Fantasy Football draft season is in full swing. Being just days away from the regular season beginning, plenty of drafts will be taking place in the coming week. The first game of the season is set to kick off on September 9th with the Dallas Cowboys traveling to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Fantasy Football managers are now scouring the player lists to get an edge when it comes to finding some sleepers in their leagues. Those sleepers can be the difference between being a playoff team or contending for a league championship.
Week 1 always produces some big performances that will cause a stir on waiver wires. If you want to beat your league mates to the hottest free agent pickups, we have you covered. Here are five waiver wire candidates you should consider adding before Week 1.
5. Nico Collins, Wide Receiver, Texans
The Houston Texans selected Nico Collins in the third round out of Michigan in the 2021 NFL Draft. He didn’t produce the biggest numbers in college, but he was a big-play threat, catching 78 passes for 1,388 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons.
He opted out of the 2020 season, but he doesn’t look like he has missed a beat. He has been the talk of the camp with the Texans and the testing he did before the draft so far seems legitimate.
With Keke Coutee waived and Anthony Miller dealing with a shoulder injury, Collins has a chance to lock down the starting job opposite of Brandin Cooks. With how often the Texans are projected to lose games, they will be throwing the ball a lot and Collins could be a beneficiary. He’s worth a look in deep Fantasy Football leagues.
4. Darrynton Evans, Running Back, Titans
Darrynton Evans’ rookie season was derailed by injuries, as he appeared in only five games. Being the backup to Derrick Henry is enough of a reason for him to get picked up by Fantasy Football managers as he is one of the best handcuffs in the NFL.
When you consider that the Tennessee Titans coaching staff has continued talking Evans up that he will have a role even with Henry healthy, he is worth adding to your roster. He is a good pass catcher, something Henry does not excel at, so he will have a role in two-minute drills or when the Titans are trailing.
He won’t be easily trusted with Henry healthy, but if he went down, Evans could become a must-start player.
3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Wide Receiver, Packers
The Green Bay Packers left out a sigh of relief when Aaron Rodgers decided to end his holdout and play for the team in 2021. His presence improves everyone’s outlook for Fantasy Football purposes, especially Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Valdes-Scantling has already shown his big-play ability but needs to find some consistency. If he can do that, he will provide Fantasy Football managers with some great production.
He has established himself as the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Davante Adams, which will result in plenty of passes being thrown his way. Having that standing in a Rodgers-led offense could turn Valdes-Scantling into a weekly FLEX play with WR3-4 upside in some matchups.
2. Kenneth Gainwell, Wide Receiver, Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are going to involve their running backs in the passing game. Head coach Nick Sirianni said as much, stating, “This is no secret, we really are going to use our running backs in the pass game.”
There is optimism that Miles Sanders will bounce back after a difficult 2020 in which he battled injuries and drops. Thus far, the same issues have plagued Sanders, so there could be an opening for some playing time.
Boston Scott is the backup running back right now, but Gainwell has been playing well enough to earn some playing time. In 2019, Gainwell caught 51 balls for 610 yards, so he has the ability to be a difference-maker in the passing game.
With the Eagles looking like they’ll be losing a lot of games this season, Gainwell is worth a bench stash given his skill set and Sanders’ shaky performance in camp.
1. Marquez Callaway, Wide Receiver, Saints
The New Orleans Saints are going to have a new quarterback under center on opening day for the first time since 2005. That was the last time Drew Brees didn’t start for the Saints before this year, as he retired from the NFL.
The Saints will also have a new No. 1 wide receiver to start the season, as Michael Thomas will be sidelined at least the first six weeks of the season after landing on the physically unable to perform list. That role will be stepped into by Marquez Callaway.
Callaway had a great preseason, as he and Jameis Winton hooked up for two long touchdowns in the second preseason game. He will carry that momentum over into the regular season as his No. 1 target.
If he is available on your Fantasy Football free agent wire, run to add him. He is in for a big start to the 2021 season. Even when Thomas returns, Callaway will retain value in an offense lacking established playmakers right out outside of Alvin Kamara.
