Sitting down to write an IDP waiver wire piece heading into Week 1 is a bit of a tall task, to say the least. With no live game action to evaluate, it becomes a bit of a crapshoot. Not being able to tell which players may or may not have been drafted due to league sizes muddies the waters as well.

That said, I’ve come up with some players that may be out there on the waiver wire that could bring value in Week 1 of the 2019 season.

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Marcus Davenport (DE – NO) 5% FAAB
Depending on your league size, there’s a chance that Davenport was overlooked as a toe injury marred his rookie season and limited him to 416 snaps. Davenport did flash the skill set that saw him selected 14th overall in the 2018 NFL draft, as he posted 4.5 sacks with tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

A Week 1 matchup against the Texans should give Davenport the chance to start the 2019 season with a strong effort as Houston’s offensive line continues to be a problem. Lining up opposite Cameron Jordan also works in Davenport’s favor as he’s unlikely to be double-teamed.

Charles Harris (DE- MIA) 1% FAAB
After two disappointing seasons for the Dolphins, this could be a make it or break it year for the former first-round draft selection. To be fair, a wrist injury did cost Harris five games in 2018, but the three total sacks in his first two seasons aren’t enough. Harris did manage 1.5 sacks in the preseason and is likely the top pass rusher on a Miami team that is desperate for edge rush pressure.

There may not be a ton of sacks opportunities in Week 1 against the run-heavy Baltimore offense, but Harris should be active in stopping the RPO offensive scheme and could put up decent tackle totals. This is a bit of a long shot waiver wire option but should Harris finally meet his potential then we’ve got a steal out of the gate.

Bruce Irvin (DE/LB – CAR) 1% FAAB
The Panthers brought Irvin on board via free agency, and he should help because the team is low on edge rush options. Rookie Brian Burns looked like the real deal in the preseason but after him, things thin out quickly with veteran Mario Addison as the next best option. Irvin managed 6.5 sacks last season in stints with Oakland as well as Atlanta and has posted 21.5 in the previous three seasons.

The Week 1 matchup with the Rams isn’t a horrible one as 23 of the 33 sacks they allowed in 2018 were posted by defensive linemen. Irvin should be available on the cheap and benefit from the attention Burns draws, making him a sneaky good fantasy option in Week 1.

Sam Eguavoen (LB – MIA) 8% FAAB
It appears that the Dolphins have found another IDP gem from the CFL as they did back in the day with Cameron Wake. In his final two seasons in the CFL, Eguavoen put up 138 total tackles while also showing splash play skills with four sacks along with an interception, two forced fumbles, and a defensive score. Eguavoen has been lining up as a starting three-down LB alongside Jerome Baker in the middle of the Dolphins defense. He finished the preseason with 12 total tackles and a forced fumble.

The Week 1 matchup against the Lamar Jackson led Baltimore offense is a dream scenario for Eguavoen to rack up big tackle numbers and possibly a splash play or two. The Dolphins trust him enough to have traded away veteran Kiko Alonso to the Saints, and Raekwon McMillan has struggled with injuries during training camp and the preseason. This has the makings of a fantasy breakout situation.

B.J. Goodson (LB – GB) 4% FAAB
There were reports that the Giants were going to release Goodson, but they managed to complete a last-minute trade that sent him to Green Bay. The Packers get a veteran LB that has put up nice fantasy production in the past. In the previous two seasons, Goodson earned 114 total tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble despite missing 10 games. This may be more of a grab-and-stash situation as Goodson learns the scheme, but it shouldn’t take long for him to carve out a role in the middle.

Despite Ty Summers playing well in the preseason as a replacement for Oren Burks (pectoral), it’s obvious the Packers want a veteran presence on the field at least until Burks returns. A healthy Goodson fits the bill and can be an IDP producer we covet sooner rather than later.

Tedric Thompson (SEA) 2% FAAB
Bradley McDougald has garnered most of the attention among Seahawks safeties, but Thompson could make some noise in Week 1. Thompson saw his role increase last season when Earl Thomas was injured, and now that Thomas has moved, he is the starting free safety. Thomas flashed some splash play potential last season managing to put up an interception as well as a forced fumble while putting up 55 total tackles.

The Bengals are a decent matchup for Thompson to start the season as their receiving corps is a bit beat up. That should lead to a steady dose of Joe Mixon both on the ground as well as in the passing game, which will lead to tackle as well as some big-play potential for Thompson.

Justin Coleman (DET – CB) 1% FAAB
Adhering to my long-held belief that CB is easily the most interchangeable position on a week-to-week basis, let’s get creative and seek out a Week 1 streamer option. The Lions paid Coleman, who is among the top slot corners in the league, a hefty amount in free agency to play alongside Darius Slay. Coleman is a splash play threat having amassed two sacks, three interceptions along with a forced fumble and three defensive touchdowns in the past two seasons.

The Week 1 matchup with Arizona gives Coleman the opportunity to face a rookie quarterback playing behind a suspect offensive line. Throw in the fact that many offenses scheme to not throw in Darius Slay’s direction and the ball-hawking Coleman could be in for a big opening weekend. Look for edge pressure to force Kyler Murray into an interception or two and for Coleman to benefit.

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Walton Spurlin is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Walton, check out his archive and follow him @waltonspurlin.