Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 1: Time for Taysom

Quarterback

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Given that we’re entering the first week of the fantasy season, I hope you don’t have to stream a quarterback or tight end just yet. If so, do you think you should be looking into it during the draft? Well, if you have to stream, Bo Nix is ​​your guy.

It was no surprise that Nix earned a spot in the starting lineup in Denver after his stellar preseason performance.

Pro Football Focus rated him as their No. 6 passer and No. 12 rusher at the position. Nix is ​​coming off a solid start against Seattle in the season opener. The Seahawks ranked 29th in EPA per dropback allowed and were slightly above average in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. The bigger wins will come if Nix is ​​simply better than fantasy managers expect. He was an elite statistical prospect who scouts thought needed the right system to thrive. Then he got into that system with Sean Payton. You won’t have to watch quarterbacks anymore if Nix reaches his ceiling.

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Running back

Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos

For most of the summer, Jaleel McLaughlin was part of a three-man committee that included Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine, as well as himself. That made him a fairly uninspiring pick in draft leagues. If you haven’t been following NFL news — okay, I have — Perine has since been released, leaving only Williams and McLaughlin as clear starters. Audric Estime was the starter in the team’s final preseason game, while the other two had a day off. Williams started the second preseason game among the rest of the first-team offense, with McLaughlin shifting in most of the passing game. Now, it looks like he’ll fill that role during the regular season. If McLaughlin is Sean Payton’s best option as a deep pass-catcher, he’ll be a PPR money machine.

Each of Payton’s offenses has finished in the top five in targets for running backs over the past 10 seasons. McLaughin, meanwhile, finished in the top five in PFF receiving grade and yards per route run as a rookie. It’s a match made in heaven.

Samaje Perine, Kansas City Chiefs

You may not have heard, but Perine was released by the Broncos. Jerrick McKinnon threw for 10 touchdowns as the Chiefs’ primary passing option in 2022. He was a top-20 PRR scorer on 128 touches. Perine still has the pass-catching potential to be that type of player. He led the league in yards per route run last year with 2.1. He was also top-five in PFF reception grade and top-15 in ESPN’s Catch, YAC and Open. The Chiefs placing Clyde Edwards-Helaire on the NFI list after releasing Deneric Prince all but sealed Perine’s role as a pass-rusher. Perine should be on the roster in all formats.

Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers

Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason competed for the RB2 spot behind Christian McCaffrey during training camp and the preseason. It looked like we were headed for a mixed bag at backup before the 49ers shockingly placed Mitchell on the season-ending injured reserve list during their 53-man roster cut. That left Mason as the clear backup to the league’s most valuable fantasy player. He’s one of the league’s best tight ends and is widely available even in less-free leagues.

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Wide receiver

Mike Williams, New York Jets

Not much has changed at wide receiver, as that position is more talent-driven than running back. However, Mike Williams avoiding the PUP list while recovering from a torn ACL was a big win for his fantasy prospects. He will likely be limited in the first few games, but Williams did his best work on film and spreadsheets over the first three weeks of last year. He averaged 6.3 receptions for 83 yards on 2.33 yards per route run. All three of those numbers would be good for career highs. He is projected to be Aaron Rodgers’ No. 2 receiver this year.

Adonai Mitchell, Indianapolis Colts

Josh Downs is expected to miss Week 1 with an ankle injury, which opens the door for rookie second-round pick Adonai Mitchell to get a full complement of routes in his debut. Mitchell was an outside receiver in college, but the Colts moved him during the preseason, playing him out of the slot on 70 percent of his routes. He also got some reps as the starting offense switched to a 12-man roster. Things are looking up for Mitchell, and he’s available in more than half of all Yahoo leagues.

Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos

The Broncos gave us more news on roster cut day when they parted ways with Tim Patrick. Marvin Mims played just twice with starters in the preseason, seemingly making him a distant WR4. But using Patrick likely gave him one last chance to make the roster or get traded in a trade that never happened. Mims could now step into a WR3 role with Josh Reynolds and Courtland Sutton as competition for targets.

The tight end

Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Justice has been served.

Hill is available in just over half of all Yahoo leagues. Now eligible as a tight end, that number should be close to 100 percent of the roster. Kendre Miller will miss at least four weeks on injured reserve, and Jamaal Williams was one of the league’s least effective defenders last year. Hill played 9 of 20 preseason snaps from deep and scored a short snap at fullback. He’s likely the team’s best option at RB2, in addition to his roles as a receiver, tight end, quarterback, punt gunner, public defender, and minister.

Kickers (presented by Denny Carter)

Jason Myers, Seahawks

A top-three fantasy option last season, Myers is clearly in a good spot heading into Week 1. The host Seahawks are six-point favorites over the Broncos by a combined 24 points. The process says we like the reliable Myers quite a bit.

Cairo Santos, Bears

Santos, who just became an elite fantasy player in 2023, should have the playbook on his side against the Titans in Week 1. The Bears are at home and are four-point favorites against one of the league’s worst defenses. Caleb will be cooking, and Santos should benefit from that.

Blake Group, Saints

In what should be the most disgusting game of Week 1, the Panthers will face the Saints at home, with New Orleans a four-point favorite at the time of this writing. Grupe had multiple field goal attempts in 11 of 14 games last season, and while he was a bit shaky (81 percent shooting from the field), the opportunity came thanks to Dennis Allen’s allergy to fourth-down attempts. He fits the kicking process in Week 1.