Welcome to week one of last-minute moves to make. This article is intended to give you late week waiver and free agent advice based on late-week news and gameday inactives. Injuries and other late-week developments can have a huge impact on lines and rosters, and being up-to-date on these especially before waivers and free agency locks before kickoff is a huge advantage.
This week, there are several storylines to keep in mind when looking at last-minute moves.
Stash Trayveon Williams
Rookie Chase Brown is inactive for week one. This leaves Trayveon Williams and Chris Evans as the running backs active behind Joe Mixon. Williams is available in moderate-sized leagues and warrants a stash on the bench. In the event of a Mixon injury, Williams should get the start in the backfield, and Brown’s placement on the inactive list is confirmation of the priority in the backfield.
Monitor Philadelphia's backfield
Philadelphia has D'Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott, and Kenneth Gainwell all on the first team on their week one depth chart. Without significant special teams or roles, it may be hard for the team to carry all four running backs per week. With a 4:25 PM kickoff, keep an eye on the pregame roster active roster designations to get an idea of who is active. If it is Gainwell or Scott, they are cut candidates for your team and optimize the roster spot. If it is Swift or Penny, you should reassess your commitment to them on your fantasy team for the future.
Check the availability of the Indianapolis running backs
Starting running back Jonathan Taylor is on the PUP, and Zack Moss is inactive with an injury. Our projections, as well as market start rates, like Deon Jackson to be the leader in points ahead of rookie Evan Hall. With Moss inactive, make sure to add Jackson and Hull, with the priority going to Jackson.
Cordarrelle Patterson is rostered in some deeper leagues (28+ man rosters) but is inactive in week one. He does not have stand-alone value and is at least two injuries away from relevance. Cut him and optimize the roster spot with someone closer to a starting spot.
Stash Sean Tucker
Ke’Shawn Vaughn is inactive in week one, which means Tampa Bay will roll with Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds, and undrafted rookie Sean Tucker. Tucker went undrafted out of Syracuse as a result of a heart issue but has been cleared and has already leaped over Vaughn on the depth chart. In the event of a White injury, Tucker should get a chance to start in the offense.
Add Isaiah Likely
With Mark Andrews out for week 1, Isaiah Likely should get a start. How Baltimore’s new-look offense will produce is an early season watch, but the team’s questionable wide receiving corps should create a good opportunity for Likely to get 5-plus targets in Andrews’s absence. Likely is a lineup option for teams without Andrews and Kelce this week.
Optimize roster spots
It is always important to optimize roster spots in your fantasy league. Cooper Kupp has been placed on injured reserve, so if you have Kupp and your league has an injury reserve list, move Kupp to the injured reserve and pick up a reserve player to stash on your bench. Likewise, if your league allows players who are ruled out to be placed on injured reserve, move them to injured reserve before rosters lock before kickoff.