Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups: Advice for Preseason Sleepers Who May Be Available

With the NFL season officially kicking off on Thursday night, the fantasy season is also in full swing. While the draft process is over, managers are now staring down four months of difficult decision-making.

Some of those decisions will inevitably involve the waiver wire, and while many managers won't look to augment their rosters until later in the year—byes begin in Week 5—it's never too early to improve depth.

With a few notable players—including Nick Chubb, T.J. Hockenson and Jonathon Brooks—opening the year on injured reserve, some managers may even need a little help in the opening week.

With this in mind, here are a few early sleepers who may be available on the wavier wire and who are worth considering before the bulk of the schedule on Sunday.

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 11: Denver Broncos Running Back Jaleel McLaughlin (38) warms up for the NFL Preseason game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts on August 11, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin is a player who should be a low-end flex starter in Week 1 and may evolve into much more over the course of the season.

Denver will start Javonte Williams at running back but should look to mix in McLaughlin a fair amount. The second-year back was arguably the team's best ball-carrier in 2023 and averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

Even as a part-time player, McLaughlin averaged roughly two receptions and 34 scrimmage yards per game last season. He could see a bigger workload in the first start of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, especially against a Seattle Seahawks defense that ranked 31st against the run last season.

McLaughlin is still a major risk for Week 1, but adding him is a gamble that could pay huge future dividends. If Williams misses any time due to injury, McLaughlin will have a chance to take over the starting role. He's currently rostered in only 37 percent of Yahoo leagues and 41 percent of ESPN leagues.

Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints

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METAIRIE, LOUISIANA - JUNE 13: Rashid Shaheed #22 of the New Orleans Saints attends mandatory minicamp at the New Orleans Saints Practice Facility on June 13, 2024 in Metaire, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

It's actually a bit surprising that Rashid Shaheed wasn't scooped up in more leagues during draft season. The New Orleans Saints wideout is rostered in 55 percent of Yahoo leagues and only 45 percent of ESPN leagues.

Shaheed is New Orleans' clear-cut No. 2 receiver behind Chris Olave, and he has a ton of upside in 2024. The talented deep threat caught 46 passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns during last year's breakthrough campaign. Another jump could be incoming.

New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak should bring some creative passing concepts with him from last year's stint as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator. The coordinator change should benefit quarterback Derek Carr and Shaheed.

Shaheed should even have some flex value against the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. While he has been dealing with a foot injury, he's on track to play in the opener.

"Feel 100 percent," Shaheed told reporters. "I'm ready to go."

If Shaheed does take off in Kubiak's offense, he'll be very tough to secure on the wire. Therefore, he's worth a flier now.

Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Green Bay Packers

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 14: Dontayvion Wicks #13 of the Green Bay Packers looks on from the field during an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Green Bay Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks is a bit riskier in Week 1, though he's worth consideration in very deep leagues. Wicks will be up against a rebuilt Philadelphia Eagles secondary on Friday night—a unit that boasts talent but didn't see starters play in the preseason.

Wicks has tremendous upside moving forward, too. Quarterback Jordan Love has arrived as a legitimate star, but he doesn't have a clear-cut No. 1 receiver yet. There's a chance that the explosive Wicks can become a go-to target in 2024.

Though he only made a handful of starts as a rookie last year, Wicks could supplant the inconsistent Christian Watson as a regular offensive fixture. He had at least three receptions and 50-plus receiving yards in four of his final seven games in 2023.

Adding Wicks now would be a bet on the future, but it's a gamble worth taking. If Love takes another jump in his second year as a starter, and Wicks becomes one of his favorite targets, he's not going to be a wire option for long.

Wicks is currently rostered in just 29 percent of Yahoo leagues and 21 percent of ESPN leagues.