Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 1

Week 1 of Fantasy Football has finally arrived for a brand new season. I’ve highlighted my top waiver-wire targets who are rostered in fewer than 55% of Fantrax leagues. To accommodate different league formats and roster sizes, I’ve provided plenty of options to consider stashing before the season kicks off.

Waiver Wire Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 1

Jonah Coleman – (RB, Broncos)

The Broncos selected Jonah Coleman in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Washington. Coleman produced over 1,100 scrimmage yards in three straight collegiate seasons with double-digit touchdowns in his final two. As a dual-threat back, Coleman may be the most well-rounded of the Broncos backfield between him, JK Dobbins, and RJ Harvey. Head Coach Sean Payton has praised the rookie throughout the offseason. Coleman can carve out a substantial role, even if it takes some time. This backfield might be frustrating, but I would not mind stashing Coleman, as that lead back who can have true upside.

Tyler Shough – (QB, Saints)

As a rookie in 2025 from Week 9 on, Tyler Shough was the QB9 in total Fantasy Points while averaging 17.6 Fantasy PPG. Shough scored 21+ Fantasy Points in 3/5 of his final games played. Shough finished 4/9 starts (44.4%) with 270+ passing yards, 3/9 starts (33.3%) with multiple passing touchdowns, and 3/9 starts (33.3%) with 32+ rushing yards. The connection to Chris Olave was great; the Saints added Travis Etienne to their backfield, added David Edwards to their OL, and rookie Jordyn Tyson will hopefully come back strong from his current injury in the back half of the year.

TJ Hockenson (TE, Vikings)

TJ Hockenson was once a dominant Fantasy tight end, but the last two seasons have greatly impacted that, with the context of poor quarterback play in 2025 and playing 10 games in 2024. In 2023 and 2022, Hock earned 127/129 targets, caught 95/86 of those for 960/914 yards, and averaged 14.6/12.7 Fantasy Points. Hockenson now gets a solid quarterback upgrade in Kyler Murray for 2026. In Kyler’s last full season in 2024, Trey McBride caught 111 of his 147 targets for 1,146 yards. This should be encouraging for Hockenson in 2026.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!

Emmett Johnson (RB, Chiefs)

The Chiefs selected Emmett Johnson in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. Johnson rushed for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, and finished his college career with 92 receptions for 702 yards. Johnson has proven dual-threat abilities, has an explosive initial burst, solid vision and patience, and is workhorse-ready.  The Chiefs just paid up for Kenneth Walker III this offseason, so while there is a chance Johnson can create somewhat of a committee, it is more likely he is a solid, high-upside handcuff. Preseason: 123 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, and six receptions for 35 yards.

Kayshon Boutte (WR, Texans)

Following the season-ending injury to Jayden Higgins this offseason, the Texans traded safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Patriots for Kayshon Boutte. Boutte finished 2025 #5 for the position in average depth of target (Playerprofiler), #1 in yards per target, #6 in yards per catch, scored 16+ Fantasy Points three times, and produced 168 receiving yards in the NFL Playoffs. Boutte finished two of his four NFL Playoff games with 21+ yards per catch. Boutte has a huge opportunity to operate as CJ Stroud’s WR2, as a receiver with clear upside. 

Keenan Allen (WR, Colts)

Keenan Allen signed a one-year contract with the Colts this offseason. Allen is facing a DUI charge, but the first court date is not until September 16th, so he should play early on. Allen has earned 121 targets for three straight seasons in a row and can be a reliable target for Daniel Jones as a veteran, especially with Michael Pittman Jr. now a Steeler. Allen opened up 2025 with 17+ Fantasy Points in four of his first seven weeks of the season. If you are looking for some early production (with risk), the veteran can be your guy.

Jerry Jeudy (WR, Browns)

Back in 2024, Jerry Jeudy earned 145 targets and caught 90 of those for 1,229 yards and averaged 14.2 Fantasy PPG. Jeudy averaged 13.6 Fantasy PPG back in 2022 as well. 2025 was a down year for Jeudy in a season where rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. looked great. The Browns also drafted KC Concepcion in the first round and Denzel Boston in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Deshaun Watson can bring improved quarterback play this season; the Browns attacked their OL, and there is still a shot Jeudy is a top-two target in this offense. Even if people do not want to hear it.

Malik Washington (WR, Dolphins)

Malik Washington had a high-volume profile as a prospect, finishing with 110 receptions for 1,426 yards and scoring nine touchdowns for Virginia in 2023. Through two seasons with the Dolphins, Washington slightly progressed and ended up earning 65 targets last season. When looking at the current state of the Dolphins’ wide receiver core, featuring three rookies, Jalen Tolbert, and Washington…Washington may just be the most reliable for newcomer Malik Willis. Volume is king in Fantasy Football, and Washington has a shot at volume.

Jahan Dotson (WR, Falcons)

Jahan Dotson was a first-round selection by the Commanders in the 2022 NFL Draft. Dotson flashed as a rookie in 2022, finishing with 523 yards and seven receiving touchdowns through just 12 games played. Dotson would never really rise from there and spent the last two seasons in Philadelphia playing as a depth piece with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. Dotson signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Falcons this offseason. This is his true chance to turn his career around while operating as newcomer Tua Tagovailoa’s WR2 behind Drake London.

Skyler Bell (WR, Bills)

The Bills selected Skyler Bell in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Connecticut. In 2025, Bell caught 101 passes for 1,278 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Bell had very solid athletic metrics as well at the NFL Combine and scored a 9.71/10.0 on the RAS (Relative Athletic Score). In Bell’s preseason appearance, he finished with 7 receptions for 49 yards and 1 rushing touchdown. DJ Moore is the new WR1 in Buffalo, but both of Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman have been dealing with injuries. Bell has proven to be able to handle volume, is versatile, athletic, and can earn a role with Josh Allen.

Kaytron Allen (RB, Commanders)

Kaytron Allen is Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 yards, and he did this with Nick Singleton. Allen also caught 70 career passes for 490 yards and totaled 43 touchdowns. Allen has solid size and balance through contact, has great vision and patience, and runs physically. Allen’s consistency in production was extremely appealing to me as a prospect. The rookie finished preseason with 36 rushing attempts for 119 yards and one rushing touchdown. I have been a firm believer that Kaytron can steal the early-down role at some point this season from Jacory Croskey-Merritt, so he is worth the stash.

Cooper Kupp (WR, Seahawks)

Cooper Kupp finished two weeks with double-digit Fantasy Points in 2025 during the regular season, but ironically scored double-digit points in all three NFL Playoff games when it mattered the most. Kupp produced 60/61 yards in two out of three of those games, scored a touchdown in the game he did not hit that mark, and finished his season earning 12 targets in the Super Bowl. Jaxon Smith-Njigba will continue to absorb a majority of the work, but do not be surprised if Sam Darnold has to throw more in 2026 due to the shakeup of the Seahawks’ running back room this offseason.

Kaelon Black (RB, 49ers)

Kaelon Black was a surprise pick by the 49ers in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Indiana. Black rushed for over 1,000 yards in that National Championship run. The 49ers were extremely high on Black’s profile, who is shifty, has great burst, runs physically, and can fit their scheme. Christian McCaffrey is 30 with an injury history, so stashing Black is a smart move as we have seen 49ers backups excel in the past for Fantasy Football. Maybe Black even carves out a role beyond being just a handcuff if the 49ers want to preserve CMC for a playoff run.

Tre Tucker (WR, Raiders)

With Brock Bowers limited to just 12 games last season, Tre Tucker led the Raiders in targets (92) and receiving yards (696). Tucker finished five weeks with 11+ Fantasy Points, with the explosion happening in Week 3 when he caught eight balls for 145 yards and three touchdowns for 40.9 Fantasy Points. Tucker finished with 539 yards on 81 targets back in 2024. Veteran Kirk Cousins and the 2026 NFL Draft’s first overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, provide two quarterback upgrades. Someone from the Raiders’ wide receiver room is going to have to step up in this offense, and my pick is Tucker.

Kaleb Johnson (RB, Packers)

The Packers traded a 2028 sixth-round pick for Kaleb Johnson recently to add to their running back depth. Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List due to off-field legal issues, and while MarShawn Lloyd will be the next man up, he has only played in one regular-season NFL game due to battling injuries. Kaleb Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final Iowa college season back in 2024 and was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but never earned a role there. Johnson is a deeper stash to toss a dart at with Green Bay’s backfield situation.