We are officially three days away from the start of the 2019 NFL regular season. And now that most of your fantasy football drafts are complete, we can now turn our attention to the never-ending task that comes with running a successful fantasy team.
Right now, your draft looks great. You landed the stud running back you highly coveted and the PPR maven at wide receiver. Heck, you even managed to land your favorite duel-threat quarterback. Truth is, there’s nothing your team needs heading into the NFL regular season, right?
Wrong.
Part of what makes a championship-winning team is constantly churning the waivers in search of the next breakout player. This can come in the form of a proven veteran or a rookie standout. Some will present you with short-term success, possibly as streamers, and others are better suited as stashes with the hopes of finding the next great player deeper into the regular season.
Here are ten under-the-radar waiver targets that you should consider heading into your Week 1 Fantasy Football matchup.
All Roster Percentages are courtesy of ESPN.
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills – 20.2 %
Josh Allen is a perfect dual-threat QB that could forge a lasting role in your starting lineup. His ability to throw the ball into another orbit, coupled with his sneaky 4.75 speed, makes him an intriguing prospect in all fantasy football formats.
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions – 16%
There was once upon a time where Matthew Stafford was one of the top QBs selected year in and year out. He may not have the same offensive firepower surrounding him as he did in his earlier years, but he’s being disrespected this draft season. Stafford is a QB to keep an eye on.
Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts – 12.1 %
Andrew Luck‘s unexpected retirement has opened the door for Jacoby Brissett to be a viable starting QB, especially when you consider the array of weapons at his disposal. Currently, Brissett may be most valuable as a Superflex option, but if you drafted T.Y. Hilton or Eric Ebron, why not pair the two and see how things work out?
Running Backs
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens – 17.9%
Baltimore’s offense is destined to be unlike anything we have ever seen before, at least at the professional level. And with plenty of mouths to feed in the backfield, no one can pretend to know how things will eventually shape up. One thing we do know, however, is that Justice Hill looked as impressive as any RB this preseason. With plenty of opportunities to go around, he should be at the top of your waiver list.
Frank Gore, Buffalo Bills – 15%
Now that LeSean McCoy is in Kansas City, that leaves plenty of opportunities for the rest of Buffalo’s backfield. We already know Devin Singletary is the team’s future running back, but no one can discredit the other backs the Buffalo Bills signed this offseason. T.J. Yeldon will almost certainly see some touches, but the ageless-wonder Frank Gore could see a bulk of the touches left behind by Shady.
Dare Ogunbowale, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 3.3%
There are a lot of rumors surrounding who will be the starting running back in Bruce Arian’s offense. Though it appears Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber will get a bulk of the early work, Dare Ogunbowale has started to emerge as a favorite to eventually surpass both starting RBs. That might not happen this season, but he will see looks as the third-down back in an offense desperately hoping a starting caliber RB emerges.
Wide Receivers
Albert Wilson, Miami Dolphins – 24.8%
One of my favorite fantasy players, Albert Wilson, was destined for greatness before a hip injury ended his 2018 campaign. Now that he’s back to 100%, he should continue to be a big-play threat in an offense with very little identity.
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs – 18.3%
A quick look around the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs clearly have the most dynamic offense on paper. With a laundry list of starting-caliber wide receivers, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the snaps will disperse. What we do know, however, is that Mecole Hardman is an explosive WR and has the potential to alter a game, much like his teammate Tyreek Hill.
Damion Willis, Cincinnati Bengals – 1.4 %
The Cincinnati Bengals are about as devoid of talent as the aforementioned Miami Dolphins. However, one player continued to standout during the preseason and that was Damion Willis. With A.J. Green on the fritz, Willis is worth a deep stash.
Tight Ends
Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders – 17.8 %
Darren Waller was the darling of HBO’s Hard Knocks and has slowly watched his value increase as a result of it. Jared Cook moved on to greener pastures in New Orleans, so Waller will have plenty of opportunities to forge as a seam threat in Jon Gruden’s offense.
Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys 14.5 %
He might not have been very good in the booth, but Jason Witten is one of the most prolific tight ends in Dallas Cowboys’ history. His return should add an additional target to Dak Prescott‘s arsenal of weapons and could pay dividends as a start spot throughout the season.
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos – 10.7 %
Noah Fant was highly regarded as the number two TE in this April’s draft. But many viewed the drop-off between him and his Iowa teammate T.J. Hockenson as minimal at best. Hockenson may have landed in the better spot for early production, but Fant should see plenty of opportunities in an offense searching for an identity.
Josh Houtz is the Fantasy Football Director and Lead Writer for PFN. You can follow him @houtz on Twitter.