Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Workout: Week 1

One size doesn't fit all when it comes to working the waiver wire. Because league formats vary, and because I care, I've broken up possible free-agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter @HarrisFootball for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Addable In All Leagues

DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT (owned in 30% of Yahoo leagues). In advance of Week 1, I'm assuming that most folks drafted players they wanted. That's why I don't recommend that you blow up your team—or even mess with it too much—before any regular-season games are played. So this week, I'll focus on players you might be able to use if, for instance, you drafted Le'Veon Bell and need a replacement for a couple weeks. D-Willy is 32 now and his best days are behind him, plus the Steelers probably won't give him what the same workload as the suspended Bell. But he'll do in a pinch, in what could be a Thursday night shootout against the Patriots.

Andre Williams, RB, NYG (27% owned). In my running back ranks I've assumed that Rashad Jennings is the most valuable option in the Giants' backfield, but that's certainly not set in stone. Williams isn't a great player, but he's a big one. As such, he is an option when New York gets near the goal line.

Benny Cunningham, RB, STL (4% owned). If you drafted Todd Gurley and were vexed to discover he wouldn't be available Week 1, I hope you also drafted Tre Mason. Even against a very good Seahawks defense, Mason is an acceptable fill-in if he's healthy. It's just that there are some doubts about how healthy he is. In the event that Mason's injured hamstring causes him to miss Sunday's contest, Cunningham would be in line for a monster workload.

Brandon Bolden, RB, NE (3% owned). Listen, you don't know how the Patriots backfield will work out Thursday night. I don't know how the Patriots backfield will work out Thursday night. But Bolden will probably be part of the solution in replacing LeGarrette Blount. Unfortunately, Dion Lewis, James White and Travaris Cadet could all horn in on the action, so Bolden is tough to trust. But if there's anyone in this group who could bang a little between the tackles, it's the 220-pound Bolden.

James Jones, WR, GB (17% owned). Jones isn't spectacular, and his 14-touchdown season in 2012 feels like a long time ago. But he certainly has Aaron Rodgers' trust, and that counts for something with Rodgers staring down a season without his top receiving threat, Jordy Nelson. Randall Cobb is locked in as the slot guy, and youngsters like Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jeff Janis could make a play for more targets, but I'm betting Jones will get involved, too. I'd probably own Jones before I'd own Montgomery or Janis.

Richard Rodgers, TE, GB (10% owned). Antonio Gates owners might be better served to roll with Rodgers over the Chargers' Gates replacement, Ladarius Green. Green is a freak athlete, but he may simply not be much of a football player, whereas Rodgers looks like a clear starter on a Green Bay offense looking for solutions at receiver. A touchdown could be in the cards for Rodgers Sunday against Chicago.

Speculative Adds

Christine Michael, RB, DAL (12% owned). Odds are Michael never translates his incredible physical tools into a great NFL career. Most NFL players don't, and the Seahawks probably wouldn't have parted company with him if they considered such a breakthrough to be likely. But Michael landed in RB heaven in Dallas, on a team with a great offensive line and no established stud in the backfield. It doesn't sound like Michael will even play Week 1, but he could get a shot soon.

Brandon Coleman, WR, NO (25% owned). On Tuesday's episode of my podcast, Rotoworld's Evan Silva noted that Coleman played ahead of Marques Colston in two-receiver sets during the preseason, which adds to speculation that perhaps the "big-receiver" role in the Saints offense has changed hands. Coleman isn't guaranteed production, but he may have a terrific opportunity.

Matt Jones, RB, WAS (20% owned). When he came out of the University of Florida, I thought Jones might only be an NFL fullback. But watching his preseason tape has convinced me otherwise. Jones might actually be a shiftier version of Alfred Morris: big, but with some wiggle. Seeing as how Morris is a free agent after this year, it's possible Jones could take some carries as the year progresses.

DeVante Parker, WR, MIA (38% owned). The fantasy world forgot about Parker as he recovered from foot surgery throughout training camp, but now he's reportedly healthy and ready to play in Week 1. It's ambitious to assume he'll instantly be a major target, as he hasn't practiced much. But don't forget Parker is a legit No. 1 WR prospect; as the 2015 season progresses, it won't be a shock to see him edge out guys like Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings on the outside.

Tyrod Taylor, QB, BUF (8% owned). It's the lure of the running quarterback. Taylor threw just 35 passes in his four seasons as a backup in Baltimore, and never logged a collegiate campaign where he completed even 60% of his throws, which bodes poorly for his future as an NFL passer. But Taylor's feet are sweet. I don't expect him to make the Bills offense a great one, but if he's rushing for 60 yards and a touchdown every game, we'll forgive him.

Deep-League Adds

Josh Robinson, RB, IND (2% owned). The Colts parted company with Dan Herron and Zurlon Tipton last week, meaning the rookie Robinson is currently No. 2 on the backfield depth chart, behind only 32-year-old Frank Gore. Now, Indy may still add a bigger back and shift Robinson to a smaller role, but at the moment, I'd strongly consider handcuffing Robinson to Gore in a deeper league.

Karlos Williams, RB, BUF (1% owned). In a crowded Bills backfield, Williams has emerged as LeSean McCoy's backup. Certainly, Rex Ryan would like Shady to carry the mail for him all season, but Williams could inherit a valuable role if McCoy's hammy woes continue. The rookie is a big dude (6'1", 230 pounds) with good feet, and my guess is that someday he's an NFL feature back.

Terrence McGee, RB, BAL (0% owned). After a summer speculating that either Lorenzo Taliaferro or Buck Allen may be Justin Forsett's direct backup, it's possible that McGee is in line for that role. Taliaferro is out with a knee injury and Allen didn't exactly prove trustworthy in the preseason. The Ravens cut McGee last weekend, but they re-signed him and he figures to be active Sunday against the Broncos. Let's see if he's the first man off the bench.

Scott Chandler, TE, NE (3% owned). Someone needs to pick up the slack with Brandon LaFell unavailable in the Patriots offense. Perhaps the team goes with two TEs as its base formation, and perhaps Chandler benefits from all the defensive attention pointed at Rob Gronkowski and puts up some nice production.