Week 1 Waiver Wire Top Pickups & Adds: Josh Kelley Is Gaining Traction

Week 1 is not your prototypical waiver wire or FAAB week, as you are likely just going to be making adjustments. However, injuries continue to pop up as we can only see what is reported through the practices and scrimmages. No preseason has turned this to an odd preseason. With about ten days until the 2020 NFL season starts, you can catch our fantasy football rankings & projections. The waiver wire adds are likely going to be open to grab, and I will feature some options for Week 1 if you left a few positions late like quarterback. You might also be streaming over the first few weeks as I touch on a few options. As we move onto next week, then things will resume as a routine waiver wire week with them being locked to add, and waiver wire orders fall into place.

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo – San Francisco 49ers

Average % Rostered: 43%, FAAB: $0

I will certainly admit I have never been the biggest Jimmy Garoppolo guy, but he plays for a world-class offensive coach, has a strong offensive line, and plenty of weapons. Now the wide receivers are certainly banged up, but Deebo Samuel is ahead of schedule, and George Kittle is a top-two tight end in the league. Garoppolo has an excellent Week 1 matchup against the Cardinals, but he has a fantastic start to the season in the first five weeks. Philadelphia is the only more formidable defense he will face. If you drafted a quarterback that has a tough schedule to start the season, Garoppolo could help you get through that rough patch. For Week 1, Arizona allowed 23.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and ranked 32nd.

Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers

Average % Rostered: 17%, FAAB: $0

Going a little bit deeper in, Teddy Bridgewater has a lot going his way for a strong fantasy quarterback you can mix in and out of good matchups this season. This Panthers defense is going to allow a ton of points, and that bodes well for the volume of Bridgewater. He also has a great supporting cast around him. Matt Rhule is also another reason to be excited about this offense. The Raiders secondary is undoubtedly one to target this season, and they allowed 2.1 passing touchdowns per game. He is also going to have some plus matchups in the first six games of the season getting Tampa, Arizona, and Atlanta.

Running Backs

Joshua Kelley – Los Angeles Chargers

Average % Rostered: 11%, FAAB: $0

While Austin Ekeler is the main guy in the backfield, Joshua Kelley was a name to watch over the offseason. He was competing with Justin Jackosn, and Kelley has been talked up over the last few weeks. Now that Justin Jackson is dealing with a foot injury, this is Kelley’s time to strike. If you are thin at running back or are looking for a name to stash on the bench, Kelley is that guy for me right now. Hopefully, you have better options to start in Week 1 due to a limited volume, but Kelley could carve out a role early in the season.

Boston Scott – Philadelphia Eagles

Average % Rostered: 38%, FAAB: $0

Boston Scott is somewhat Darren Sproles replica as he is on the smaller side and is looking at a gadget role in the Eagles offense. With the Eagles thin already at wide receiver, they are going to work in a lot of their weapons. While Miles Sanders isn’t in danger of missing Week 1, he was dealing with a lower-body injury. There isn’t much depth at this position, so that Scott will get some snaps and touches. He is more intriguing in PPR leagues. Scott’s 2019 season certainly gave the Eagles confidence as they didn’t bring in anyone to compete. Week 1 is a solid matchup against the Redskins, who ranked 28th against running backs and allowed 173 rushing yards per game.

Wide Receivers

DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles

Average % Rostered: 50%, FAAB: $0

I have my doubts about DeSean Jackson’s health throughout a 16-game season, but there is zero risk-taking if you are grabbing after a draft. He gets the Redskins in Week 1, and the injury news with Jalen Reagor missing the next few weeks is going to put the Eagles wide receivers depth in question again. Targets will be there for Jackson, and the matchup is as well with Washington ranking 24th in DVOA against the pass last season.

Parris Campbell – Indianapolis Colts

Average % Rostered: 28%, FAAB: $0

Indianapolis might be a tough fantasy offense to predict on a week-to-week basis. There is a lot of mouths to feed, and Frank Reich seems keen on getting them all involved. Parris Campbell had an injury-plagued rookie season, but he remains one of the names I am interested in the most given how he can be used in this offense and his overall speed. Jacksonville’s secondary and their defense overall has been traded away, and we should see offenses be able to hang crooked numbers on them all season long.

Tight Ends

Chris Herndon – New York Jets

Average % Rostered: 34%, FAAB: $0

Chris Herndon was fantasy relevant at the end of the 2018 season and then struggled with off-field issues and injuries in 2019. 2020 he seems primed for a big year, and athleticism is there. Herndon has been going very late in deeper drafts or undrafted. Given the tight end position is a lot of up and down shuffling throughout the year, Herndon is a name to grab as he can have an early chance to be a key guy in the offense.

Dallas Goedert – Philadelphia Eagles

Average % Rostered: 25%, FAAB: $0

As mentioned above, the Eagles wide receivers are a bit thin. Dallas Goedert did not see less than six targets since the Week 10 bye in 2019. He has been a strong PPR player as he finds himself around 10-12 points most weeks. With targets to go around still and the Eagles running two tight ends out there, I don’t have much concern for Goedert’s target share early on. Washington ranked 27th against tight ends in 2019.

Week 1 Streaming Options

• Jimmy Garoppolo Vs. Arizona Cardinals
• Philip Rivers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
• Teddy Bridgewater Vs. Carolina Panthers
• Derek Carr @ Carolina Panthers
• Duke Johnson @ Kansas City Chiefs
• DeSean Jackson @ Washington Redskins
• Eric Ebron @ New York Giants
• Los Angeles Chargers @ Cincinnati Bengals
• Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins