The fantasy football season is officially upon us, and though we seemed to escape the preseason with fewer impact injuries than in years prior, some managers still find themselves in need of Week 1 help from the waiver wire.
If you are mired in such a predicament, fear not, as there are still a few possibilities available. Running backs are always tough to come by this early, but you can boost your roster with a few veteran wideouts likely still available.
With Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard likely to miss Week 1, there are even more questions surrounding the receiving targets for Aaron Rodgers. Though everyone is fawning all over rookies Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, you should set your sights on veteran Sammy Watkins. Yes, that Sammy Watkins. When you stop laughing and are ready to feast, you should continue on.
The biggest knock on Watkins is that he’s always hurt. We won’t deny that, as he has missed 18 games over the past four years. But he is healthy now and is as notorious for his Week 1 heroics as he is for his season-long absences.
Last season, he had four catches for 96 yards for the Ravens in Week 1 against the Raiders. With the Chiefs, he opened the 2020 season with seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown after a mammoth nine grabs for 198 yards and three scores the season before that. We don’t care about his season-long longevity here. We just want to use him for one week, and with Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball, he really couldn’t be in a better situation.
The big joke in fantasy is that we aren’t looking for Mr. Right when Mr. Right Now is hanging out on your waiver wire. Watkins is the perfect example. You could also look to Detroit’s D.J. Chark, who fits a similar mold. He is often hurt, but he’s healthy now, and with rookie Jameson Williams on the shelf for six weeks, Chark will see all the snaps as the Lions’ No. 2 receiver.
Neither Watkins nor Chark profiles as a full-season option, but both were left untouched in most drafts and should shine early this season. Even if the shine comes off in Week 2.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy sports advice, player projections, injury updates and more.