Waiver Favors™: 2026 Week 1 Fantasy Football Pickups

Caleb Douglas

WR – Miami Dolphins – 12% Owned

It was pretty unclear who was going to get the most attention in the new look Dolphins offense, and it turns out that regardless who you thought of, rookie Caleb Douglas looks to be in the running after Week 1.

The final stat line is encouraging, but the seven targets may be even more important. Douglas was not merely the beneficiary of one broken play. He was repeatedly involved in the passing game, converted five opportunities into 94 yards and averaged nearly 19 yards per reception.

That combination of volume and explosiveness creates a compelling fantasy profile. Miami’s offense has traditionally created opportunities for receivers in space, and Douglas showed that he can turn a manageable target total into meaningful yardage. He also came close to a 100-yard performance without needing a touchdown to make his fantasy day relevant.

One game does not guarantee a permanent role, but players who approach 100 receiving yards on seven targets deserve to be added before the rest of the league determines whether the production is sustainable.

Go ahead and give him a look in all 12-team leagues or deeper if you need some upside bench depth.

Devaughn Vele

WR – New Orleans Saints – 7% Owned

With Jordyn Tyson on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, Vele opened the season as New Orleans’ No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave. He took advantage of the opportunity, catching 7 of 9 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown against the Lions and playing a significant role in the Saints’ second-half comeback.

Vele caught a one-yard touchdown from Tyler Shough and later added a 31-yard reception that helped set up a field goal. His seven catches were only one shy of his career high, but the more important development was his place in the target hierarchy. He was not used merely as a blocker or occasional deep threat. He was treated as a regular part of the passing offense.

The Saints may not throw 56 times every week, but Vele doesn’t need that level of volume to remain fantasy relevant. If he continues to operate as the No. 2 wide receiver in an offense featuring Shough, Olave, Travis Etienne and Juwan Johnson, he should have a realistic path to six or more targets most weeks.

He’s worth a look in all 12-team leagues or deeper as a WR3/4/Flex.

Mack Hollins

WR – New England Patriots – 0% Owned

With AJ Brown out for at least 4 weeks, there’s some opportunity open in New England.  Hollins managed to catch 4 of 5 targets for 51 yards, even in a mostly dysfunctional offense. He finished as the Patriots’ leader in receiving yards and recorded the team’s longest reception at 19 yards. At 6-foot-4, Hollins also offers size that could eventually translate into red-zone opportunities, even though he didn’t score in the opener.

The Patriots’ passing offense may not produce multiple dependable fantasy starters every week, so Hollins is better viewed as a speculative addition than an automatic starter. Still, players who lead their team in receiving yards and may be moving up the depth chart shouldn’t be ignored, so give him a look in 14-team leagues or deeper.

Kalif Raymond

WR – Chicago Bears – 0% Owned

Raymond caught eight of nine targets for 84 yards in Chicago’s win over Carolina.

The Bears scored 59 points and rushed for 291 yards and six touchdowns, yet Raymond still emerged as the centerpiece of the passing game. He led Chicago in catches and received nine targets, nearly twice as many as Luther Burden, who was next on the team with five.

That target concentration is the reason Raymond belongs on waiver-wire lists. The extraordinary final score may not be repeated, but Raymond’s involvement was not dependent on catching a touchdown or breaking one long play. He consistently earned targets and converted eight of them into useful yardage.

Raymond has the speed to create explosive gains, but Week 1 also showed that he can produce through volume. Even if his target total declines, a receiver who has established the quarterback’s trust can remain relevant in 14-team PPR leagues and deeper.

Kendrick Bourne

WR – Arizona Cardinals – 0% Owned

An eight-for-eight receiving line is exactly the type of performance fantasy managers should notice. Bourne did not waste a single opportunity, and his eight targets suggest that he was an intentional part of Arizona’s offensive plan rather than an afterthought who benefited from one unusual play.

The 75 yards were useful, but the reception total is what makes Bourne particularly interesting in PPR leagues. A player who can command intermediate targets and consistently move the chains does not necessarily need elite speed or weekly touchdowns to produce fantasy value.

Bourne’s long-term ceiling will depend on whether Arizona continues to feature him when game conditions change. That being said, you can do worse for depth in 14-team leagues or deeper.

Pat Freiermuth

TE – Pittsburgh Steelers – 6% Owned

Freiermuth caught all five of his targets for 46 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s win over Atlanta. Freiermuth ranked second on the Steelers in receiving yards, tied for the team lead in receptions and scored Pittsburgh’s only offensive touchdown on a six-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers. His five catches matched his highest total in any game last season.

The early connection with Rodgers is particularly encouraging. Veteran quarterbacks frequently lean on dependable tight ends in the middle of the field and near the goal line, and Freiermuth showed that he can fill both roles. He caught every pass thrown his way and immediately emerged as one of Pittsburgh’s most productive receiving options.

Darnell Washington caught both of his targets for 18 yards and will remain involved, so the tight-end workload may not belong exclusively to Freiermuth. Even so, Week 1 indicated that Freiermuth is the more likely receiving option and the player Pittsburgh trusts near the end zone.

At a position where consistent opportunities are difficult to find, five targets and a red-zone touchdown are more than enough to justify an addition in 12-team leagues and deeper.

David Njoku

TE – Los Angeles Chargers – 3% Owned

Njoku’s production was solid, but his usage provides the strongest argument for adding him. He ran a route on 19 of the Chargers’ 31 dropbacks and finished third on the team in targets. That is the profile of a starting receiving tight end, not a player who should be available in 97 percent of fantasy leagues.

The competition also worked in Njoku’s favor. Oronde Gadsden ran only seven routes, catching both of his targets for 32 yards, while Charlie Kolar ran 13 routes without receiving a target despite being listed as the No. 1 tight end during the preseason.

Njoku’s five catches and 58 yards came without a touchdown. If he maintains his route participation and begins receiving opportunities near the goal line, he could quickly become a weekly starting option. Feel free to take a look in 14-team leagues or deeper.

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