FANTASY FOOTBALL STOCK WATCH AFTER WEEK ONE

Week 1 of the 2026 season was a scoring explosion. The Bears dropped 59 on Carolina in the highest-scoring Week 1 game in NFL history, Baltimore and Buffalo piled up points, and a few mid-round and late-round names immediately forced waiver conversations.

Best performances

Quarterbacks

• Caleb Williams, CHI — 37.3 PPR. 269 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, 65 rush yards, 2 rush TDs. Biggest boom vs. projection.

• Josh Allen, BUF — 35.7. 334 pass yards, 2 pass TDs, 2 rush TDs against Houston’s defense.

• Bryce Young, CAR — 32.4 in a 59–37 loss. Volume was there even in defeat.

• Lamar Jackson, BAL — 324 pass yards plus a rushing TD; the Ravens offense looked like a carnival.

• Tyler Shough, NO — 410 pass yards and 3 TDs in an OT loss at Detroit.

Running backs

• Derrick Henry, BAL — 34.3. 144 yards and 3 TDs on 24 carries (70%+ carry share).

• D’Andre Swift, CHI — 31.4. 124 yards and 3 TDs on 18 carries.

• Jahmyr Gibbs, DET — 156 rush yards and 2 TDs (plus receiving work) in OT win.

• Ashton Jeanty, LV — 26.7+. 102 rush yards plus 6 catches, 45 yards, 2 receiving TDs vs. Miami. Workhorse usage.

• Breece Hall, NYJ — 102 yards and a TD on 20 carries.

Receivers / tight ends

• Christian Watson, GB — 6/147/2. Instant WR1 week.

• Chris Olave, NO — 10/182.

• Zay Flowers, BAL — 150 receiving yards.

• Jalen Coker, CAR — 138 yards in the shootout.

• Dalton Kincaid, BUF — 130 yards; high snap share with Josh Allen humming.

• Caleb Douglas, MIA — 5/94 as Miami’s top target with Willis.

Notable busts (don’t panic-sell stars yet)

• Ja’Marr Chase — 1.2 points despite near-100% route participation. Classic “buy the dip.”

• Other underwhelmers mentioned across recaps: Drake London, James Cook, Colston Loveland (shut out in the 59-point Bears game), early Stafford/Adams in the Thursday game.

Players to add (Week 2 waivers)

Priority depends on league size and roster %, but these names keep showing up across FantasyPros, The Athletic, CBS, and NBC:

Must-consider / high priority

• Devaughn Vele, WR, NO — Saints’ No. 2 while Jordyn Tyson is out. High-paced offense. Add in all leagues if available.

• Jalen Coker, WR, CAR — 138 yards in Week 1. Should be rostered everywhere if he’s still out there.

• Dontayvion Wicks, WR, PHI — Clear No. 2 after the A.J. Brown situation; high snap share.

• Caleb Douglas, WR, MIA — Started, 26% target share / 40% first-read share, 5/94. Best Miami receiver add.

• Kaelon Black, RB, SF — Out-carried CMC 14–10. Handcuff with standalone flex path if the 49ers keep splitting work.

Strong depth / streamer / stash

• Woody Marks, RB, HOU

• Adonai Mitchell, WR, NYJ

• Khalil Shakir, WR, BUF (still useful next to DJ Moore)

• Tyler Shough or Bryce Young if you need a QB stream

• Bucky Irving holders can stay patient after a promising snap/touch mix

Spend FAAB on Vele/Coker/Wicks/Douglas first in typical 12-teamers; Black if you need RB insurance.

Players to drop (or strongly consider cutting)

Don’t drop stars after one week. These are the names analysts are actually listing as droppable:

• Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, BAL — Apparent significant wrist injury; expected to miss time. Bench spots are too valuable.

• Rashid Shaheed — Repeatedly listed as a cut.

• Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG — Fumble + already in the coach’s doghouse; Cam Skattebo led the backfield.

• Tre Tucker, LV — Jeanty ate; “someone has to catch it” isn’t automatically Tucker.

• Jayden Reed, GB — Only in shallower leagues; Watson and Golden looked like the top two.

• Tyjae Spears — Titans backfield/team look unappealing; easy cut if you have better WR/RB options.

Hold Chase, London, and similar draft capital. One week of volume without production is not a reason to dump a WR1.

If you want this tailored to your specific roster (adds vs. your bench, FAAB budget, PPR vs. half, Superflex, etc.), drop the lineup and I’ll prioritize claims.

CITED

Fantasy Football Leaders – Week 1 (2026) |

FantasyPros

# Fantasy Football Leaders – Week 1 (2026) | FantasyPros

# fantasypros.com

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Fantasy football Week 1 booms and busts: Caleb Williams, Ja’Marr Chase and more

espn.com

Caleb Williams and the Bears are fantasy football’s pertect storm – The Athletic

@nytimes.com

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