Fantasy football managers the world over, the wait is almost over! Week one of the NFL season is just days away. Just about all drafts should be complete. However, the fun has only begun! Now is the time to look over the roster and find any potential issues brewing. Are there players still battling injuries? Did a player unexpectedly lose his starting job or in danger of it happening? Let’s face it, no matter how complete a team might look right now, the waiver wire is critical to make a successful postseason run. It is time to cast an eye toward the wire and build a football waivers watch list!

Running Backs

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers, 14.2% Owned

Everyone knows what happened to Christian McCaffrey last season. After rushing and receiving over 1,000 yards in 2019, McCaffrey only played in three games. All looks good for him going into 2021. However, a player is only one play away from missing time. If that were to happen again, his replacement would be Chuba Hubbard, the rookie from Oklahoma State.

Hubbard demonstrated an ability to run and catch the football in college, especially when he scored 19 TDs in 2019. He could be an excellent compliment to McCaffrey this season. Mike Davis is not around in Carolina any longer and if McCaffrey were to suffer a setback, the answer this season would be Hubbard. If you were fortunate enough to draft McCaffrey, Hubbard absolutely needs to be on your radar. All other managers need to keep an eye on him and pounce immediately if anything happens to McCaffrey.

Wayne Gallman, Atlanta Falcons, 5.1% Owned

Speaking of Davis, he is now in Atlanta as their primary running back. There are quite a few managers that do not believe that Davis will deliver anywhere near his preseason predictions. Even though I do not count myself among those doubters, is it clear that an insurance policy needs to be in mind concerning Davis. That policy happens to be Wayne Gallman, last seen getting cut by the 49ers.

While it is true that Gallman isn’t riding in to save anyone’s season, managers need to be aware of him in case Davis doesn’t produce or if an injury should occur. The only other running back of note on Atlanta’s roster is Cordarrelle Patterson. He absolutely inspires no one, having scored a single TD last season. That places Gallman, who scored nine TDs with the Giants, in position to produce even if Davis does perform up to his expectations. Gallman needs to be on everyone’s football waivers watch list to start the season.

Tevin Coleman, New York Jets, 19% Owned

While the NFL season is days away, it doesn’t look like the Jets have a named starter at running back. Tevin Coleman and Ty Johnson are viewed as the top options as of this writing. Johnson has one season of experience, having rushed for 254 yards and a TD last season. That is not exactly RB1 material, is it? Coleman doesn’t exactly shine with fantasy gold, either, but he does have more experience.

While it is true that Coleman only played in eight games in 2020 with San Francisco, he never played in fewer than 13 in his previous four years. He also scored 23 touchdowns in that span. If he can get back to anything resembling that kind of production, he would be a valuable fantasy player. No question, he is certainly worth keeping an eye on as New York begins play.

Other running backs to watch as the season begins:

Mark Ingram, Houston Texans

Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars

Wide Receivers

Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers, 31% Owned

After leaving Green Bay after the 2018 season, Randall Cobb returns to the Packers in 2021. It has been said that Aaron Rodgers wanted Cobb and it seems that whatever Rodgers wants, he will get this year. Without doubt, Cobb had his greatest seasons in Green Bay and the return should do him good.

Cobb has pretty much disappeared from the landscape since 2017, when he caught 92 passes. He has scored all of eight TDs in the last three years. While all of that sounds bleak, any receiver that has Rodgers throwing to him cannot be overlooked. It is certain that Davante Adams will get plenty of attention by opposing defenses. That should leave Cobb in single coverage much of the time. Those last two facts alone are enough to get Cobb on this football waivers watch list.

Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons, 31% Owned

It clearly seems that Russell Gage is getting overlooked coming into the 2021 season. Gage was viewed as a sleeper last year and those who took a chance on him were rewarded. Gage was the 22nd ranked WR in targets and finished 2020 37th in WR fantasy points. Those stats would have been even better if Gage had scored more than four touchdowns. That shouldn’t be a problem for him in 2021 and there is plenty of upside this coming season.

First, Julio Jones is now in Tennessee. All of those vacated targets need to go somewhere. Second, even when Jones and Calvin Ridley were on the field with Gage, he averaged a 20 percent target share. With no Jones around any longer, Gage can only provide more production for Atlanta and his fantasy managers. If not already on a roster, keep a very sharp eye on Gage this year.

Sterling Shepard, New York Giants, 20.9% Owned

Is this the season when Sterling Shepard can finally stay healthy? His track record doesn’t look promising as he has played a full 16 games only once in the last three years. However, Shepard has managed the feat twice in his career, so it is not out of the realm of possibility. Even if he doesn’t play every game, when Shepard does play, he gets targeted.

In fact, Shepard’s lowest target level in his five professional seasons is 83. Shepard turned 90 targets in 2020 into 66 receptions and three TDs. Additionally, Shepard also scored on a rushing touchdown. There is no question that Shepard shouldn’t be on a whole lot of fantasy rosters at the beginning of this season. However, he does need to be very much included on this football waivers watch list.

Other wide receivers to watch as the season begins:

Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills

Terrace Marshall Jr, Carolina Panthers

Tight Ends

Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers, 21.3% Owned

As the tight end position is razor thin in every fantasy season, 2021 is no exception. Any player that looks to have starter potential needs attention at the beginning, middle and end of the year. As such, Jared Cook gets special mention for the best reason there is- he has a high quality quarterback to throw to him. Of course, that QB is Justin Herbert, who turned in one of the greatest rookie seasons by a QB in a long time.

Without question, Los Angeles looks loaded coming into the season. All of the Chargers’ offensive weapons should give Cook a lot of space to work in. After catching just 37 passes in 2020, Cook needs a resurgence like few others in Los Angeles. As he won’t be on a lot of rosters as 2021 begins, he clearly will be a tight end to keep an eye on.

Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans, 12.9% Owned

No question, the numbers put up by Anthony Firkser in 2020 are nothing to get excited about. That said, that could change in a big way this season. Tennessee’s tight ends rank sixth in fantasy points over the past two years and Firkser looks to have the starting position all to himself. That is because Jonnu Smith is now in New England. Firkser showed what he is capable of when he turned in a 8-113-1 stat line in week six last season when Smith was out of the lineup.

The Titans look to be an offensive juggernaut coming into 2021 and Firkser should easily put up the best numbers across the board of his career. Even though one can argue that there won’t be enough footballs to go around, there should be enough volume for all to prosper. Firkser begins the season on most league’s waiver wire and owners would do well to keep him on their football waivers watchlist to begin the season.

Other tight ends to watch as the season begins:

Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys

Jordan Akins, Houston Texans

Quarterbacks

Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos, 4.8% Owned

It is certainly clear that questions surround Teddy Bridgewater coming into the season. He had the starting job all to himself in Carolina and it didn’t go well. Bridgewater threw only 15 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Those two numbers explain why he is now in Denver. Until a few weeks ago, it wasn’t even known if Bridgewater would be the starter for the Broncos.

However, he will indeed be behind center entering week one. Denver has a ton of weapons in the receiver and tight end ranks and that bodes well for Bridgewater entering 2021. If, and it is a big if, no question, Bridgewater is the starter the whole season, he is set to produce quality fantasy numbers. He has left any injury concerns in the past. Look for Bridgewater to pass for 25 plus TDs and he can definitely run with the ball, scoring five rushing TDs in 2020. Keep a sharp eye on him during the season.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders, 13.9% Owned

Apparently, the fantasy community has completely given up on Derek Carr as a quality starting quarterback. The ownership rate indicates the truth of that statement, despite the fact that Carr had 4,103 passing yards and 27 TDs a year ago. Carr has three consecutive 4,000 yard passing seasons and his TDs have gone up each season since 2018. Even with all of that, it is quite possible Carr may be playing his final season for Las Vegas.

The Raiders haven’t won more than eight games since 2016 and their patience with Carr is running out. It is reasonable to conclude that Carr will have extra motivation this coming season to keep his job. Carr is no one’s idea of an outstanding fantasy QB, but injuries around the league are sure to happen. Not to mention bye weeks creating openings on a roster. Fantasy managers need to keep glancing Carr’s way during the season to see if he can fill in as needed. Chances are he will rise to the occasion.

Other quarterbacks to watch as the season begins:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football waivers watch list edition! Everyone have a fun and enjoyable fantasy season! As always, I welcome input and suggestions from all of my readers. Have other players to include? Disagree with the selections? Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea, and be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest NFL and sports news!

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