5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes: Week 1 (2026)

As we get ready for Week 1, one smart strategy is to stash players before Sunday’s games. This way, you can get ahead of the fantasy football waiver wire rush next week. That’s where this article comes in. We’re going to highlight five stashes for you, focusing on players rostered in fewer than 30% of Yahoo leagues.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes: Week 1

Michael Mayer (TE – LV)

If Michael Mayer is still on your waiver wire, add him immediately. When Brock Bowers was out last season, Mayer showed that he can earn targets at a high rate, especially against the Giants. If you lost Bowers, you should prioritize Mayer because he has huge upside against the Dolphins in Week 1. Still only rostered in 21% of Yahoo leagues, Mayer is my TE7 for Week 1. I’m that high on him.

Adonai Mitchell (WR – NYJ)

Adonai Mitchell is the clear-cut No. 2 WR on the Jets, as Omar Cooper Jr. has taken time to get it going in this offense. Reports out of camp indicate that Mitchell has shown strong chemistry with Geno Smith. He’s the kind of deep threat that you want to stash on your bench if you have room. The Titans aren’t a matchup to fear in Week 1.

Malachi Fields (WR – NYG)

Malachi Fields is a rookie wideout who could be in line for an uptick in targets if Malik Nabers (game-time decision) doesn’t play. With a big game versus the Cowboys, Fields would become a hot ticket item on the waiver wire next week. This is exactly the kind of dart throw you want to make in your league as you search for upside.

Chris Bell (WR – MIA)

Chris Bell returned from a torn ACL much quicker than anticipated. He’s already earned a role as one of the top-two wide receivers on the rebuilding Dolphins. That makes me optimistic about his chances to make an immediate impact in Miami. There’s a clear path to targets on this team, giving Bell a ton of upside. He’s my second favorite waiver wire stash on this list, behind Michael Mayer.

Pat Bryant (WR – DEN)

Pat Bryant has reportedly had a strong camp. While he’s firmly behind Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton in the Broncos’ pecking order, there’s some upside here. If we see a larger role in Week 1, Bryant will become a popular waiver wire target, especially in deeper leagues. If you have a roster spot, give him a shot now and see what happens versus the Chiefs.