Waiver Favors™: 2020 Week 1 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Week 6 Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I do every year over the last 8 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors article!  And I’m assuming if you’re a returning reader, you won your fantasy football championship last year, so congratulations!

But it’s a new year, so I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 1 of the 2020 fantasy football season.  You’re welcome.  Again.

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

Gardner Minshew

Nyheim Hines

RB – Indianapolis Colts – 18% Owned

Everyone in Indy was excited about Jonathan Taylor, and he did fine in his debut totaling 89 yards.  But Marlon Mack was still there and there’s some benefit to being the veteran in the locker room.  Unless, of course, you injure your Achilles and leave the game.  But even before that, we saw some significant involvement from Nyheim Hines.  Hines had 7 carries for 28 yards and a TD and added 8 catches for 45 receiving yards and another TD.  It’s pretty clear he was the favored receiving target out of the backfield as he led all players in receptions this week, and there’s no reason for us to think that won’t continue.  In fact, the Mack injury probably guarantees it.  He’s worth a pick up in all 14 team standard leagues and deeper and all 12 team PPR leagues and deeper.

Joshua Kelley

RB – Los Angeles Chargers – 12% Owned

We knew that Austin Ekeler was going to be the starting RB for the Chargers, but we thought Justin Jackson would hold down the number 2 spot.  Turns out, we were wrong, as it was rookie Joshua Kelley who held down the number 2 spot in the backfield in Week 1, rushing for 60 yards and a TD on 12 carries, only 7 carries less than Ekeler.  Jackson, on the other hand, only had 2 carries on the day.  In fact, Kelley handled several redzone carries giving him some serious TD upside.  He’s worth your consideration in all 12 team leagues or deeper, and perhaps also as a handcuff for Ekeler owners in all leagues.

Malcolm Brown

RB – Los Angeles Rams – 22% Owned

With Todd Gurley gone, there were some significant questions about the Rams backfield.  Initially, we thought it was Darrell Henderson, the 2019 3rd round draft pick.  But a pesky hamstring injury and the drafting of Cam Akers in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft really complicated things heading into the start of the season.  Turns out it was Malcolm Brown who looked the most solid to us with 18 carries for 79 yards and 2 TDs, out-carrying Akers by 4 carries and out-gaining him by 40 yards.  Akers may be the future, but Brown looks to be the now.  He’s worth a look in 12 team leagues or deeper and as a handcuff for Akers owners.

Robby Anderson

WR – Carolina Panthers – 30% Owned

Robby Anderson never really lived up to expectations on the Jets.  Of course, that might have been because he was on the Jets.  In Week 1 with his new team, the Panthers, Anderson flashed some of that upside we all had our eye on over the last two years, as he grabbed 6 of 8 targets for 115 yards and a TD against the Raiders.  That’s only one less target than D.J. Moore.  If Teddy Bridgewater is telegraphing his preferences, Anderson may be a sneaky pick up in all 14 team leagues or deeper.

Parris Campbell

WR – Indianapolis Colts – 22% Owned

With new QB Philip Rivers in town, it was anyone’s guess who would get the targets.  In fact, T.Y. Hilton was probably the only lock for targets in Indy, at least until Week 1.  Because that’s when Parris Campbell snagged 6 of 9 targets for 71 receiving yards and 7 rush yards against the Jaguars, leading the team in receiving yards in the progress.  He’s clearly the second WR in Indy and Rivers likes him, so he’s worth a look in all 14-team leagues or deeper.

Keelan Cole

WR – Jacksonville Jaguars – 0% Owned

I mentioned above that I was down on Minshew in the preseason, so I was also down on all his targets, except for perhaps D.J. Chark.  Well, with Minshew’s strong performance also surprisingly came Keelan Cole’s solid performance catching all 5 of his targets for 47 yards and a TD against the Colts.  Dede Westbrook was a scratch and rookie Laviska Shenault still got his, but Cole appeared to be the next man on the totem pole leading the Jaguars in targets, catches, and receiving yards.  Keep an eye on him in all 14-team leagues or deeper as a potential lottery ticket.

UPDATE for Monday Night Football

Benny Snell Jr.

RB – Pittsburgh Steelers

Benny Snell rushed 19 times for 113 yards against the Giants, all of which came after James Conner left with an ankle injury in the second quarter, never to return to the field. In fact, he had 19 of 20 carries post-Conner’s exit.  If Conner remains out, Snell can be fantasy gold.  Go get him.

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors!