Richard Janvrin | Mon, Sep 8th 2025, 7:19am EDT

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets & Stashes: WRs & TEs

Week 1 is in the books, and now, it’s time to turn to the fantasy football waiver wire to either find a starter on your roster for next week after a player on your team suffered an injury or add an under-the-radar player to stash on your bench in anticipation of a breakout.

Below is an array of wide receivers and tight ends to add, be it as a possible starter, depending on your league size and format, or a player to stash.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets & Stashes

All players listed below are rostered in 35% or fewer of Yahoo! leagues.

WR Handcuffs & Stashes

Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE) | 1% Rostered

It was clear in this game that the Patriots were holding Stefon Diggs back a bit (playing seven fewer receiving snaps than Kayshon Boutte). Still, Boutte showed out in Week 1. He was tied with Hunter Henry atop the team’s target share lead at 17.8% and caught six passes on eight targets for 103 yards.

Calvin Austin III (WR – PIT) | 2% Rostered

In the Steelers’ 34-32 win over the New York Jets, Calvin Austin received a 20.7% target share and caught four passes for 70 yards and one touchdown. He also had an eye-popping 2.41 yards per route run (YPRR). He was second on the team in routes with 29.

It’s just Week 1, but Austin appears to be a pretty significant part of this passing attack.

Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE) | 28% Rostered

Cedric Tillman was a bit of a fantasy darling heading into the season, and it’s understandable. He drew a 19% target share, catching five passes on eight targets for 52 yards and a touchdown.

He’s clearly the No. 2 WR opposite Jerry Jeudy.

Malik Washington (WR – MIA) | 2% Rostered

If you’re in a deeper league looking for a stash, Malik Washington could be somewhat interesting. He tied Jaylen Waddle for the team lead in targets with five apiece.

Washington wasn’t terribly productive (just two catches for 20 yards), but Waddle appeared to hurt his left shoulder (he did return), and something tells me this Tyreek Hill/Dolphins relationship may not last.

Again, this is a deep league target.

Sterling Shepard (WR – TB) | 0% Rostered

With Chris Godwin out for a few weeks, it was expected that Emeka Egbuka would step in and produce, which he did. However, something I didn’t see coming was Sterling Shepard drawing a 20% target share. He was fourth on the team in routes, but tied for second in target share.

We saw the Buccaneers’ passing attack support Mike Evans, Godwin and Jalen McMillan to an extent last season. Perhaps Shepard has a bit of a short-term role.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. (WR – LV) | 21% Rostered

Don’t’e Thornton Jr. had a long reception after tight end Brock Bowers left with a knee injury. Bowers has said he’s OK, but it’s still worth monitoring.

Without Bowers on the field, Thornton Jr. had a 27.3% target share. Should Bowers miss any time, Thornton Jr. could be a Flex play. For now, though, he’s just someone to stash.

Elic Ayomanor (WR – TEN) | 5% Rostered

It’s incredibly rare that a rookie quarterback, such as Titans signal-caller Cam Ward, can support more than one receiver in fantasy, but Elic Ayomanor saw seven targets (28% share). He only caught two of them for 13 yards, but this could be the start of him being the team’s official No. 2 WR.

The Titans may not win many games this season, so Aymanor could have a decent role. He’s a stash candidate for now.

Isaac TeSlaa (WR – DET) | 9% Rostered

Isaac TeSlaa ran just three routes but had an acrobatic, one-handed touchdown catch.

TeSlaa is nothing more than a pure stash right now, but if he gets extended playing time due to an injury, he’ll likely be a must-start every week.

Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC) | 8% Rostered

Quentin Johnston caught five passes on seven targets for 79 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnston could be a bit boom-or-bust, but given that production and a target share north of 20%, he’s a must-add.

Marquise Brown (WR – KC) | 25% Rostered

Fellow wide receiver Xavier Worthy suffered a dislocated shoulder and will miss some time. This injury happened early in the game, and Marquise Brown saw a jaw-dropping 41.2% target share. He caught 10 passes on 16 targets for 99 yards.

Brown is a must-start with Worthy out.

TE Handcuffs & Stashes

Jake Tonges (TE – SF) | 0% Rostered

Starting 49ers tight end George Kittle suffered a hamstring injury. It’s unknown what the severity is, but chances are he could miss some time. On top of that, wide receiver Jauan Jennings suffered a shoulder injury.

It’s a bit of a stretch, but if they were both to miss some time, Jake Tonges, who had a 23.1% target share when both Kittle and Jennings weren’t on the field, could be an intriguing deep play for a 49ers receiving corps that’s beat up, to say the least.

Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE) | 2% Rostered

Harold Fannin Jr. ran nine fewer routes than David Njoku, but he led the team with a 21.4% target share (nine targets, seven receptions, 63 yards). He also averaged 1.97 YPRR.

Fannin is worth a stash right now to see if this can be maintained.

Jonnu Smith (TE – PIT) | 31% Rostered

We should’ve known: It’s Jonnu Smith in an Arthur Smith offense. Smith had a touchdown in the Steelers’ win off a forward jet sweep pass and had a 20.7% target share.

I’d stash Smith at this point. He ran the same number of routes as fellow tight end Pat Freiermuth and had twice as many targets.

Noah Fant (TE – CIN) | 0% Rostered

We have a potentially interesting development in Cincinnati. In Week 1’s win over the Browns, Noah Fant tied Ja’Marr Chase in target share at 21.7%. Fant also caught a touchdown.

Fant only ran 13 routes, but that was three more than Mike Gesicki and two more than Drew Sample. You’re not starting him any time soon, but rostering a starting tight end on an offense like the Bengals could be worth it in deep leagues.

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