The first Sunday of the NFL season is almost here, which means it is time to begin our Weekend Waiver Wire stashes. Must-stash players for everyone in the 2026 Week 1 Waiver Wire.
Most fantasy managers will wait until after the games to pursue the players whose workloads surprised us. We’ll try to identify those players before their roles become obvious and before everyone else submits a waiver claim. You will find that the best addition to your team often comes at the end of the practice week.
Every player discussed below is currently rostered in fewer than
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Week 1 Weekend Waiver Wire
Quarterbacks
Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
Willis is my preferred quarterback stash because his rushing ability gives him a path to fantasy relevance that does not depend entirely on passing production. He produced at least 41 rushing yards in each of his three relief appearances for Green Bay over the previous two seasons, finishing as a top seven fantasy quarterback twice.
Miami has rebuilt its receiving corps around young players, but Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas and Malik Washington provide more upside than the market may be giving them credit for. Willis opens against Las Vegas and could become a popular waiver target if Miami’s new offense looks functional.
What you talking about Willis? (Please tell me you know this reference)
Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Shough is the better Week 1 streaming option. He finished last season with six consecutive top-16 quarterback performances, including three top-nine finishes. Kellen Moore’s tempo and play design should create enough passing volume to keep Shough in the streaming conversation.
A matchup with Detroit could also produce the kind of game environment we want when streaming quarterbacks.
Aw, shucks, Tyler needs to be rostered
Other quarterbacks to consider
- Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
- Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Quarterback Notes: Willis is the upside stash, while Shough is the quarterback I would be most comfortable starting immediately. Penix is the deeper bench play if you want to see whether his improved supporting cast can elevate him into the weekly streaming conversation.
Running Backs
Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals
Allgeier is the most immediate addition on this list. Jeremiyah Love will play this week but is working his way back from a high ankle sprain. Arizona has no guarantee it will give Love a full workload.
Allgeier has already demonstrated that he can handle starting volume. He produced 1,174 scrimmage yards as a rookie and should get a large share of the snaps for the Cardinals.
Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos
Coleman may not have a major Week 1 role, but he is exactly the kind of running back we want to stash before his opportunity becomes obvious.
Sean Payton has praised the rookie throughout camp, and reports indicate Coleman, not RJ Harvey, could inherit the early-down workload if J.K. Dobbins misses time. Coleman is attached to a strong offensive line and has enough receiving ability to develop standalone value.
Other running backs to consider:
- Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns
- Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles
- Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers – 65 yards rushing, 1 reception 5 yards receiving put in the request now.
Running Back Notes: Allgeier is the priority because his opportunity may already be arriving. Coleman and Johnson are workload handcuffs who could become weekly starters if the backs ahead of them miss time. Black has proven Thursday night to be the second back in an RBBC in San Francisco. Sampson is especially interesting in PPR formats because Cleveland may frequently play from behind.
Wide Receivers
Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders
Tucker is the starting wide receiver in an offense that suddenly has targets available. Brock Bowers will miss Week 1 following his knee procedure, leaving Las Vegas without the centerpiece of its passing game.
Michael Mayer will absorb some of that opportunity, but the Raiders still need someone to make plays outside. Tucker brings route volume, vertical speed, and an attractive matchup against Miami. He could emerge from Week 1 as a usable WR3 or FLEX option.
Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts
Allen isn’t an exciting long-term stash, but he may provide the most dependable early-season production. Alec Pierce has been working his way back from ankle surgery, giving Allen extensive practice time with Indianapolis’ starters.
Allen was the WR13 in fantasy points per game through the first seven weeks of last season. His age limits the ceiling, but his route-running and short-area role give him immediate PPR value.
Other wide receivers to consider
- Ja’Kobi Lane, Baltimore Ravens
- Chris Bell, Miami Dolphins
- Adonai Mitchell, New York Jets
- Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns
Wide Receiver Notes: Lane is the upside stash after an impressive summer, but his Week 1 route share will tell us whether he can challenge Rashod Bateman. Bell is the deeper swing. He is listed as a starter and reportedly will not have a Week 1 snap restriction despite returning from an ACL injury.
Tight Ends
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders
Mayer is the clearest Week 1 addition at tight end. Brock Bowers is out, leaving Mayer positioned to inherit a much larger share of the Raiders’ routes and targets.
In the four games Bowers missed last season, Mayer averaged 4.5 receptions and 49 receiving yards. That is useful tight-end production before we even account for touchdown upside against Miami. Mayer can be started in Week 1, although his longer-term value depends on Bowers’ recovery.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
Strange is the better rest-of-season bet. Jacksonville’s wide-receiver hierarchy remains unsettled, but Strange’s role as the primary tight end is secure. He may not command elite volume, but regular routes in a potentially productive offense give him a realistic path to low-end TE1 value.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Schultz is not an exciting acquisition, but he may be one of the safer options. He finished last season tied for third among tight ends in receptions and sixth in receiving yards over the final 13 weeks. With Jayden Higgins lost for the season, Schultz could again operate as C.J. Stroud’s second-most dependable target.
Other tight ends to consider
- Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders
- Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
Tight End Notes: Mayer is the best immediate play, Strange offers the most intriguing season-long upside, and Schultz provides the safest floor. Otton is a matchup streamer against a Cincinnati defense that allowed 116 receptions, 1,444 yards and 16 touchdowns to tight ends last season.
My Priority Order
- Tyler Allgeier
- Michael Mayer
- Jonah Coleman
- Tre Tucker
- Malik Willis
- Keenan Allen
- Emmett Johnson
- Brenton Strange
- Ja’Kobi Lane
- Dalton Schultz
The central idea remains the same as last season: do not wait until Sunday night to pursue a player whose role you could have anticipated Saturday. Use the end of your bench to acquire uncertainty with upside, not to preserve players whose roles are already limited.
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