Analysis
9/5/23
7 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 1 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in both points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Top Waiver Wire Options
Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos, WR
New coach Sean Payton traded up to draft Marvin Mims in the 2023 NFL Draft’s second round despite the team’s limited draft capital. Mims made good on his field-stretching profile, producing a 17-yard average depth of target (ADOT) this preseason. He will start in two wide receiver sets with Tim Patrick (Achilles) out for the year and Jerry Jeudy (Grade 2 hamstring strain) sidelined.
Devon Achane, Miami Dolphins, RB
Second-round rookie Devon Achane holds the No. 2 running back spot with veteran running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (midsection and finger injuries) on Injured Reserve (IR). Achane (AC joint sprain) resumed practicing on Aug. 30 and will handle the team’s primary passing-down duties.
Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts, RB
Deon Jackson has been named the Week 1 starter while veteran Zack Moss (broken arm) aims for a return in Week 2 or 3. Moss and rookie Evan Hull can be bench-stashed as the Weeks 2-4 pecking order will be determined by Jackson’s Week 1 performance. Fantasy managers needing a Week 1 running back for a flex start should consider Jackson. The rookie wide receivers listed below are better adds for teams with season-long play in mind.
No. 1 RB Jonathan Taylor is on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list through Week 4.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions, TE
Rookie Sam LaPorta makes his NFL debut operating as quarterback Jared Goff’s No. 2 pass catcher in Week 1’s highest-totaled game (53-point over/under at Kansas City Chiefs).
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers, WR
Los Angeles’ Round 1 pick is rostered in just 58 percent of Yahoo! leagues. The run-after-catch dominator’s rostership rate must climb north of 90 percent prior to Week 1 kickoff.
Jonathan Mingo, Carolina Panthers, WR
Carolina’s No. 1 X-wide receiver has a sub-20 percent rostership rate in Yahoo! leagues. His target competition consists of the injured DJ Chark Jr. (hamstring strain) and 33-year-old Adam Thielen.
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Stash These Players Now
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers TE
Rookie Luke Musgrave has a tough Week 1 matchup, but he profiles as a full-time player and could be the most talented tight end in the 2023 class.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB
Rookie Sean Tucker beat out Chase Edmonds and Ke’Shawn Vaughn for the No. 2 role. Tucker profiles as a three-down player and is already splitting first-team practice reps with Rachaad White, who produced an inefficient 3.7 yards per rushing attempt as a 2022 rookie.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers WR
Rookie WR Jayden Reed won the starting slot receiver role and profiles as a stronger target earner than No. 2 WR Romeo Doubs, who is working through a hamstring strain.
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams WR
Los Angeles slot receiver Cooper Kupp suffered a hamstring strain setback, jeopardizing his Week 1 availability. Fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua profiles similarly to Kupp as an inside-outside target earner. Among 189 FBS wide receivers with at least 65 targets last year, Nacua’s 4.2 yards per route run (YPRR) ranked No. 1.
Veteran Tutu Atwell likely starts in the slot, but Atwell’s two-year do-nothing track record is hardly imposing. Perimeter WR Ben Skowronek is more of a run blocker than a pass catcher.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams RB
No. 1 RB Cam Akers tenuously maintained a roster spot last year, and pass-catching specialist Kyren Williams made waves this summer. Coach Sean McVay kept Williams inactive throughout the preseason, indicating he has risen to featured-player status. He offers PPR-scoring RB4 appeal.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals QB
Kyler Murray is available in well below 50 percent of leagues. He should be added to rosters that have an IR spot.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers RB
Chuba Hubbard was used in a three-down role this preseason as starter Miles Sanders worked through a multi-week groin strain.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks:
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Chicago hoped to fill its shaky No. 2 cornerback spot with second-round rookie Tyrique Stevenson, but Stevenson flopped in preseason play. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love enters Week 1 armed with a budding pass-catching trio in Christian Watson, plus the aforementioned Reed and Musgrave. Love adds run-game juice to his fantasy football ceiling.
Love can be kept for a Week 2 streaming start against the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Arthur Smith remains mum on No. 2 CB Jeff Okudah’s return-to-play timeline after the 24-year-old suffered an early August ankle injury. The likely high-ankle sprain carries season-long concerns.
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders vs. Arizona Cardinals
Antonio Hamilton Jr., Marco Wilson and sixth-round rookie Kei’Trel Clark comprise Arizona’s starting cornerback trio with Isaiah Simmons and Byron Murphy Jr. playing elsewhere in 2023. Hamilton Jr. and Wilson profile as borderline No. 1/2 cornerback talents.
Sam Howell aimed passes past the sticks frequently this preseason, averaging a fifth-ranked 40.5 percent 10-plus-yard ADOT rate among 47 NFL quarterbacks with at least 30 preseason pass attempts. Howell (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) produced a prolific dual-threat profile at North Carolina. His 813 yards rushing ranked No. 2 among Power-5 quarterbacks in 2021.
Defenses:
Washington Commanders vs. Arizona Cardinals
Washington’s top-flight defensive line will tear through Arizona’s depleted front in pursuit of Clayton Tune or Josh Dobbs.
Seattle Seahawks D/ST vs. Los Angeles Rams
Seattle brought back DT Jarran Reed after a two-year hiatus. Los Angeles’ shaky interior offensive line, coupled with Kupp’s recent hamstring-strain setback, spell doom for QB Matthew Stafford.
Minnesota Vikings D/ST vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay coaches have tasked stud RT Tristan Wirfs with transitioning to the left side while journeyman quarterback Baker Mayfield makes his team debut. Defensive ends Marcus Davenport and Danielle Hunter (2022 Pro Bowl) are a tough duo for the Buccaneers to contend with.
Tight Ends:
Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints vs. Tennessee Titans
As detailed in the Early-Season TE1 Streamers piece, Tennessee’s linebacker corps is exploitable. Starter Azeez Al-Shaair’s recent knee injury history and 100 percent deserved catch rate, per Sports Info Solutions, point toward a winnable matchup.
Mystery shrouds fellow starter Monty Rice’s absence, but his Achilles injury woes date back to 2021. Their persistence bodes poorly for 2023. Second-year backup LB Jack Gibbens is entirely unimposing.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins
As is also discussed in the aforementioned Early-Season TE1 Streamers article, Miami linebackers Jerome Baker and David Long Jr.’s propensity for missing tackles make them the perfect duo for Gerald Everett to pummel. Among 29 NFL tight ends with at least 50 targets in 2022, Everett’s 31 percent broken and missed tackles forced rate ranks No. 1.
Kicker:
Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins
Cameron Dicker vanquished Dustin Hopkins this preseason, sealing the placekicker job in Los Angeles’ high-powered offense. Los Angeles vs. Miami is one of two NFL Week 1 games with 50-plus-points over/under, projecting Dicker for a high volume at the office.
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