Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Quarterbacks and Running Backs to Add for Week 1: Matthew Stafford, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and More

After a long offseason, football is finally almost back. We are just two days from the start of the season, and the vast majority of fantasy football drafts have been wrapped up. In fact, some of you may even have done drafts long enough ago that some players have dramatically changed in value. 

Whether they've benefited from injuries, earned larger roles, or simply generated massive hype trains, many players have rocketed up draft boards in recent weeks. This article will focus on these players at the quarterback and running back positions, some of whom you might want to target on the waiver wire before things kick off in Week 1.

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Quarterbacks

Pickings are slim when it comes to late preseason risers at the quarterback position. In classic, 1-QB leagues, there aren't really any names worth mentioning. However, there are some relevant names for deep leagues or those where two quarterbacks can be started who have recently seen their values rise.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (29.6% Rostered)

If you drafted during the period when Stafford wasn't practicing with a back injury, the veteran passer may have slipped through the cracks. Now, he is back at practice, and it is confirmed that he will start in Week 1. This makes him a viable QB2 option and someone worth targeting if you need help at quarterback.

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns (5.4% Rostered)

Once again, we are only talking about deep and/or 2-QB leagues here. But Flacco was announced as the Browns' starter just a few weeks ago. He likely went undrafted in the vast majority of leagues prior to that news, but he may be worth adding following it. Flacco has had fantasy success in Kevin Stefanski's pass-happy offense before, posting a five-game stretch in 2023 where he averaged an elite 21.8 points per game. 

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (7.5% Rostered)

Jones is just like Flacco, albeit over a decade younger. He surprisingly won the Colts' QB competition, but we certainly can't expect him to start all 17 games. In the meantime, though, he could be a decent streaming option given his mobility and Shane Steichen's scheming ability.  

Running Backs

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (77.7% Rostered)

He's probably rostered in every league with a pulse at this point. But if you drafted a while ago in a league that locked waivers (or simply wasn't very active) until now, Croskey-Merritt might still be out there. Washington has shipped Brian Robinson out of town, leaving an early-down role up for grabs in what should be an exciting offense.

A seventh-round rookie, Croskey-Merritt will likely split work with Chris Rodriguez Jr. to start the season; Austin Ekeler will also be involved, especially on passing downs. In fact, both Ekeler (75% rostered) and Rodriguez (8% rostered) may also be worth adding, depending on your league size. But the man they call “Bill” has been generating buzz all summer and brings more upside than either of his teammates. He is a must-add in all formats and worth spending a huge chunk of FAAB change on if necessary. 

Nick Chubb/Woody Marks/Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (72.2%/14.4%/5.5% Rostered)

Joe Mixon will officially start the 2025 season on the injury list, and it's officially time to wonder if he will play at all this season. This leaves a gaping hole in the Texans' backfield, and these are the top three contenders to fill it. 

Chubb will likely get the first shot, but he is not his old self and will not be a factor in the passing game. Marks is the most exciting upside option given his unknown talent level and pass-catching ability, but he was a Day 3 pick and an unexciting prospect as a rusher. Pierce could be revitalized now that he is free from Bobby Slowik's zone scheme, but he hasn't done much recently and is clearly behind Chubb in the pecking order for now. 

Frankly, Marks, who is available in over 80% of leagues, is my favorite add in most formats. But if you need Week 1 production, Chubb is a viable streamer, and Pierce is also worth considering in deep leagues. There's a chance this remains an ugly committee, especially as long as Dare Ogunbowale is also involved on passing downs, but hopefully one of these guys eventually emerges as a weekly play. 

Quinshon Judkins/Jerome Ford/Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (65.2%/51.9%/41.6% Rostered)

Depending on when you drafted, the values of these three Browns RBs may have been drastically different. Judkins has had a rollercoaster of an offseason, as he is still un-signed following an arrest for domestic violence. At times, it looked as though he might never officially join the team, but recent reports indicate that he could be signed in time for their Week 1 game.

While this news makes Judkins, an early second-round pick and the team's presumed starter early in the offseason, a must-add, it's no guarantee. Even if he does return, Judkins will likely take time to learn the playbook and will have to earn the RB1 job. That makes Ford, who was quietly efficient as the team's starter last season, and Sampson, a rookie with a solid profile who technically started over Ford in the team's final preseason game, both worth rostering. 

Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins (42% Rostered)

At one point, with both De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright sidelined, it seemed as though Gordon was on track to be the Dolphins' Week 1 starter. Achane is now back and ready to play, but the sixth-round rookie is still Miami's RB2. 

We know that this offense can support two fantasy-relevant RBs when everything is going right, and the 226-pound Gordon also could theoretically provide a bruising element they currently lack. At worst, he's a valuable handcuff behind Achane, who is healthy again now but has dealt with multiple injuries so far in his NFL career.

Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers (1.6% Rostered)

Wilson is like Gordon, but without a real path to standalone value. With MarShawn Lloyd on IR (again) with a hamstring injury, Wilson is the next man up behind Josh Jacobs. If Jacobs were to miss time, Wilson would be a must-start, which makes him worth stashing in deeper leagues.

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasySP. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.