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Week 1 waiver wire

TommyLocks, Nov 8, 4 min read

Here are my top waiver wire adds that should be on your radar after week 1 of the NFL season 🧠👀

• 🛡️ SF defense is rostered in only 7.3% of ESPN leagues. I personally think if you don’t have a great defense that SF should be high up on your waiver wire list this week. Fred and the crew looked top tier vs a jet lagged LAR super team. I personally will be shooting to grab them and have LAR on my bench until Garrett comes back. If anything SF has a top matchup vs a rebooting MIA team and should secure you 15+ pts this coming week (imo).

• If you are in need of a TE I highly recommend trying to grab Mayer or Gesicki. Mayer is rostered in almost 30% of ESPN leagues but with Bowers set to return at some point I think I would lean grabbing Mike G before he pops off another few good games and becomes a top 10 TE for the entire season. Mike G is rostered in less than 2% of ESPN leagues. He had a good matchup yesterday according to the sheets so I’m not surprised he scored. Looking forward at last years DVP sheets I can see Mike G is set for a favorable matchup in his next 4 games. Texans (Wk 2): 775 yards, 87 catches on 123 targets, 8 TDs allowed to TEs in 2025 around 46 yds/game. Steelers (Wk 3): 1,121 yards, 106 catches on 144 targets, 11 TDs allowed to TEs — nearly identical yardage to Miami but the highest touchdown rate of the group (~0.65 TD/game). Jaguars (Wk 4): 1,004 yards, 104 catches on 148 targets, 8 TDs allowed. Dolphins (Wk 5): 1,134 yards, 108 catches on 140 targets, 8 TDs allowed to TEs — ~67 yds/game, the most generous of the matchups by total yardage. Past the favorable matchups in upcoming weeks, Burrow clearly likes having a TE1 like Mike G who has proven his route running ability and is a clear RZ threat. Mike G owned 20% of the overall target share on Sunday. 19.2% of the early down share, but even more intriguing to me; 25% of late down target share & 33.3% of the red zone target share. He caught 5/7 targets for 78(!!) receiving yards and a touchdown. His receiving EPA/rec was +1.59. All his production came against zone defense so something to keep in mind for matchups regarding CIN/Mike G moving forward. I mentioned Engram as my 3rd option to my subscribers early Monday morning and after his production Monday night I think I have him higher than Mayer and lower than Mike G for priority. SO, if you need a TE grab Mike G and plan to at least keep him to play vs PIT/MIA, Engram, or Mayer if you are really desperate.

• This WR position is actually extremely interesting IMO. I have a huge WSH fan in my league so I KNOW he’s gonna grab Williams and I believe he absolutely should. The guy had a crazy camp with multiple high level catches during live scrimmages and drills vs (I think) the Ravens. He continued to show elite hands throughout and absolute shined yesterday while Terry couldn’t manage to get going. Williams caught all 4 of his targets for 60 yards and a good low TD snag in a huge moment Sunday vs PHI. If you need a bench WR you can sit and watch develop and even play as a flex in a pinch I recommend grabbing Williams NOW even with Diggs playing well and I’m sure Terry will get going I’ve seen enough to like Williams as their WR3 and RZ threat.

• Bourne continues to take advantage of opportunities like he did last season with the 49ers. Bourne was one of my waiver snags that legit won me 2 straight games before I got rid of him. He snagged 8 out of 8 targets for 75 yards on Sunday. Brisset continues to show he can spread the ball around as he found Wilson 4 times and McBride 9(!!!) with a TD. Harrison has proven he’s a WR3 on that team at best. Give me the WR who got 25% of the late down target share with a 100% (8/8) catch rate. Grab him in deeper leagues or if you just lost AJ Brown and need more depth.

• If you lost Kyler Murray and need a QB it’s Sough all day. However, if somehow he’s not there Young is going to continue to have a good offensive season regardless if that produces wins.