Waiver Favors™: 2025 Week 1 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Week 1 Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I do every year over the last 13 years, I’m here to help with waiver wire adds via my weekly Waiver Favors™ article!  And I’m assuming if you’re reader right now, you’re in your fantasy football playoffs, so congratulations!

I’ll make a couple suggestions for after Week 1 of the 2025 fantasy football season that hopefully will keep your team running.  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.

Michael Penix Jr.

QB – Atlanta Falcons – 32% Owned

There was some optimism in Atlanta with Michael Penix taking over as the starting QB, and but for a missed FG at the end of regulation, the optimism would have been at least mostly met.  Penix completed 27 of 42 pass attempts for 298 yards and a passing TD, adding 6 rushes for 21 yards and rushing TD.  Drake London and Kyle Pitts appeared well involved and the Falcons looked much more dynamic with Penix than Kirk Cousins.  He’s not quite a starter in 10-team leagues, but he’s well worth your attention in 12-team leagues or deeper.

Aaron Rodgers

QB – Pittsburgh Steelers – 13% Owned

Aaron Rodgers has got to be the most hated QB of everyone who’s not a Steelers fan right now.  But that didn’t matter to him as he debuted with the Steelers completing 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards and 4 TDs.  Rodgers kept the passes safe, so don’t expect big yards, but he certainly had zip in those short and medium routes, and the TDs count all the same.  Rodgers also isn’t quite in starter range yet in 10-team leagues, but can be helpful in 12-team leagues, at least as a backup QB.

Daniel Jones

QB – Indianapolis Colts – 5% Owned

Raise your hand if you saw this coming.  Yeah, that should be none of you, as no one thought that Giants cast-off Daniel Jones would debut for the Colts completing 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards and a TD, adding 26 yards rushing and 2 rushing TDs.  Jones was super-efficient with his passes and did not take any risks, but his ability to take in those goal line TDs with his legs was there giving him some significant upside.  I’m not counting on consistency, but Jones has probably earned a spot at the back of your roster in 14-team leagues or any 2-QB leagues.

Dylan Sampson

RB – Cleveland Browns – 46% Owned

Rookie Dylan Sampson essentially got the start for the Browns in the backfield and didn’t do much in the run game on 12 carries just getting 29 rush yards.  But the takeaway is that 12 carries is a good amount, out-carrying Jerome Ford by 2X.  And most importantly, he caught 8 of 8 targets for 64 receiving yards, which is exceptional upside for an RB.  Rookie Quinshon Judkins finally got signed, and I can see Judkins eventually getting early downs, but Sampson fits well as a change-of-pace and 3rd down back, which is a decent place to be in PPR leagues.  Don’t expect RB1 numbers, but RB3/Flex numbers in 12-team PPR leagues or deeper are well within the range of outcomes for Sampson.

Cedric Tillman

WR – Cleveland Browns – 28% Owned

Everyone was aware that Jerry Jeudy would be the WR1 for the Browns, but Cedric Tillman shared the lead in WR targets with Jeudy grabbing 5 of 8 of them for 52 yards and a TD.  As long as Joe Flacco is there, we can expect the ball to be thrown early and often, and Tillman will be worth a bench hold as a WR4/Flex in 12-team leagues or deeper.

Hollywood Brown

WR – Kansas City Chiefs – 25% Owned

With Xavier Worthy exiting with a shoulder injury in the 1st quarter in Week 1, it was Hollywood Brown who stepped up and caught 10 of a whopping 16 targets for 99 yards.
Brown led the Chiefs in receptions, receiving yards and targets, which is a big deal with Patrick Mahomes slinging the ball. Remember that Brown was out most of the 2024 season with an injury, so seeing this connection is very encouraging.  If Worthy remains out, and before Rashee Rice returns from suspension, Brown is worthy of a spot on your 12-team league or deeper bench.

Calvin Austin III

WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – 2% Owned

DK Metcalf is definitely the WR1 for the Steelers, but Calvin Austin should be on your radar now that he caught 4 of 6 targets for 70 yards and a TD in Week 1, only 1 less target than Metcalf.  He played 43 of 53 Steelers snaps and is seeing much more usage than Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek.  The Steelers don’t seem to have a great plan at RB, and Rodgers doesn’t run, so it wouldn’t be surprising for Austin to get around 5-7 targets per week, well worth a spot in 12-team leagues or deeper.

Kayshon Boutte

WR – New England Patriots – 1% Owned

It was really unclear who would be the top target in New England, and perhaps this won’t be for every week, but at least for Week 1, that guy was Kayshon Boutte.  Boutte caught 6 of his team-leading 8 targets for 103 yards, the most receiving yards of any Patriots receiver and his second-highest career single-game yardage total.  He showed some flashed in 2024 with Drake Maye, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this continues after this breakout performance.  Go snag him in all 14-team leagues or deeper.