It’s never too early into the fantasy football season to tackle the waiver wire. In 2019’s last weekend without NFL action, a handful of roster cuts, trades, and signings shook up the landscape. Many managers saw these changes unfold after drafting, but there’s still plenty of time to respond before Thursday night’s kickoff.

Let’s ease into the season by widening the scope to players available in over half of Yahoo leagues, as of Monday night. Going forward, the required rate will tighten to 30% in hopes of avoiding the obvious names. I’m bending the rules this time particularly to highlight some recent backfield developments and one wide receiver who should have been drafted universally.

For the recommended percentage of FAAB bids, keep in mind that this is assuming a minimum $1 bid requirement. When allowed, a $0 bid often makes sense for low-level players and streamers (especially at defense and kicker) given a 1% allotment.

Free NFL Week 1 Picks from TeamRankings (Pick’em, Survivor, Betting) »

Quarterback

Josh Allen (BUF): 34% Rostered (2% FAAB)
Allen represents the unofficial line of demarcation in terms of rosterable passers (beyond streaming) in single-quarterback leagues. Last season, only Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson compiled more fantasy points than Buffalo’s newcomer from Weeks 11-17. While he finished his rookie campaign with an anemic 52.8% completion rate and 67.9 quarterback rating, he also ran for eight touchdowns and eclipsed 90 rushing yards in four of those final six contests. He’ll need to make his fantasy living with his legs, but at least the 23-year-old now has a formidable deep threat in John Brown. Many gamers can take a no-cost gamble on his upside.

Nick Foles (JAC): 18% Rostered (1% FAAB)
For some, particularly those who drafted Andrew Luck, the quarterback streaming starts now. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, only the Texans vs. Saints have a higher Week 1 over-under line than Kansas City and Jacksonville’s 52.5. That’s not all about Mahomes and Co. Only the Bengals allowed more passing yards or fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Chiefs, who ceded 34.6 points per game on the road last season. Foles has certainly proven capable of flourishing in spurts, so the Super Bowl MVP makes the best one-off choice beyond the heavily drafted signal-callers.

Running Back

Justin Jackson (LAC): 32% Rostered (7% FAAB)
The Chargers have shut down contract negotiations with Melvin Gordon until the end of the season, and the holdout does not plan to report for Week 1 as he seeks a trade. If the star running back doesn’t fold, there’s now an elevated chance he doesn’t play at all for the Chargers in 2019. That doesn’t necessarily mean Jackson will emerge as a league-winner. In three games he played without Gordon during his rookie campaign, Jackson converted 37 touches into 202 yards and two touchdowns. Austin Ekeler, however, received far more snaps (39) and touches (17) in the lone contest they played together sans Gordon. Yet even if he’s operating the lighter end of a committee, Jackson could leverage red-zone opportunities into flex-worthy fantasy duty. If he assumes more reps than Ekeler, who’s better suited for a complementary role, you’re looking at a rock-solid RB2.

Justice Hill (BAL): 28% Rostered (5% FAAB)
No team ran the ball more than the Ravens last year. Lamar Jackson played a key role and Mark Ingram will take on the featured backfield duties, but don’t dismiss Hill making an immediate impact. The rookie speedster is a perfect change-of-pace complement to Ingram, a role which seems likelier for him after Baltimore placed Kenneth Dixon on the injured reserve. He brings a 4.40 40-time to the table to the table with big playmaking potential and open running lanes as Jackson keeps defenses honest.

Carlos Hyde (HOU): 33% Rostered (5% FAAB)
The Texans acquired Hyde from the Chiefs to replace Lamar Miller, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Opportunity is paramount for running backs, so the 28-year-old is once again relevant despite mustering a putrid 3.3 yards per carry for the Browns and Jaguars last season. Duke Johnson is still the preferable option in Houston’s backfield, and perhaps he only needs the chance to prove he can handle a more featured rushing role. Most NFL clubs abide by the status quo, so don’t be surprised if Hyde gets more of the rushing work, particularly in the red zone. His ceiling shrinks outside of Kansas City’s prolific offense, but his floor rises as a potential high-volume RB3/4.

Frank Gore (BUF): 15% Rostered (1% FAAB)
Devin Singletary is rightfully getting all the attention after the Bills cut LeSean McCoy, but this could also open up more reps from Gore. McCoy, Chris Ivory, and Marcus Murphy combined for 328 carries last year with the run-heavy Bills. The 36-year-old won’t excite anyone after going all of 2018 without a rushing touchdown, but he now has a chance to match or exceed last year’s 156 handoffs, which could lead to better end-zone fortune. He’s a valuable end-of-bench depth piece to use in a pinch when needing a serviceable flex replacement.

Wide Receiver

Jamison Crowder (NYJ): 46% Rostered (5% FAAB)
The least likely player to remain available, Crowder could become a target hog as Sam Darnold’s slot receiver. Earlier in August, The Athletic’s Connor Hughes (subscription required) commenced the hype by saying the duo “found chemistry the moment they stepped on the field together.” He also said it “wouldn’t surprise me if Crowder creeps near or past 100 catches” given how much Darnold looks his way. The Jets’ quarterback shown an immediate affinity for slot receivers by connecting with Quincy Enunwa for 21 of 36 targets last September. Crowder, meanwhile, has averaged 50.6 receiving yards per game over the last three years with a hodgepodge of Washington quarterbacks. While 100 receptions is a lofty goal, he could at least go back to catching 65-70 passes with around 800 yards. That could make him a steady WR3 or flex play with some touchdown fortune.

Kenny Stills (HOU): 27% Rostered (2% FAAB)
Houston acquiring Stills suggests that Keke Coutee’s sprained ankle could be worse than initially believed. The second-year wideout is unlikely to play a potential Week 1 shootout against the Saints, who surrendered the most fantasy points to wideouts last season. The often-overlooked Stills has scored 21 touchdowns over the last three seasons and has averaged 16.0 yards per catch over his career. He gets a clear quarterback upgrade to at least produce while Coutee is sidelined. Will Fuller has also yet to stay healthy for a full 16-game season.

Albert Wilson (MIA): 5% Rostered (1% FAAB)
Wilson caught 26 of 35 targets for 391 yards and four touchdowns (not including a 52-yard passing touchdown) in seven games before suffering a season-ending hip injury. He registered an absurd 13.3 yards after the catch with three catches beyond 40 yards. Since the Dolphins shipped out Stills, Wilson is in line to start as their primary deep threat. Luckily for him, Week 1 starter Ryan Fitzpatrick ranked third among all quarterbacks in average depth of target (10.8) last season. He might not strike immediately against a stout Baltimore defense, but Wilson could impersonate DeSean Jackson as a major downfield menace this season.

Tight End

Darren Waller (OAK): 22% Rostered (2% FAAB)
Waller has received a lot of sleeper buzz for someone who caught six passes last season. He spent most of 2018 suspended while Jared Cook corralled 101 targets before defecting to New Orleans. There’s major upside if Waller can stay on the field after twice violating the league’s substance-abuse policy over the last two years. The 26-year-old has all the physical tools to pose a major problem for opposing defenses. At 6’6″ and 255 pounds, he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and also has displayed an elite catch radius at the position. Waller will require a much loftier FAAB investment next week if he starts strong as Oakland’s clear No. 1 tight end.

Defense/Special Teams

New York Jets: 14% Rostered (1% FAAB)
Anyone who didn’t draft a defense — or are just now realizing that they can’t play the Jaguars or Texans — won’t have a bevy of attractive streamers. Despite endorsing Allen’s fantasy upside, he’s still not that too great of an actual passer. The Bills ranked 30th in total yards and points last season. Quinnen Williams marks Gang Green’s third top-10 pick drafted in the last four years, and C.J. Mosley also joins an explosive young unit that opens 2019 at home.

Kicker

Matt Bryant (ATL): 7% Rostered (1% FAAB)
It appeared the Falcons were moving on from Bryant after a decade, but they re-signed the 44-year-old to a one-year deal after cutting Giorgio Tavecchio and Blair Walsh. Before their Week 9 bye, the Falcons play every game inside a dome or stadium with a retractable roof. Bryant’s only missed field-goal attempt last year was a 53-yarder.

Import your team to My Playbook for instant Waiver Wire advice

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | SoundCloud | TuneIn | RSS