You did it. You drafted your team and get excited every time you look at it. 

Go ahead and take another look. 

Each pick is a banger. You got every player at good value. Plus, NFL Kickoff is in a couple of days. Surely, you’ve got your starters ready to go.

So, now what?

Now, it’s time to shift from being a fantasy drafter to a fantasy manager. Every week will give us new information. Injuries or changing roles will bring players on the waiver wire into the spotlight. And, as we learn more, I’ll pull all the data together to find the waiver targets worth claiming.

Injury round-up

We’ll start each week with a review of the notable injuries.

Matthew Freedman will have the latest on all the ailing players to monitor, plus Ian Hartitz will be in your ears reviewing how certain situations will impact the slate. But here, I’ll use them as a starting point for a waiver recommendation.

And, of course, we’ve got a few to keep tabs on ahead of Week 1.

Waiver claims

“The List” will be a prioritized ranking of my Top 5 waiver wire options, along with a player worth stashing past this week. Sure, I’m putting the cart before the horse, in a sense. But if you’re logging into your team to make claims, here’s how I’d set up my queue:

The list

  1. Colts RB Deon Jackson
  2. Packers QB Jordan Love
  3. Packers WR Jayden Reed
  4. Broncos QB Russell Wilson
  5. Rams WR Tutu Atwell
  6. Stash: Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard

Quarterback

It’s Week 1, so your starting QB is probably locked and loaded. But let’s say you drafted in mid-August and have lost confidence in the guy you selected. If you need a spot starter, I’ve got a few choices.

Jordan Love, Packers (at Bears)

Love has looked in command of the Packers’ offense throughout the preseason, and the Packers might have a shot in the NFC North. Love—and his pass-catchers—may be young, but against Chicago’s defense, their immaturity might not matter.

In 2022, the Bears allowed the third-most top-6 finishes to opposing QBs (seven). They were dead last in dropback success rate allowed and gave up the 11th-most passing yards per game. But Love’s rushing ability will put him in the fantasy spotlight.

Jordan Love

Aug 26, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Mobile passers (Daniel Jones, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, etc.) averaged 45.7 yards and a score against Chicago, and Love’s had a 10.8% scramble rate through the preseason.

He has the surrounding cast and innate talent to vault into the QB1 ranks after Week 1.

Russell Wilson, Broncos (vs. Raiders)

Through all of last year’s chaos, Wilson was still slightly above the league average in PROE (-1.6%) and had the seventh-highest pass rate in the red zone.

With an aging Drew Brees, HC Sean Payton had a similar PROE over his last five seasons with the future Hall of Famer (-1%). I’m not expecting a steep drop-off in volume. 

The Raiders’ defense also returns over half of their starters from ’22. They are (mostly) the same unit that gave up the fourth-most passing yards per game and tied for the most top-12 finishes allowed to opposing QBs. Wilson is a defensible option if you’re in a pinch.

Sam Howell, Commanders (vs. Cardinals)

Sam Howell was 10th in adjusted completion percentage through the preseason with a 9.1% scramble rate, and we know he’s got the pass-game options to pull him into fantasy relevance.

Plus, playing against the Cardinals makes for an easy Week 1. Arizona’s defense gave up nine QB1 weeks last season and just traded away one of their starters. With a defensive front that ranked bottom-10 in pressure rate, Howell’s only concern will be whether he’ll have Terry McLaurin on the field.

Running back

Just In Case: Deon Jackson, Colts (vs. Jaguars)

The news about the Colts’ contingency plans may have gone under the radar with all the Jonathan Taylor drama. Jackson will start with Taylor out until Week 4 and Zack Moss on the mend.

While not the most effective runner, Jackson’s 1.47 yards per route run (YPRR) on 34 targets ranked ahead of James Cook, Aaron Jones, and Rhamondre Stevenson.

The Jaguars ceded the eighth-most PPR points to RBs in ’22, giving Jackson an easy path to an RB1 start this season.

Stash: Chuba Hubbard

Miles Sanders’ status notwithstanding, the Panthers have a couple of injuries at WR to watch. Despite only earning 15 targets when healthy, Hubbard was fourth in YPRR over a nine-game sample after the Christian McCaffrey trade.

At worst, he’s a strong backup should Sanders reaggravate his groin injury. At best, he splits work with Sanders while being a short-area target for rookie Bryce Young.

Wide receiver

Jayden Reed, Packers

Romeo Doubs’ injury makes Jayden Reed an easy click and stash to start the season. Reports in May highlighted Reed getting slot reps with the first-team offense.

We saw Love’s connection with Reed in early August, and he was on a trajectory to be a starter when Doubs was healthy. The rookie led the receiving corps in targets per route run (TPRR) and secured half of the looks from Love in obvious passing situations during the preseason. 

Chicago gave up the third-most yards after catch per reception of any defense in ’22, and Reed ranked behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, and Jordan Addison from this draft class in the same metric.

With the Bears allowing an average of 55.5 yards to slot WRs last season, Reed has the volume and talent to be a viable fantasy asset in Week 1.

Tutu Atwell, Rams (at Seahawks)

When Cooper Kupp missed time last season, Tutu Atwell had the third-highest target share on the Rams (17.3%). His 0.19 TPRR was greater than Van Jefferson’s (0.14), who folks will assume stands the most to gain if Kupp sits in Week 1.

However, Atwell dominated the slot, with 53.7% of his snaps coming from the interior. And at a 20% target rate through the preseason, Atwell may be in line for more work against Seattle, who have given up viable outings to smaller inside receivers (Rondale Moore, 8-56-0 and 9-49-0; Tom Kennedy, 4-54-0).

You can also get shares of Atwell before the season kicks off on Underdog Fantasy, where he is regularly being drafted in the last round. Simply sign up for Underdog below to get a 100% deposit match of up to $100 PLUS a mystery Pick'em special!

Waiver Wire Report