Week 1 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Wide Receivers and Tight Ends to Add: Xavier Legette, Darren Waller 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. I've already taken a look at running backs and quarterbacks, so now we are looking at pass catchers. These are the wide receivers and tight ends to target on your Week 1 fantasy football waiver wires. 

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Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (61.6% Rostered)

It has been nearly a full month since Keenan returned to the team where he spent the first decade of his career. Although he is definitely on Washed Watch, the veteran still racked up 121 targets in 2024 with the Bears. Especially in PPR formats, he's worth adding in any leagues where he was overlooked on draft day.

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (33.9% Rostered)

A couple of weeks ago, Legette was buried on the Panthers' surprisingly deep WR depth chart. Now, with Adam Thielen traded to Minnesota and Jalen Coker on IR, the former first-round pick is the team's de facto WR2 behind rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Many are projecting a potential step forward for Bryce Young and this offense, and Legette is now in place to be the beneficiary.

Amari Cooper, Las Vegas Raiders (26.8% Rostered)

Cooper is like a discount Keenan. Although he's younger at 31 years old, his 2024 season showed even more red flags, including an unimpressive 1.46 yards per route run. He has also landed in a worse situation, with more competition and less certain QB play (although I'm a Geno Smith believer). Still, Cooper could have value this season, especially if his 2024 struggles were injury-related. He's worth a shot in deeper leagues.

Isaac TeSlaa, Detroit Lions (14.6% Rostered)

The issue with TeSlaa is that it's very hard to see a non-injury-related path for him to see enough volume to be a viable fantasy option on this stacked Lions' offense. He's probably sixth in line for touches right now. On the other hand, we have a hyperathletic Day 2 rookie who has generated tons of hype in training camp. In deeper leagues, that's the kind of player worth stashing just in case.

Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders (9.7% Rostered)

Unlike TeSlaa, Bech has actually had a very underwhelming training camp. Despite receiving solid second-round draft  capital, he seems to be stuck with the second-team offense while fellow rookie Dont'e Thornton Jr. runs with the starters. However, Bech received a glimmer of hope when Jakobi Meyers requested a trade last week. So far, the Raiders have said they do not intend to trade their top receiver, but Bech would be the obvious candidate to fill Meyers' shoes if he were moved. That makes him someone worth keeping an eye on, at least.   

Josh Reynolds, New York Jets (2% Rostered)

This is purely a move for very deep leagues where you might be desperate for streaming production. He's not an exciting player, nor is this an exciting offense, but Reynolds has asserted himself as the Jets' clear WR2 over the last month. Especially with TE Mason Taylor dealing with an injury, he should be Justin Fields' second target … maybe that's worth something.

Tight Ends

Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (22.2% Rostered)

There's no one big piece of news that has risen Okonkwo's stock, but everything is looking up for the fourth-year TE. In the Titans' preseason games, he was consistently on the field with the starters, a big change from previous years. Especially if Cameron Ward can hit the ground running, Okonkwo has a chance to be a breakout fantasy tight end this season.  

Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins (17.4% Rostered)

If you drafted absurdly early, Waller may even have still been retired. More likely, though, he was still on the injured reserve as he worked his way back into game shape. However, he has returned to practice and is reportedly on track to play in Week 1.

Chances are, the 32-year-old isn't fantasy-relevant as the fourth target in this Dolphins offense. But we know Waller has the receiving chops to be a fantasy difference-maker, and this offense did support an elite fantasy TE last season in Jonnu Smith. He's worth a flier in deep formats or those that prioritize TE scoring. 

Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (3.7% Rostered)

Sanders is a beneficiary of the same circumstances as Legette. With Thielen and Coker both unavailable, there are targets available in this offense. The second-year tight end could be the one to take advantage.

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (2.4% Rostered)

Don't worry, nothing has happened to David Njoku. The Browns' TE1 is fine, which theoretically means the third-round rookie is a long way from fantasy relevance. However, we have gotten a few slight signs of hope.

The Browns have cut Diontae Johnson, meaning they have no clear WR3 behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. Fannin also saw encouraging preseason usage: he rested with the starters in Week 2, then saw a solid chunk of snaps with the starters, including plenty with Njoku also on the field, in week 3. If the guy who led all FBS players with over 1,500 yards last year is going to be on the field, he's worth considering. 

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