Week 1 Utilization Questions and the Waiver Adds to Make Right Now

It's Week 1, and there are still a dozen backfields where nobody actually knows who's getting the ball.

Matthew Freedman, Dwain McFarland and Alex Cupps kick off the regular season with the fantasy football utilization questions they have least confidence in heading into Sunday, then each name one running back and one wide receiver you should add before games kick off.

The run game comes first and it's a long list. David Montgomery against Woody Marks in Houston. The three-way Jacksonville committee with Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez and LeQuint Allen. Washington with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White and Kaytron Allen. Minnesota with Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones and Demond Claiborne. Green Bay with Jacobs out and MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks and Kaleb Johnson competing for the work. Plus Carolina, Tampa Bay and Seattle, and the quarterback run rates for Jaxson Dart and Malik Willis that could quietly decide a few of these.

Then the pass catchers: Ja'Kobi Lane in Baltimore, the Dalton Kincaid and James Cook route split in Buffalo, Harold Fannin and KC Concepcion in Cleveland, Josh Downs in Indianapolis, Isaiah Likely with the Giants, Makai Lemon in Philadelphia, the three-headed Green Bay receiver room, Terrance Ferguson in Los Angeles, and the Chargers tight end snaps between Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku and Charlie Kolar.

They close on waivers, with the framework Freedman uses for handcuffs — the odds the starter misses time, the odds the backup inherits the work, and the odds he's any good with it — plus specific names at low roster percentages including Kaelon Black, Malik Davis, Chris Bell and Pat Bryant.

Use promo code FFIL for 10% off FantasyLife+ Tier 2, and check Cupps' first waiver wire piece of the season on the site.

Topics in this video:

2026 fantasy football, week 1 fantasy football, waiver wire, fantasy football utilization, snap share, David Montgomery, Woody Marks, Bhayshul Tuten, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones, MarShawn Lloyd, Chuba Hubbard, Bucky Irving, Jaxson Dart, Ja'Kobi Lane, Dalton Kincaid, Harold Fannin, KC Concepcion, Josh Downs, Isaiah Likely, Makai Lemon, Christian Watson, Terrance Ferguson, Oronde Gadsden, Kaelon Black, Pat Bryant, handcuff running backs, fantasy football advice

TIMECODES

00:00:00 - Intro
00:04:53 - HOU: David Montgomery vs. Woody Marks
00:14:30 - JAX: RBs - Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez, LeQuint Allen
00:23:06 - WAS: RBs - Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen
00:29:11 - MIN: RBs - Jordan Mason, Aaron Jones, Demond Claiborne
00:36:34 - GB: RBs - Josh Jacobs (out, might return at some point), MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, Kaleb Johnson
00:43:53 - CAR: RBs - Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks
00:51:23 - TB: RBs - Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell, Sean Tucker
00:59:18 - SEA: RBs - Jadarian Price, George Holani, Emanuel Wilson
01:07:41 - Freedman: Kaelon Black - 22%
01:09:24 - Cupps: Malik Davis - 18%
01:12:51 - Dwain: Ray Davis, Emmett Johnson
01:15:46 - Pass Catchers - Utilization
01:16:26 - BAL: Ja'Kobi Lane
01:20:00 - BUF: Dalton Kincaid & James Cook Routes
01:29:34 - CLE: Harold Fannin & KC Concepcion
01:38:39 - IND: Josh Downs
01:44:11 - NYG: TE Isaiah Likely
01:50:24 - PHI: Makai Lemon
01:55:32 - GB: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Tucker Kraft
02:02:57 - LAR: Terrance Ferguson
02:08:12 - LAC: LAC TE Routes / Snaps - Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku, Charlie Kolar
02:18:39 - WR - Top Waiver Wire Names - Freedman: Chris Bell - 5%
02:19:57 - Cupps: Pat Bryant - 23%
02:21:47 - Dwain: Ja'Kobi Lane
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