This Thursday marks the start of a new NFL season and your road to a fantasy football championship. The journey will get bumpy, and you’ll probably need the waiver wire to piece your season together, perhaps even now. Each week, I’ll dive into players who are rostered in less than 50% of leagues that can bring value to your team. Let’s look at some players that can help you right off the waiver wire in Week 1.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 1 Pickups (2023)
(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)
Jared Goff (QB, Detroit Lions) | 47% Rostered
I wrote about Jared Goff as a late-round QB target this offseason. While his home/road splits last season were something to behold, there’s good reason to believe there will be some regression, and those splits won’t be as drastic. DraftKings Sportsbook has this game with an over/under of 54, which is the highest Week 1 total. The Lions are 6.5-point underdogs. They’ll need to sling it. If you’re worried about a rookie QB you drafted, Goff has a great opportunity to provide Week 1 stability, albeit on the road in Kansas City.
Tank Bigsby (RB, Jacksonville Jaguars) | 25% Rostered
This will be the first time, but not the only time, that the Jaguars are mentioned in our waiver wire Week 1 pickups. Rookie RB Tank Bigsby is coming into the season hot with preseason hype. The Auburn product got a ton of run in the exhibitions and has looked the part in being a compliment to starting RB Travis Etienne. Since the Jaguars drafted Bigsby, there’s been a steady drumbeat that they would like to take some of the workload off Etienne. Bigsby may get a chance to show out early. DraftKings Sportsbook has Jacksonville as 5.0-point road favorites over the Indianapolis Colts. Even if you don’t start him in Week 1, go to the waiver wire and stash him before he makes his big in-season splash.
Marvin Mims (WR, Denver Broncos) | 10% Rostered
In case you haven’t noticed, the Denver Broncos are in some peril at the wide receiver position. Tim Patrick is lost for the season, KJ Hamler is out with a heart condition and Jerry Jeudy recently suffered a hamstring injury that may sideline him into the regular season. Almost out of necessity, the Broncos will need to turn to Marvin Mims out of the gate. Courtland Sutton is likely to act as the team’s No. 1, but Mims provides a speed element and will act as a significant big-play threat. Rookie WRs habitually garner more value as the season progresses, and Mims has an excellent opportunity to start the 2023 campaign with valuable playing time. He should be circled on your waiver wire Week 1 targets.
Jacksonville Jaguars (DST) | 14% Rostered
I don’t want to say that the Indianapolis Colts are spiraling, but vibes are… not great, fam. That’s precisely why we’ll pick on them with the Jaguars defense in Week 1. As mentioned, Jacksonville is a 5.0-point road favorite over a team starting a rookie QB with their star RB now on injured reserve. The Cokts have an implied team total of 20 points. Yikes.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson will scramble, which will inevitably lead to sacks. Indianapolis will likely be playing from behind for a good portion of the game, meaning Richardson will need to throw, leading to more opportunities for turnovers for the Jaguars’ defense. Sacks and turnovers are the name of the game when looking for a streaming D/ST; the Jaguars have ample opportunity for both in Week 1.
Thanks for reading my favorite fantasy football waiver wire Week 1 pickups. Looking for more fantasy football advice? Follow me on Twitter @ThatMattKelley.