is already a late-round sleeper in deeper leagues and someone to keep an eye on if he's available on waivers.

Emanuel Wilson, RB, Packers (1% Rostered)

My MarShawn Lloyd bags are screaming right now. Lloyd was limited to one game during his rookie season and now the Packers have placed him on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the year. If we are looking for a backup/handcuff to Josh Jacobs then Emanuel Wilson is the guy now. Even in a limited role last season, Wilson was efficient behind Jacobs and posted 4.9 yards per rush and a 10.7% explosive rush rate. 

The Other Guys (still important):

Jaylin Lane, WR, Commanders (0% Rostered)

Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears (5% Rostered)

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seahawks (7% Rostered)

Kendre Miller, RB, Saints (2% Rostered)

Daniel Jones, QB, Colts (5% Rostered)

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