Fantasy Football Waiver Wire 2014: Top 10 Week 1 pickups

Andre Caldwell-WR-Denver Broncos (0.8%)

Andre Caldwell was on the very fringe of fantasy relevancy based on Wes Welker’s injury in the preseason, but he quickly faded when it looked like Welker was going to be back for week one.  However, that situation all changed yesterday with the news that Welker will not only miss Sunday Night’s opener against the Colts but the first four games of the season after he tested positive for PEDs.

With Welker firmly on the sidelines for the first four games, expect Caldwell to step right in and fill in his slot responsibilities. Caldwell is a six-year veteran who joined Denver before the 2012 season and had 16 catches for 200 yards while finding the end zone three times in limited action last year.  When filling in for Welker, he was targeted 11 times against the Chargers catching six passes for 59 yards and a pair of scores.

Caldwell is the more ready option to step in on such short notice although rookie Cody Latimer has generated some wavier wire buzz as well.  I think Latimer will be worked in more slowly at the position as the year goes on as is John Fox’s modus operandi.  Caldwell is an easy swap in for Welker since he plays the slot as well and Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas can stay in their normal positions.  The trick with Caldwell is there are so many options in the Denver offense it’s hard to say how much attention he’ll get from Peyton Manning, but there is definitely fantasy upside in the veteran option who I like more than the unproven rookie Latimer.