12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 1)

Ignoring the value that’s sitting on waivers in Week 1 is how you end up spending tons of FAAB later in the year. We asked our Featured Pros for their favorite fantasy football waiver-wire stashes ahead of the first week. They responded with a dozen players you should be looking to get on your roster to deploy in the future and win your leagues. Here’s what they had to say about each of them.

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Fantasy Football Week 1 Waiver Wire Stashes

Who is one player that is rostered in 25% of Yahoo leagues or less that fantasy managers should stash right now, and why?

Jalin Hyatt (WR – NYG)

“Jalin Hyatt, wide receiver for the New York Giants, is the one player that fantasy managers should be stashing right now. I realize he is in a crowded field of wide receivers on the New York Giants, but he has the talent to lead this team in fantasy points this season. He’s only owned in 20% of Yahoo fantasy football leagues, and they have him ranked as their WR77. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2023 NFL draft by the Giants. He’s a player that can stretch the field with his speed and become a deep threat for Daniel Jones.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

Puka Nacua (WR – LAR)

“Puka Nacua should be a stash on rosters, especially with the recent news of Cooper Kupp. I’m not sure we will see a healthy Kupp all season, allowing Nacau to slide into the slot role. Nacua reminds me of Kupp and could thrive as a slot receiver. He was lighting it up all camp, and Sean McVay said he has complete confidence in Nacua. Nacua could be a sleeper for 2023 who can help your team, and he is available in most leagues. ”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Luke Musgrave (TE – GB)

“I don’t want to miss out on a starting tight end with a defined role before it’s too late. Luke Musgrave has already certified himself as a fantasy-relevant player as a rookie. If nothing else, Musgrave should be a serviceable TE2 after dominating snap counts with the first-team offense this preseason. Green Bay possesses an exciting, young offense, and Musgrave should be right in the thick of it. ”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)

Jayden Reed (WR – GB)

“Jayden Reed looked like one of the most pro-ready receivers out of this year’s draft class. He was already tabbed to get snaps both in the slot and occasionally on the outside as the WR3, but a Romeo Doubs hamstring injury could make him a primary target right away. He didn’t put up gaudy numbers at Michigan State, but he showed versatility and a natural ability to draw separation. Reed should see a healthy target share and has the talent to make things happen with the ball in his hands. ”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

Jelani Woods (TE – IND)

“You can put him in an IR spot to begin the year, but I’d target Indianapolis Colts TE Jelani Woods as an early-season stash. When searching for a TE sleeper, one area you want to project is touchdown potential. The 6-foot-7, 253-pound Woods fits the bill as a strong red-zone option for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. Woods had three touchdowns on 40 targets as a rookie, and in his final six games last season, he garnered 27 targets, catching 18 of them for 233 yards. He has a chance to emerge from a crowded TE room in Indianapolis once healthy. ”
– Jaime Eisner (The Draft Network)

Van Jefferson (WR – LAR)

“This one seems like a layup to me, but Van Jefferson is still rostered in less than 20% of leagues, which is pretty crazy to me. He’s already the Rams’ WR2 when everyone is healthy, and now, there’s real injury concern with Cooper Kupp. It sounds like he’s going to miss the first week of the season, and it could extend to a large chunk of the season with the way his recovery is going. If that’s the case, the team will need somebody to step into the WR1 role, and Jefferson seems like the obvious top option for that. With a healthy Matthew Stafford and an underwhelming depth chart to compete with at the beginning of the season, it’s easy to see how Jefferson could get off to a hot start and provide starting value off of the waiver wire.”
– Leo Sells (Couch Report Sports)

“Van Jefferson was worth a roster spot prior to Cooper Kupp’s hamstring issue, and he definitely should be rostered now that Kupp is visiting a specialist. Jefferson was trending toward a breakout player when he recorded 802 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, but injuries slowed him down considerably last season. Sean McVay has talked highly of his hopes for Jefferson this season, and he should get plenty of opportunities to take advantage, even if/when Kupp returns to the field.”
– Chad Workman (Fantasy Scouts)

“Rams WR Van Jefferson is only rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues, and I can’t figure out why. With concern over top receiver Cooper Kupp’s hamstring, Jefferson is in line to lead the Rams receiving room in Kupp’s absence Week 1 and beyond. Jefferson will also benefit from a healthy Matt Stafford behind center again – Jefferson tallied his best season as a pro in 2021 when Stafford last played a full season, putting up 800 yards and six TDs on just 50 receptions. Look for the fourth-year receiver to top his previous career-best in receptions this year and offer great value as a waiver wire stash.”
– Dan Larocca (RotoBaller)

Evan Hull (RB – IND)

“It is scary to try and pick which Colts running back you want to have in fantasy, even if the correct answer may be Anthony Richardson. Evan Hull, who is rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues, is going to get a look along with Deon Jackson and Zack Moss (when he is healthy). If all goes well, Hull can be a starting running back for your fantasy teams at the cost of an early waiver addition. Even if/when the Colts bring in someone else after Jonathan Taylor‘s highly anticipated departure occurs, Hull still stands a chance to be a piece of the Colts backfield in 2023.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC)

“It’s definitely Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He got a significant amount of usage with the Chiefs’ first-team offense during the preseason, playing well ahead of Jerick McKinnon. While it’s likely that Isiah Pacheco continues to be Kansas City’s first choice for rushing work, we saw at the end of last year how valuable being involved in the passing game can be for a Chiefs running back. If CEH has eclipsed McKinnon on the depth chart, he’ll be well worth a stash.”
– Sam Hoppen (FantasyPros)

Jonathan Mingo (WR – CAR) | DJ Chark (WR – CAR)

“There are a few gems in the less than 25% rostered players, but I prefer one of two Panthers starting wide receivers, who will be led by the #1 overall 2023 NFL draft pick, QB Bryce Young. Jonathan Mingo (17% rostered) was drafted in the same class as his fellow rookie QB in the early second round. He has great hands and can make athletic catches look easy. I would stash Jonathan Mingo with a smile on my face because he should be a season-long, productive player who has been ignored by the fantasy community. DJ Chark (17% rostered) is another good option for the Panthers. Even though he’s a bit banged up, he’s expected to play in week 1, and he has produced with Gardner Minshew on the Jaguars in 2019 (1000+ yards and 8 TDs).”
– Tal Malachovsky (The Fantasy Scout)

Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)

“Roschon Johnson (15% rostered) is my favorite long-term stash. Khalil Herbert will start the year as the No. 1 running back in Chicago, but it’s only a matter of time until Johnson is the starter. He would have been a second-draft pick if he didn’t split the backfield at Texas with Bijan Robinson. Johnson had a higher percentage of rushing attempts totaling 15 or more yards (9.6%) than Robinson (8.2%) last season. If you can only stash one player on your bench as a second-half breakout, make it the former Longhorn.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“Roschon Johnson has drawn steady buzz in the Bears’ backfield. Khalil Herbert will begin the season as the nominal starter, but beat reporters have suggested Johnson could climb the depth chart quickly. The Bears will be a run-heavy team, and Johnson’s physicality can complement quarterback Justin Fields well. Running backs in ambiguous backfields can create value quickly and swing fantasy leagues. Johnson is worth the stash. ”
– Jeff Bell (Footballguys)

Sean Tucker (RB – TB)

“Sean Tucker had quite the tumultuous spring heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Coming off of a stellar career at Syracuse in which accumulated over 3,000 rushing yards as well as showing the ability to be a contributor in the passing game with over 500 yards in his final two seasons. A heart condition found during the pre-draft process caused Tucker to go undrafted and eventually find a home in Tampa Bay. The landing spot is one that immediately piqued my interest, with second-year back Rachaad White returning as the incumbent. After showing to be a very inefficient runner in 2022, his hold on the backfield could loosen as Tucker has already assumed the role of RB2. Tucker is the better pure runner between the two and fits better into the zone run concept that the Buccaneers could employ in 2023. Rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues, Tucker is a player that I would want to stash at the end of my bench heading into Week 1 to avoid fighting others in the league once the waiver wire opens if he shows signs of life. ”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)