The waiver wire is primed and ready to go for the NFL kickoff on Thursday. If you missed out on some news or missed your draft then your team may need some help already. This is the place to find players that can right your roster wrongs. Welcome to the 2017 version of the Fantasy Knuckleheads waiver wire picks.
(Criteria: Players must be available in over 50% of leagues according to ESPN and project to contribute strongly ROS.)
More Waiver Wire Picks Prior To Week 1
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer ARI. Ownership: 35%
Palmer says that he is healthy to start the 2017 season and it is the first time in years that he is. The Cardinals have one of the most explosive offenses in football. David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown and J.J. Nelson are a few of the pieces that Palmer has to work with. If he can stay healthy, Palmer should be a top 10 or 15 fantasy quarterback. He is owned in only about 33 percent of leagues according to ESPN, so grab him if you need a quarterback.
Pick Up In: 10 Team And Larger Leagues
Start Instead Of: Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Eli Manning
Deshone Kizer CLE. Ownership: 7.9%
There are going to be growing pains for Kizer, but he is worth a roster spot. Dual threat quarterbacks are fantasy gold, even if they are not really great. Tim Tebow was a viable starter in fantasy football because he could run the ball. Kizer has shown some nice flashes in the preseason and I think that he will be fine as a fill-in starter. Later in the season he could even start over some established quarterbacks based on matchup. I am very bullish on Kizer’s fantasy prospects, as an NFL quarterback…only time will tell.
Pick Up In: 12 Team And Larger Leagues
Start Instead Of: Tyrod Taylor, Jay Cutler
Tight End
Cameron Brate TB Ownership: 22.7%
A lot of people are getting ahead of themselves by grabbing O.J. Howard in redraft leagues. He is an elite prospect, but tight end is a very difficult position to produce at as a rookie. Brate has a good rapport established with Jameis Winston. With the addition of Desean Jackson, there should be even more room for Brate to get open. Defenses will have a very hard time accounting for Jackson and Mike Evans. Brate is one of my favorite sleepers at any position for 2017.
Pick Up In: 10 Team And Larger Leagues
Start Instead Of: Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle, Hunter Henry
C.J. Fiedorowicz HOU Ownership: 4.5%
Last year Fiedorowicz burst onto the fantasy scene topping double digit fantasy points 3 times between week 4 and week 8. That does not sound like much, but his quarterback was a nightmare in 2016. He recorded at least 3 catches in 11 of the last 13 games in 2016 and was rewarded with a new contract. The Texans seem dedicated to developing Fiedorowicz and he should see more targets going forward. There is still not a great quarterback in place, but this is a guy that can catch the ball.
Pick Up In: 12 Team And Larger Leagues
Start Instead Of: Julius Thomas, O.J. Howard, Evan Engram
Good Luck in week 1 of the fantasy football season. Be sure to check back every Tuesday during the season for new waiver wire picks. For more information and analysis, follow us on Twitter: @_knuckleheads and @brendancole16
