Week 1 Waiver Wire Top Fantasy Pickups and Drops on Yahoo

The 2025 NFL season will begin on Thursday, meaning fantasy managers only have a few days to set their Week 1 lineups and make any last-minute additions.

While many managers choose to ignore the waiver wire between their drafts and Week 2, there is value to be found. Quality players often slip through the draft cracks, but if not scooped up now, they may never be available again.

Here, you'll find a look at a few players who are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues who could be in line for Week 1 breakouts and, therefore, smart targets ahead of opening day. We'll also examine a couple of drop-worthy players who can be cut to make room.

All roster information according to FantasyPros.

Add: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Doug Murray

At some point this season, the Miami Dolphins are likely to use a three-back rotation that involves De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright and rookie Ollie Gordon II. Heading into Week 1, though, Achane and Gordon figure to lead the ground game.

Wright recently underwent a "small procedure" and is expected to miss the start of the season, according to Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post.

While Achane is expected to play this week, he's also been sidelined by a calf injury and may not be at or near 100 percent. This creates a lot of upside for Gordon, who is rostered in only 31 percent of Yahoo leagues.

If the rookie has a big outing against the Indianapolis Colts, though, he'll likely be plucked near the top of the waiver order next week.

Add: Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Now's a great time to make a speculative claim on Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. The Kentucky product saw a mere 89 offensive touches last season and has largely been overlooked in drafts.

Rodriguez is rostered in only five percent of Yahoo leagues.

However, Washington's 2025 plans for Rodriguez are unknown. There's a very real chance that the 5'11", 224-pound 24-year-old, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season, sees a lot more of the rushing work than people expect. While rookie Bill Croskey-Merritt has garnered all of the preseason buzz, but Rodriguez looked terrific in the preseason.

Washington will still use a committee of Croskey-Merritt, Rodriguez and Austin Ekeler, so every Commanders back carries some level of boom-or-bust potential. If Rodriguez comes out as the Week 1 starter, though, he'll be hard to land on the wire.

Drop: Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans

Vera Nieuwenhuis/AP Images

Managers who drafted early in the offseason may have ended up with Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, who is rostered in 82 percent of Yahoo leagues.

However, keeping Mixon on the active roster is extremely risky. If your league allows for placement on short-term injured reserve, he should go there. Otherwise, he can be dropped for better RB depth.

Mixon is dealing with an ankle injury and will open the season on injured reserve. The Texans aren't sure if he'll even suit up this season.

"We'll see. We'll take it one day at a time," general manager Nick Caserio said, per ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime.

With Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale set to lead Houston's backfield, it's hard to know when or if Mixon will be fantasy-relevant again.

Add: Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

The Cleveland Browns aren't expected to be very good this season, which is why No. 2 receiver Cedric Tillman has been largely ignored in fantasy. He's been targeted with a few late-round flyers, but he's still only rostered in 22 percent of Yahoo leagues.

However, we've seen promising glimpses from the third-year receiver when he's been healthy and paired with even competent quarterback play. Between games 7 and 10 last season, he averaged six receptions, 75.5 yards and 0.75 touchdowns.

With Joe Flacco back behind center, Tillman could have real flex value in 2025. He'll also be a popular pickup in Week 2 if he happens to go off against a bad Cincinnati Bengals defense this week.

Cincinnati ranked 21st in passing yards allowed and 29th in passing touchdowns surrendered last season.

Drop: Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

The speculative drafting of Browns Dylan Sampson was understandable. He's a talented fourth-round pick who impressed in college and who is expected to play a role in Cleveland's backfield this season.

It's unclear, however, how large of a role Sampson might play.

Jerome Ford is expected to be the starter once again, and the recently added Raheim Sanders could also take carries away from Sampson—who is rostered in 45 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Of course, the biggest threat to a significant Sampson workload is the potential return of rookie second-round pick Quinshon Judkins. The Ohio State product has missed most of the offseason following a July arrest on a domestic violence and battery charge.

According to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi, prosecutors declined to file a formal misdemeanor battery charge against him. However, Judkins could still be subject to league discipline under the personal-conduct policy and has yet to sign his rookie contract.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com believes that Judkins will sign "soon," though, possibly in time to contribute in Week 1.