Fantasy football success isn’t just about nailing the draft. League-winning managers are always on the lookout for the next value add, whether that’s fleecing a rival in a trade or picking up an undervalued asset on the waiver wire.
Our focus in this weekly series is on the latter. Throughout the fantasy season, we will be selecting a handful of players to target before the next week’s action kicks off.
For Week 1, we are focusing on players who are rostered in under 40% of leagues, per NFL Fantasy.
Braelon Allen
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand are leaning all the way into the ground game. It’s going to be packed with run-pass options and zone reads. Plenty of designed runs will be thrown in for good measure.
Justin Fields, Breece Hall, and Braelon Allen are going to share carries. Allen’s effectiveness in short-yardage situations should see him get plenty of reps. He’s also a redzone threat as a big-bodied, powerful runner.
You don’t have to go to Allen right away, seeing as he’s facing a formidable Pittsburgh defense. He’s a player worth rostering, though, as he could be the Jets’ RB1 by the end of September.
Michael Penix Jr.
Michael Penix Jr. is a tempting player to roster in two-QB leagues. His Falcons project to be a blockbuster offense, with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Darnell Mooney as pass catchers.
Tampa Bay are travelling to Atlanta in Week 1. The Bucs conceded the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2024.
Penix is raw. He’s going to throw picks, hold onto the ball too long, and take undue risks. The upside in this offense is hard to ignore, though.
Pat Freiermuth
Rostered in only 11.1% of leagues and named as the Steelers’ TE1, Pat Freiermuth was TE9 last season in a Pittsburgh offense that broke 20 points only twice in its final nine games.
The Jets’ defense will hurry Aaron Rodgers. Short passes to Freiermuth are going to be important to keep the Steelers moving downfield.
A target for checkdowns? Check. A track record of solid to good fantasy production? Check. Freiermuth is an ideal waiver wire pickup if you’re in a two-TE league or had to settle for a mediocre player in the latter rounds.
Xavier Legette
Tetairoa McMillan has garnered all the attention on the Panthers. Xavier Legette is WR2 to McMillan, which has put off enough fantasy managers to leave him rostered in only 8.3% of leagues.
Carolina is facing a Jags team that ranked 27th in points allowed per game last season. Only two teams conceded more fantasy points to wide receivers than Jacksonville. Yes, Travis Hunter could improve their secondary if he gets in on that side of the ball, but if anything, that might force Bryce Young to throw to Legette even more frequently.
The Panthers were in the top 10 in pass play frequency last season. This is a great matchup for Legette.
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