Welcome to Week 1 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.
Make sure Matt Breida is rostered
The Giants play on Thursday night football against the San Francisco 49ers. This will be a short week for the Giants, so a quick rebound will make it more difficult. If there is an injury that is tough for Barkley to play on a quick turnaround, Breida is a spot start candidate. If Barkley gets out of this week clean, you can cut Breida and add a player who plays later on the weekend. Elijah Mitchell is the backup for the 49ers but is more rostered than Breida. If Mitchell is available in your league, he warrants a similar addition.
Stash a Green Bay Backup
Aaron Jones will miss Week 2, and AJ Dillon is getting a spot start in his place. Jones is dealing with a hamstring injury, and while we are optimistic about a Week 3 return, the return could be longer. In deeper rosters, consider adding Patrick Taylor or Emanuel Wilson as insurance if Dillon is injured in Week 2. Taylor would presumably be the first player up if Dillon and Jones were to miss week three.
Stash Sean Tucker
A feature of last week, Tucker was active over Ke'Shawn Vaughn in Week 1. Rachaad White was the starter and had the worst performance in rushing yards over expectation in the league last week. Tucker went undrafted out of Syracuse as a result of a heart issue but has been cleared and would have been a top 100 pick in the NFL Draft. Tucker has outs to start this year if White is injured or continues to play like one of the worst running backs in the league.
Cut D'Onta Foreman
D'Onta Foreman is a Week 2 inactive, a clear indication he has fallen behind Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson on the depth chart. Foreman has fallen out of favor and you can move on from him in your fantasy league.
Stash Elijah Dotson
Austin Ekeler is out with a high ankle sprain, leaving Josh Kelley as the starter in Week 2. Ekeler's injury is expected to be a multiple-week injury. Rookie Elijah Dotson was active as the third running back in Week 1, ahead of Isaiah Spiller, and would have the opportunity to play in the event of an injury to Kelley while Ekeler is out.
Add Adam Trautman
Greg Dulcich suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1, and the team placed him on injured reserve. Adam Trautman was the primary tight end for Denver in Week 1 and will be the starter for Denver with Dulcich out. Consider adding him if you have a weakness at your tight end position, particularly in tight end premium formats.