Having a good fantasy draft sets a team up really well, but most of the time to win a fantasy football league, acquisitions need to be made during the season. Each week there are several players worth exploring on the waiver wire. Here are five players to add in fantasy football week 1. (Note: These are best used for standard scoring leagues. All players are owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues)
1. James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
In surprising fashion, James Robinson has been named the starting running back in Jacksonville for week 1. The team traded Leonard Fournette, while Devine Ozigbo and Ryquell Armstead won’t be active. Robinson will get the majority of the work out of the Jaguars’ backfield for all of those reasons.
He is a rookie out of FCS-level Illinois State. Robinson rushed for 4,462 yards in his career, which includes 1,917 rushing yards this past season. He only had 58 receptions for 428 yards in his time at Illinois State. Jacksonville plans to open up the offense though, which means he could see some action in the passing game too. He is currently owned in 15.4 percent of ESPN leagues.
2. Chris Thompson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Thompson (Photo by profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)
If Robinson can’t help in the passing game, Chris Thompson will get a lot of work. He is going to be a third down back for the Jaguars, but will see a lot of action this season, as the Jaguars are projected to be trailing in a lot of games.
Thompson has specialized as a pass-catcher in his career. He has 1,772 receiving yards in his career. If the Jaguars truly do want to spread things out, Thompson should be productive. He is currently available in about 58 percent of leagues on ESPN.
3. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers needed wide receivers this offseason and selected Aiyuk out of Arizona State to help in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Aiyuk is expected to get some reps early in the season because Deebo Samuel is out with an injury. Aiyuk is questionable with a hamstring strain.
Aiyuk will be a great fit in the 49ers’ offense, as he specialized in running after the catch in college. He had 65 catches for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 for the Sun Devils. Aiyuk is owned in just over 25.5 percent of ESPN leagues.
4. Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers
One of the young players that Aaron Rodgers has been most impressed with has been Allen Lazard. The Packers failed to get a receiver in the draft, despite only really having Davante Adams as a standout. That leaves the door open for Lazard to be productive.
Last season, Lazard had 35 receptions for 477 yards and three touchdowns. Going into another season with Rodgers, Lazard should be able to increase production, especially his number of touchdown catches, as he stands at 6-foot-5. Lazard is owned in around 25 percent of ESPN leagues.
5. Bryan Edwards, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have had massive changes in the wide receiver room. Tyrell Williams was placed on IR and running back/wide receiver hybrid Lynn Bowden has been traded to the Dolphins. Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards and Hunter Renfrow will now likely be the top targets at the wide receiver position for the Raiders.
Edwards was a great wide receiver for South Carolina with 234 catches for 3,045 yards and 22 touchdowns. He dropped in the draft due to injuries, but Edwards has talent. Derek Carr compared Edwards to Davante Adams, who he played with in college. He is a deep sleeper who is owned in just under 10 percent of ESPN leagues.
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