Welcome to this year’s first Waiver Wire.

We’ll be bringing you the best fantasy football pickups on a weekly basis just like last year, so check back when you need roster help.  There were plenty of illuminating plays and happenings in week one, so let’s get right to it. As always, we make an effort to list players who are available in a fair number of leagues. I’m sort of re-using this line, but we ALL know it’s advisable to pick up Julio Jones if he is available. We’re trying to give you guidance you can actually use. If you have a question about a player we did not list, please feel free to look us up at Rotobahn.com and check out our full waiver wire and free agency tool.

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson, Seahawks

He was solid in his debut, though the stats tell a different story. Wilson has a chance to be very good for fantasy purposes. He gets points with his feet, which we always like, and we think the team around him is underrated now that WR Sidney Rice is proving to be healthy and Marshawn Lynch is back in the good books with the Commissioner and law enforcement.

Alex Smith, 49ers

He’s not special, but he’s predictably good due to great coaching and a very solid supporting cast. Not bad when Randy Moss is a complimentary piece, right?  Smith is playing at his highest level as a pro right now and that is good enough to be a good QB2 in all formats.

Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars

He played with poise we didn’t see in 2011 and that is good news. He also produced two scores and no picks, so the result matches the play. We expect Gabbert to fare pretty well going forward now that he has legit weapons at his disposal.  He’s always had a top-flight arm. He’s a decent and practically free way to solve your backup QB problem if you have one.

Mark Sanchez, Jets

I’m admittedly surprised about this one, but he played well enough to be owned in most large formats and right now, he is unowned in 88% of Yahoo leagues. He can be a decent backup, especially if he has a decent matchup on your starter’s bye week. Tebow’s effect was negligible and looks to take more from the Jets’ RBs than he will Sanchez at this stage. Then again, you know what they say about New York minutes.

Running Backs

CJ Spiller, Bills

Spiller looked like he was shot out of a cannon on a few of his runs against the Jets. He showed burst, balance and patience. He bounced off of would-be tacklers and ran behind his pads. Spiller has come a long way over the last year or so and he now looks like he’s ready to be a consistent force. He should be a very high priority if not the highest priority in this week’s free agent spread. If you own Fred Jackson, sell out for Spiller and we’d be going after him in most other scenarios too. Jackson is out two weeks minimum and perhaps as many as eight according to HC Chan Gailey.

Mikel Leshoure, Lions

He will miss one more game and then we like him to be the most valuable back in Detroit over the final fifteen weeks. We’d pick him up in all formats if we have the need and or the roster space. He is unowned in 66% of Yahoo leagues. He’s a big powerful back and he is ready to roll based on the info we have now. If you own Kevin Smith, then adding Leshoure makes even more sense.

David Wilson, Giants

If you own starter Ahmad Bradshaw, you must own Wilson. The fact that he literally coughed up his first big chance may give you a second chance at him, though he is still unowned in 46% of Yahoo leagues. This is a very talented player and he should be owned in all but the tiniest of league formats. Speed kills.

Alfred Morris, Redskins

We are still unsold on him, but he’s got RB2 value for the time being. We lean towards Roy Helu over the long haul, but Morris does run hard and has earned the job.  Evan Royster is also a factor in D.C., so we still have the dreaded three-headed backfield potentially. Avoiding the Redskins backs in total makes some sense.

Wide Receivers

Randall Cobb, Packers

We like Cobb a ton and if they are going to keep using him this way, then he’ll be a PPR dream. They are using him in the Percy Harvin/Aaron Hernandez mold, where he overlaps at several positions. He was being used in pass-pro in week one, and that made him available for dump offs and screens, in addition to all the things we’ve seen from him before. We’d go get him if he is available. He’s looking like he could be viable in all formats.  Rodgers likes him and seems to trust him. That matters.

Alshon Jefferey, Bears

We don’t want to go too crazy here, but he looked very good. He’s a great fit for Jay Cutler as an “always open” guy. He runs well for a guy with his frame and he has better-than-advertised feet as we saw on his 4th quarter touchdown. He’s unowned in 66% of Yahoo leagues and that number is way too high. We’d roster him now because he may  be very useful soon. We expect him to be starting in a few games, which would make him a legit WR3.

Brandon LaFell, Panthers

It was a rough day for Carolina, but LaFell found the zone and continued to look like a player on the rise. Newton is looking for him and he’s got the ability. He should be a pretty solid WR3 the rest of the way. He should be rostered in all leagues.

Stephen Hill, Jets

This kid showed up to play week one showing strength to break the jam and an ability to go up and get the football. He’s 6-4 with burner’s speed, so this is a player to roster based on upside alone.

Tight Ends

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

Unowned in 65% of Yahoo leagues, Rudolph should be the 2nd option in Minnesota. And with Ponder at the helm, we think that makes Rudolph a legit TE option if not a TE1. He’s big and athletic and he can catch the ball in traffic. We think he’ll keep getting it done.

Coby Fleener, Colts

He’s still learning, yet the stats are already there. That’s always a positive sign. He obviously has the trust of his QB and he should yield TE1 value on most weeks. He should be owned in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Pick him and start him if you are in need.

Dennis Pitta, Ravens

Not a big name, but we like his game. He was just coming back from injury last night yet he was targeted early and often by Joe Flacco finding the end zone once. Pitta can start for you if you need a guy and he may creep into the TE1’s before all is said and done. He’s a solid add in deeper formats.

Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars

He’s not a sexy name, though with a name like Marcedes, we’re not sure why not.  Nevertheless, the guy can play, and now that his QB is looking rather functional, Lewis is back to being a viable fantasy option in most formats. He’s an underrated asset.

Defense/Special teams

Denver Broncos

They have the talent to score fantasy points and they looked very good against Pittsburgh. They can start for you and they are very much available in most leagues.

Kicker

Greg Zuerlein, Rams

If you are in need of a kicker for some odd reason, we like this kid’s leg and he is available in most leagues. The only downside is the Rams’ offense, but they do stall and they do play in a dome. He’s a fringe PK1.