These are the fantasy football waiver wire adds Peppers & Picks recommends for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Every player here is rostered in roughly half of leagues or fewer, yet projects close to or above what a startable player at the position returns. Each entry lists the position, team, roster percentage and Pepper Meter heat rating, plus Tina's original explanation of why the claim is worth spending on.
Data on this page is as of September 12, 2026 at 7:18 PM ET and refreshes automatically every 30 minutes.
Heat shown for: PPRheat
Waiver wire gems for Week 1
1. Michael Mayer LV · TE · 26% rostered
🌶️1 of 5 peppers, MildMild
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Michael Mayer (LV, TE) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 26% rostered across leagues. Boring floor play, but the floor is the point. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Michael Mayer (LV TE) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 5.2 projected fantasy points. Michael Mayer is where the free points are this week. Roster share is moving +2.1% week over week, so the rest of the country is catching up. Only 26% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. The projection sits about 26% under what a startable TE returns, so I honestly can't pretend the price tag matches the output. He's without an opponent this week, which caps this at a roster-hold conversation.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
2. Tre Tucker LV · WR · 31% rostered
🌶️1 of 5 peppers, MildMild
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Tre Tucker (LV, WR) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 31% rostered across leagues. Everyone streams this position weekly. Get ahead of it. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Tre Tucker (LV WR) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 8.2 projected fantasy points. Tre is the add I'd make first. Nothing in the projection defends him — 18% below positional par is a bench line for me. No game on the schedule this week, so the only decision is who replaces him. Only 31% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
3. Chris Bell MIA · WR · 6% rostered
🌶️1 of 5 peppers, MildMild
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Chris Bell (MIA, WR) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 6% rostered across leagues. One injury away from being un-droppable. Stash him. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Chris Bell (MIA WR) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 7.1 projected fantasy points. Chris Bell is where the free points are this week. Only 6% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. He grades 29% below the average weekly WR number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. He's without an opponent this week, which caps this at a roster-hold conversation.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
4. Devaughn Vele NO · WR · 13% rostered
🌶️1 of 5 peppers, MildMild
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Devaughn Vele (NO, WR) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 13% rostered across leagues. Free in half of leagues and trending. Free money. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Devaughn Vele (NO WR) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 7.3 projected fantasy points. Devaughn is the add I'd make first. Nothing in the projection defends him — 27% below positional par is a bench line for me. No game on the schedule this week, so the only decision is who replaces him. Only 13% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
5. C.J. Stroud HOU · QB · 26% rostered
🌶️🌶️2 of 5 peppers, SpicySpicy
Peppers & Picks recommends adding C.J. Stroud (HOU, QB) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 26% rostered across leagues. Nobody in your league is watching this snap count. Be early. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names C.J. Stroud (HOU QB) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 15.0 projected fantasy points. C.J. is the add I'd make first. Nothing in the projection defends him — 12% below positional par is a bench line for me. No game on the schedule this week, so the only decision is who replaces him. Only 26% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
6. Cade Otton TB · TE · 3% rostered
🌶️🌶️2 of 5 peppers, SpicySpicy
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Cade Otton (TB, TE) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 3% rostered across leagues. Everyone streams this position weekly. Get ahead of it. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Cade Otton (TB TE) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 6.1 projected fantasy points. Cade Otton is where the free points are this week. Only 3% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Nothing in the projection defends him — 13% below positional par is a bench line for me. No game on the schedule this week, so the only decision is who replaces him.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
7. Bryce Young CAR · QB · 11% rostered
🌶️🌶️2 of 5 peppers, SpicySpicy
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Bryce Young (CAR, QB) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 11% rostered across leagues. The coaching staff is figuring him out before your league is. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Bryce Young (CAR QB) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 14.5 projected fantasy points. Bryce Young is where the free points are this week. Only 11% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Nothing in the projection defends him — 15% below positional par is a bench line for me. No game on the schedule this week, so the only decision is who replaces him.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
8. Jalen Nailor LV · WR · 13% rostered
🌶️1 of 5 peppers, MildMild
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Jalen Nailor (LV, WR) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 13% rostered across leagues. Nobody in your league is watching this snap count. Be early. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Jalen Nailor (LV WR) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 7.4 projected fantasy points. Jalen Nailor is where the free points are this week. Only 13% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. He grades 26% below the average weekly WR number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. He's without an opponent this week, which caps this at a roster-hold conversation.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
9. Aaron Rodgers PIT · QB · 7% rostered
🌶️1 of 5 peppers, MildMild
Peppers & Picks recommends adding Aaron Rodgers (PIT, QB) from the waiver wire in Week 1; he is 7% rostered across leagues. The coaching staff is figuring him out before your league is. — Sally
Peppers & Picks names Aaron Rodgers (PIT QB) a waiver wire target for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season against bye, projecting 13.4 projected fantasy points. Aaron Rodgers is where the free points are this week. Only 7% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. 13.4 points is roughly 21% short of the QB baseline, and I honestly rank on output, not name recognition. No game on the schedule this week, so the only decision is who replaces him.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Sep 12, 7:18 PM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.
