NFL Waiver Wire: Week 1 Pickups

The 2021 NFL season is here, as Week 1 kicks off Thursday with an epic matchup between the Cowboys and Buccaneers. Most drafts likely are completed, and many leagues will run waivers sometime between now and Thursday. Below are likely available free agents to consider. 

If I've missed anyone you want to discuss, hit me up in the comments.

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

Quarterback

SECONDARY TARGETS

Teddy Bridgewater, DEN - Anytime there's a discussion about wide receiver ADPs and which player should be drafted higher on any particular team it's a good time to stop and look at who's throwing the ball to them. Denver named Bridgewater the starter for Week 1 in what is a good matchup against the Giants. Jerry Jeudy should continue to improve toward his ceiling, Courtland Sutton is 100 percent healthy this season and KJ Hamler is a speedster who can stretch the field, coming up with the occasional home-run play. Bridgewater might not bring a Super Bowl title to Denver, but he will be a capable quarterback given the weapons at his disposal. FAAB: $2-$4

Tua Tagovailoa, MIA - Tagovailoa underwhelmed as a rookie last season, which is partly why he mostly was overlooked this draft season, outside of two-QB leagues. But he showed a strong arm and dual-threat skills in his first year, and the Dolphins gave him more weapons this season with two speedster wideouts in Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle. After a solid preseason (24-of-34 passing, 282 yards, 8.3 YPA, TD, INT), Tua could become viable in single-QB leagues sooner than later. FAAB: $2-$4

HAIL MARY

Jimmy Garoppolo, SF - Jimmy G will start the season under center for the 49ers, and it probably will last beyond Week 1. We know that coach Kyle Shanahan will use a run-heavy offense led by Raheem Mostert and Trey Sermon and starting the season against the Lions and Eagles isn't like facing the '85 Bears. What's more, Trey Lance's finger injury could push the starting quarterback controversy onto the back burner well into a few weeks into the season. FAAB: $1-$2

Running Back

SECONDARY TARGETS

Wayne Gallman, ATL - Gallman essentially switched positions with Qadree Ollison and finds himself as the backup to Mike Davis in Atlanta. What exactly do we know about Atlanta heading into this season? The defense is nothing spectacular and the offense will be relied upon to score points to win games. Davis had a nice season in relief of Christian McCaffrey last year but only averaged 3.9 yards per carry while Gallman, in relief of Saquon Barkley, averaged 4.6 behind a suspect Giants' offensive line. FAAB: $2-$4

Ty'Son Williams, BAL - A 2020 undrafted free agent, Williams spent all last season on the Ravens' practice squad. Now, he is suddenly the No. 2 RB in Baltimore after season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins (knee) and Justice Hill (Achilles). He should get a share of touches behind Edwards in an offense that likes to use multiple RBs. The Ravens will add bodies to a now-thin RB depth chart, but it seems unlikely Williams will be cast aside for somebody off the street.  FAAB: $2-$4

HAIL MARY 

J.D. McKissic, WAS - Don't expect another 110 targets like he had last year, but McKissic should again be the main receiving weapon out of the Washington backfield. And with Peyton Barber no longer around, he is the unquestioned backup to Antonio Gibson. McKissic makes for a decent stash in PPR leagues in case Gibson goes down. FAAB: $1-$2

Wide Receiver

SECONDARY TARGETS

Terrace Marshall, CAR - Does anyone else remember a rookie wide receiver coming out of LSU making an immediate fantasy impact in the last few years? Marshall appears ready to do so. While he is third on the WR depth chart for the Panthers, he should see plenty of snaps from the get-go this season. He has size (6-foot-3, 200) and speed (an unofficial 4.38 40 at his Pro Day) and will draw softer coverage initially with Robby Anderson and DJ Moore ahead of him on the depth chart. Sam Darnold still has the upside to prove he's a franchise quarterback and now has the receivers to prove it. FAAB: $2-$4

Parris Campbell, IND - T.Y. Hilton was placed on IR, which puts Campbell as one of the "next man up" candidates. I like him better than Zach Pascal given the upside, and he should see plenty of targets opposite of Michael Pittman. Campbell just turned 24 and his biggest roadblock to playing time has been injuries. The term "athletic freak" gets thrown around a lot in the NFL, but for a wide receiver who is 6-0, 208, and runs a 4.31 40, it's the correct label. FAAB: $2-$4

Russell Gage, ATL - Gage is the No. 2 WR in Atlanta behind Calvin Ridley but is expected to be the No. 3 receiver on the team with rookie TE Kyle Pitts likely getting a large share of the passing-game work. Still, that has value in what should be an improved offense under new coach Arthur Smith. Gage is rostered in just 32 percent of ESPN leagues. Entering his fourth season out of LSU, he should build off last season's career year (109-72-786-4). FAAB: $2-$4

Bryan Edwards, LV - Edwards did next to nothing as a rookie last season, but this year should be different. For one, the Raiders let John Brown walk last week, leaving only Henry Ruggs (who also did little as a rookie last year) as a major competitor for targets among the wideouts. Of course, tight end Darren Waller is the team's top receiving threat, but at 6-3, 212, Edwards should be the big target on the outside, and his size makes him a red-zone threat as well. FAAB: $2-$4

Tight Ends

HAIL MARY

Tyler Conklin, MIN - Conklin is relevant in two-TE leagues. He lacks elite speed for the position but has a solid set of hands and can be counted on to make the routine catches. Ultimately the Irv Smith injury may end up benefiting the Minnesota receivers the most, but Conklin figures to pick up any slack at the Vikings' tight end spot. FAAB: $1