NFL Week 1 Waiver Wire 2026: 8 Players to Add Before Kickoff
Our NFL Week 1 waiver wire 2026 guide highlights eight fantasy football players worth considering before the season begins, from emerging running back opportunities to tight-end sleepers and deeper roster stashes.
The first waiver period of a fantasy season is different from the weeks that follow. There are no regular-season snap counts, target shares or box scores yet, so roster decisions rely more heavily on depth charts, injuries, preseason usage and expected roles.
A player does not need to be an immediate fantasy starter to deserve a roster spot. Managers should still be careful about dropping established players simply to chase preseason excitement.
Roster percentages vary considerably between ESPN, Yahoo, Sleeper and other fantasy platforms, so availability will depend on your league.
For more Week 1 analysis, see our NFL Week 1 fantasy start/sit guide, Week 1 injury watch, Week 1 DFS value picks and Week 1 DFS stacks.
NFL Week 1 waiver wire 2026 rankings
| Player | Pos. | Team | Why add? | Suggested FAAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Washington Jr. | RB | Raiders | RB2 with an immediate path to extra work while Ashton Jeanty’s ankle is monitored. | 6-10% |
| George Holani | RB | Seahawks | Expected to share the early backfield workload with rookie Jadarian Price. | 5-10% |
| Juwan Johnson | TE | Saints | Starting tight end coming off a productive 2025 season. | 4-7% |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. | RB | Jaguars | Part of Jacksonville’s starting backfield picture alongside Bhayshul Tuten. | 4-8% |
| Brenton Strange | TE | Jaguars | Projected starting tight end after a 540-yard 2025 season. | 3-6% |
| Devaughn Vele | WR | Saints | First-team receiver with Jordyn Tyson beginning the season on injured reserve. | 2-5% |
| Tyler Shough | QB | Saints | New Orleans’ starter after a promising rookie season. | 1-3% in 1-QB |
| Malik Davis | RB | Cowboys | Secured the RB2 role behind Javonte Williams. | 1-3% |
The FAAB ranges are general guidelines rather than fixed bids. League depth, roster size and positional need can dramatically change how much a player is worth.
1. Mike Washington Jr., RB – Las Vegas Raiders
Mike Washington Jr. has created one of the most interesting running back situations on the Week 1 waiver wire.
Las Vegas lists Ashton Jeanty first and Washington second on its running back depth chart. Jeanty has been working back from an ankle injury, although the Raiders expect him to have a chance to be available for the opener.
Washington made a strong case for playing time during the preseason. He carried the ball 23 times for 168 yards across three games, averaging more than seven yards per attempt.
He also received first-team work after Jeanty was injured and showed value as a receiver out of the backfield.
2. George Holani, RB – Seattle Seahawks
Seattle enters the season with an unusually open running back situation.
Zach Charbonnet begins the year on the physically unable to perform list as he continues his recovery from the ACL injury suffered during last season’s playoffs.
George Holani, first-round rookie Jadarian Price and Emanuel Wilson are part of Seattle’s opening roster, with Holani and Price positioned to share early backfield work.
That gives Holani immediate relevance before a regular-season snap has been played. He may not dominate touches, but running backs with a genuine path to early carries are valuable waiver assets.
3. Juwan Johnson, TE – New Orleans Saints
Juwan Johnson is an attractive option for managers who left their draft without a dependable tight end.
New Orleans lists Johnson first at tight end ahead of Noah Fant and Oscar Delp. Johnson is also coming off the best receiving season of his career.
He caught 77 passes on 102 targets for 889 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, giving him a strong production profile compared with many waiver-wire tight ends.
The Saints also begin the season without first-round receiver Jordyn Tyson, who was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.
4. Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB – Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Rodriguez Jr. enters Week 1 with a clearer path to carries than many fantasy managers may realize.
Jacksonville enters the season with Bhayshul Tuten and Rodriguez among the leading options in a reshaped running back room.
Rodriguez arrives in Jacksonville after rushing 112 times for 500 yards and six touchdowns for Washington in 2025.
His 224-pound frame gives him a different profile from Tuten and provides a path to early-down and short-yardage work.
5. Brenton Strange, TE – Jacksonville Jaguars
Brenton Strange gives fantasy managers another useful tight-end option before Week 1.
Strange enters the season as Jacksonville’s projected starting tight end after signing a contract extension during the offseason.
He caught 46 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns on 60 targets across 12 regular-season games in 2025.
Jacksonville can also use multiple-tight-end formations, creating additional ways to keep Strange involved in the offense.
6. Devaughn Vele, WR – New Orleans Saints
Devaughn Vele has an opportunity to open the season with a meaningful role in the New Orleans passing game.
The Saints list Chris Olave and Vele among their first-team receivers. First-round rookie Jordyn Tyson will miss at least the opening portion of the season after being placed on injured reserve with a designation to return.
Vele also has experience playing with Tyler Shough, giving the pair an established foundation entering 2026.
7. Tyler Shough, QB – New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough is more important in superflex and two-quarterback leagues than in traditional one-quarterback formats, but his availability is worth checking.
Shough enters his second season as New Orleans’ starting quarterback after taking over the job during his rookie year.
He completed 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns after moving into the lineup, while adding 186 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.
That rushing production gives him another route to fantasy points beyond his passing numbers.
8. Malik Davis, RB – Dallas Cowboys
Malik Davis is the type of player who can sit quietly on a fantasy bench until an opportunity develops.
Javonte Williams remains the lead back in Dallas, while Davis enters the season positioned as the RB2.
Dallas also has Emari Demercado in the backfield, but Davis remains directly behind Williams in the running back rotation.
That does not create immediate starting value, but backup running backs with a clear path to a larger workload can be useful end-of-bench stashes.
Which Week 1 waiver pickup should be the priority?
Running back scarcity makes Mike Washington Jr. and George Holani the most interesting all-purpose waiver claims on this list.
Washington combines a strong preseason with a clear backup role, while Holani has a path to touches immediately because Charbonnet begins the season unavailable.
Managers with a weakness at tight end should move Juwan Johnson toward the top of their personal rankings. Brenton Strange is another useful alternative if Johnson is already rostered.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. belongs in the same broader running back conversation because Jacksonville enters Week 1 without one unquestioned workhorse.
How much FAAB should you spend before Week 1?
Week 1 is generally not the time to empty a large percentage of a waiver budget on speculative players. There is still no regular-season usage data showing which preseason trends will carry over.
A bid in the single-digit percentage range is enough for most players on this list in ordinary leagues. Managers in deeper formats can be more aggressive when running backs such as Washington, Holani or Rodriguez are available.
Superflex leagues are the main exception. Starting quarterbacks have much greater scarcity in those formats, which can make Shough substantially more valuable than his ranking here suggests.
Players to watch rather than immediately start
Waiver-wire value and Week 1 starting value are not the same thing.
Davis is a clear example. His backup role makes him useful insurance, but Javonte Williams remains ahead of him. Vele has an opportunity in New Orleans, but fantasy managers will want to see how targets are divided between Olave, Vele, the tight ends and the Saints’ other receivers.
Washington and Holani also carry workload uncertainty even though both are strong waiver targets. Adding them before the season begins gives fantasy managers a chance to benefit if their roles become larger without needing to place them immediately into a starting lineup.
Playing DFS in NFL Week 1?
Waiver-wire strategy applies to season-long fantasy football, while DFS requires a different approach to salaries and lineup construction. See our best DFS sites guide, our DFS state availability guide and our NFL Week 1 DFS value picks.
NFL Week 1 waiver wire FAQ
Who are the best Week 1 waiver wire pickups for 2026?
Mike Washington Jr., George Holani, Juwan Johnson and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are among the most interesting Week 1 waiver targets. Brenton Strange, Devaughn Vele, Tyler Shough and Malik Davis also offer value depending on league format and roster needs.
Should I add Mike Washington Jr. in fantasy football?
Washington is worth adding where available. He is positioned behind Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas but impressed during the preseason and has a path to a larger role if Jeanty is limited or misses time.
Should I add George Holani before Week 1?
Holani is a useful speculative addition because Seattle is expected to divide its early running back workload between Holani and Jadarian Price while Zach Charbonnet begins the season on PUP.
Is Juwan Johnson worth adding in fantasy football?
Johnson is one of the better tight-end waiver options. He enters Week 1 as New Orleans’ first-team tight end after catching 77 passes for 889 yards in 2025.
Should I add Chris Rodriguez Jr.?
Rodriguez is worth considering because Jacksonville enters the season with Rodriguez and Bhayshul Tuten at the top of its running back group. His role may be part of a committee, but the opportunity makes him useful fantasy depth.
Is Tyler Shough worth adding?
Shough is particularly valuable in superflex and two-quarterback leagues because he enters 2026 as the Saints’ starting quarterback. In standard one-quarterback leagues, he is more suitable as a streaming option or bench stash.
Bottom line
The best Week 1 waiver claims are players whose opportunities are already visible before the first regular-season snap.
Washington and Holani provide immediate running back upside, Johnson and Strange offer tight-end help, and Rodriguez enters an unsettled Jacksonville backfield with a realistic route to touches.
Vele, Shough and Davis are more dependent on league format and roster depth, but each has enough opportunity to deserve consideration before Week 1 begins.
Check final injury reports and depth-chart changes before submitting waiver claims or setting lineups.
By Edvina Kaminskaite
Owner and Editor, American Casino Sweeps
Edvina oversees American Casino Sweeps’ casino, sports and fantasy coverage, including guides explaining DFS formats, Pick’Em contests, state availability, account requirements and operator rules for US readers.
Sources
- Sports Illustrated – Week 1 fantasy football waiver wire
- Las Vegas Raiders – depth chart
- Las Vegas Raiders – Mike Washington Jr. first-team work
- Las Vegas Raiders – Mike Washington Jr. preseason statistics
- Seattle Seahawks – 2026 initial roster and running back outlook
- Seattle Seahawks – Zach Charbonnet PUP
- New Orleans Saints – depth chart
- New Orleans Saints – Jordyn Tyson placed on injured reserve
- New Orleans Saints – Tyler Shough player profile
- Jacksonville Jaguars – 2026 roster
- Jacksonville Jaguars – Chris Rodriguez Jr. career statistics
- Dallas Cowboys – Malik Davis RB2 role
Published September 7, 2026. Fantasy roster availability, player roles, injuries and depth charts can change before games begin. FAAB recommendations are general guidance and should be adjusted for league size, roster depth and scoring format.
