The NFL season is underway and we’ve seen 30 of 32 teams take the field for the first time in 2025. The final two – the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears – are set for battle on Monday night.
There’s a lot to unpack from all of the action in Week 1, which is always filled with overreactions. There’s also time for fantasy managers to adjust and ensure that their fantasy teams don’t go haywire.
Some fantasy football predictions could have failed you this week, but don’t let the opportunity that awaits you on the waiver wire stop you from making wise, informed decisions right now.
Week 1 was eye-opening for some position battles and the impact that some notable injuries have on the future.
Here are five players to target on waivers this week.
Week 1 waiver wire targets:
WR Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, Chiefs (Rostered in 25% of Yahoo leagues)
Hollywood Brown is the priority waiver to add coming out of Week 1. He had a massive performance against the Chargers on Friday as a result of the early injury to Xavier Worthy. Brown may not be a ‘league winner’ given Rashee Rice will return from suspension in Week 7, but the veteran is in position to be the top receiver for the next five weeks in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense.
Brown posted 10 receptions for 99 yards on a massive 16 targets. Worthy is reportedly going to miss time – how much time is unclear yet – but the door is wide open for Brown to be an alpha for the Chiefs.
WR Cedric Tillman, Browns (Rostered in 28% of Yahoo leagues)
Tillman had an insane stretch in 2024, finishing as WR12 in fantasy points per game in Weeks 7-12. A concussion slowed his progress but he flashed the ability to be a No. 1 target with an impressive 19.7% target share, 66 receiving yards per game, and a 23.3% first-read share. With Joe Flacco under center, there’s reason to trust the production to continue after Tillman caught five of eight targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Cleveland figures to be playing from a deficit frequently this season, and Tillman could be a direct beneficiary of that.
WR Keenan Allen, Chargers (Rostered in 50% of Yahoo leagues)
Despite being one of the best wide receivers in fantasy football over the last several seasons, Allen is only rostered in 50% of Yahoo leagues. He earned the most targets (10) of all Charger receivers in Friday night’s win over the Chiefs, and that number could be consistent all season. Justin Herbert looked like an MVP candidate in Week 1 as the Chargers’ offense surprised by going pass-heavy, attempting 34 passes in Week 1, a number that was only reached six times in all of 2024. Allen clearly looked reinvigorated back in a Chargers uniform and could be a weekly staple in lineups going forward.
WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers (Rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues)
If you’re lower in the waiver order and fail to land Allen, his teammate, Johnston, would be a nice consolation prize. He is a former first-round pick and possesses the ability to be an every-down player. He caught five of seven targets in Week 1, cashing in two of those for touchdowns. He has the propensity for finding the end zone and a Year 3 breakout could be upon us if Herbert continues to deliver big. Don’t let Johnston hit his stride in your opponent’s lineup.
RB Dylan Sampson, Browns (Rostered in 46% of Yahoo leagues)
While many thought veteran Jerome Ford would get the bulk of the backfield work in Cleveland, it was actually the rookie Sampson. Yes, Quinshon Judkins will eventually debut, but Sampson’s receiving chops will keep him fantasy relevant. His involvement in the passing game will likely be utilized often because Cleveland is expected to be playing from behind more often than not.
Sampson totaled 12 rushes, which were twice as many as the next Browns running back, and he added eight receptions for 64 yards, establishing himself as the running back to roster in Cleveland.
