Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is officially in the books, and the fantasy football landscape is already shifting. As the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk reports, this is the first critical waiver wire run of the year, and savvy managers are scrambling to find the next breakout star. With every player in this article available in at least half of Yahoo leagues, the opportunities are plentiful. Whether you're streaming a quarterback or hunting for a league-winning running back, our comprehensive guide breaks down the top targets by position, ordered by FAAB and waiver priority.
Quarterback Streamers: Tyler Shough Leads the Pack
The New Orleans Saints' Week 1 shootout with the Detroit Lions was a fantasy goldmine, and quarterback Tyler Shough emerged as a surprising streaming option. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, the Saints ran a staggering 81 offensive plays—13 more than any other team—thanks to an overtime thriller. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has installed the fastest-paced offense in the league, and their pass rate over expected jumped from -2.9% in 2025 to +4.1% on Sunday. If that trend continues, New Orleans could be the highest-volume passing team in 2026. Shough struggled early but finished with a positive EPA per dropback, putting him squarely in the QB1 conversation for Week 2.
Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers also turned heads with a spectacular Week 1 performance, throwing for 361 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. As highlighted on Vulius, Young ranked eighth in EPA per dropback, ninth in CPOE, and seventh in PFF passing grade. With ascending wideouts Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker at his disposal, this could finally be the breakout year for the fourth-year signal-caller. Meanwhile, Malik Willis of the Miami Dolphins had a quieter day, attempting just 27 passes in a run-heavy scheme, but his rushing ability (six carries, 39 yards, one touchdown) makes him a viable QB2 option.
Running Back Roulette: Kaelon Black's Unprecedented Usage
The biggest surprise of Week 1 came from the San Francisco 49ers' backfield, where Kaelon Black out-carried Christian McCaffrey 14-10. This marked the first time since 2022 that a 49ers running back had more attempts than McCaffrey in a game he played and didn't exit due to injury. While McCaffrey was reportedly dealing with cramps, Black's 65 rushing yards on 14 carries suggest he could carve out standalone value. The Vulius NFL Analysis Desk advises a roughly 20% FAAB spend on Black, though his hype could inflate his price. He's the best contingent bet on waivers, but temper expectations if McCaffrey returns to his usual workload.
Elsewhere, Tyler Allgeier of the Arizona Cardinals out-carried Jeremiyah Love 17-11, though Love remains the preferred red-zone option. With tough matchups against the Seahawks and 49ers looming, Allgeier is a two-down RB4 for Week 2. Braelon Allen of the New York Jets saw 10 carries but remains firmly behind Breece Hall, who dominated touches. Kendre Miller of the Saints split carries evenly with Travis Etienne and scored a red-zone touchdown, but Alvin Kamara's impending return clouds his long-term value. These are deep-league adds at best.
Wide Receiver Wonders: Caleb Douglas Headlines the List
Miami Dolphins rookie Caleb Douglas is the No. 1 FAAB priority this week, according to Vulius Sports. Hot off an electric training camp, Douglas started and ran a route on 86% of Willis's dropbacks, earning a 26% target share and a monstrous 40% first-read target share. He turned that into five catches for 94 yards. While Miami's run-first offense limits his ceiling, a Day Two rookie commanding such a role is a clear waiver wire target. Douglas edges out Kaelon Black as the top add.
Deebo Samuel of the 49ers is another intriguing option, especially with De'Zhaun Stribling expected to miss extended time with an ankle injury. Samuel ran only half the routes in Week 1 but posted a 6/48/1 line and added a 12-yard run. His route share should grow, making him a WR3/4 with upside. Devaughn Vele of the Saints stepped into the No. 2 role with Jordyn Tyson on IR, turning nine targets into a 7/69/1 line. He's a solid WR4 in a potential shootout with the Ravens. Tre Harris of the Chargers could benefit from Ladd McConkey's chest injury, while Dontayvion Wicks of the Eagles is a frustrating deep threat. Kalif Raymond of the Bears led the team with nine targets but is merely a deep-league stash.
Tight End Treasures: Dalton Schultz and Pat Freiermuth
Dalton Schultz of the Houston Texans remains the most boring yet reliable TE1 off the waiver wire, tying for the second-most targets at his position with eight. His 21% target share is actually up from 2025, making him a safe streaming option. Pat Freiermuth of the Steelers is a strong TE2 after running 73% of routes in a pass-heavy attack under Mike McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers may not throw deep often, but Freiermuth's role is secure. Mike Gesicki of the Bengals posted a 5/78/1 line but ran only 46% of routes—a risky stash. As the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk notes, prioritize Douglas and Black, but don't sleep on these tight ends if you need a plug-and-play starter.
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