With the NFL season in full swing, one of the most common games played nationally among people of all ages is fantasy football. Football fans draft players and cheer for them in the online game, hoping to score points for their team. The most popular type of league is PPR (points per reception), meaning for every one reception/catch a player has, the team earns one fantasy point. Given the NFL season has already started, most drafts have occurred, but I’m going to give you my expert waiver wire (available players that are not featured on a team’s roster) PPR pickups for this upcoming season. If your team is struggling, you should probably give some of these guys a try. 

Let’s start with Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenny Gainwell. Available in more than 70 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues, Kenny Gainwell is a rookie running back from the University of Memphis. While Miles Sanders is currently the RB 1 in Philadelphia, Gainwell showed promise in week one, running for 37 yards and scoring a touchdown. He also played 25 snaps and had a couple of receptions in week one during the Eagles’ defeat of the Falcons, adding to his PPR value. Considering Miles Sanders’s past injuries, Gainwell is a precious asset to any team in need of running-back value. While Gainwell may not be an RB 1 or 2 this year for your team, he plays enough snaps that he could play the flex position and get your team a solid eight to ten points. 

Also, pay attention to Detroit Lions wide receivers Kalif Raymond and Quintez Cephus. Kalif Raymond is coming off of a solid week one where he was targeted four times and had a total of 50 receiving yards. While this may not stand out, the main reason Raymond and Cephus are on this list is due to the lack of wide receiver depth in Detroit. Jared Goff, Detroit’s new QB1, is looking for a new number one wide receiver but doesn’t have many options to pick from. Raymond, a graduate of Westminster’s rival school, GAC, was picked in about 1 percent of the ESPN leagues and is a low-risk investment with high boom potential. Quintez Cephus is another intriguing option because of his play in week one. Cephus was targeted seven times, had three receptions, and was also able to find the end zone. If Cephus keeps his number of targets up, he will also have high boom potential in the coming weeks and could prove to be one of Goff’s favorite receivers this season. Both receivers are available in 99 percent of leagues and are no-brainer pickups.

Next up is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz, the first and only QB on this list. Wentz, recently traded from the Philadelphia Eagles, played well in week one against the Seattle Seahawks, throwing for 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In 2017, Wentz was an MVP candidate and, under Frank Reich, was the Offensive Coordinator of that 2017 Eagles team. Protected by guys like guard Quenton Nelson, Wentz could potentially see a career resurgence. Last year, Wentz lacked wide receivers to throw to, but this year on the Colts, he has a handful of options, spanning from Zach Pascal to Michael Pittman and Parris Campbell. Wentz is a solid fantasy quarterback who is available in more than 90 percent of leagues and, for teams without stellar quarterbacks, is someone worth looking into. 

Denver Broncos wide receiver, Tim Patrick, is also a notable pick. With the injury to second-year player Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick is going to have a greater role in the offense. In week one against the Giants, he had 14 points on four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown, and he is looking to improve on that in the coming weeks. Last year, Patrick had over 700 yards receiving and six touchdowns. With the loss of Jeudy, Patrick’s production will increase tremendously over the next six to eight weeks. Patrick, with the addition of Teddy Bridgewater in the offseason, has a solid quarterback throwing to him and can easily provide him with 10-12 points per game. Patrick’s availability in over 85 percent of leagues means he is someone that has to be picked up and maybe even started. If Patrick is unavailable in your league, KJ Hamler, another Broncos wide receiver, could fill your wide receiver/flex gap. 

Lastly, our own Atlanta Falcons running back, Cordarrelle Patterson. While Cordarrelle Patterson is a stellar kick returner, he also demonstrated lots of promise playing RB for the Falcons in week one. Although the Falcons were absolutely crushed by the Eagles, Patterson showed promise by running for over 50 yards on only seven attempts. Patterson has a big frame and the ability to run hard both downfield and along the sidelines and will continue to see more snaps as the Falcons’ season progresses. While Mike Davis is definitely the running back one in Atlanta, Patterson can also be used as a wide receiver. With the loss of Julio Jones in the offseason, Patterson could see some increased production this year. Patterson may not be a starter in the next couple of weeks, but he is an investment that could prove worthy later in the season. 

Being active on the waiver wires is the key to success in fantasy football because you never know who is going to be the next big thing. Whether your team has started off hot or you have been struggling, any of these players could provide a boost to your team.