Fantasy Football Waiver Wire 2014: Top 10 Week 1 pickups

Andre Williams-RB-New York Giants (42.9%)

If you are searching on the waiver wire for an early-season RB sensation, you most likely will end up disappointed.  In most leagues, RB is one of the thinnest positions on the wire since everyone tries to stock up on depth in the draft.  However, there are some options available who have upside even if it isn’t short term.

The top RB available who has the longterm potential to have the most fantasy impact is Giants’ rookie Andre Williams.  Williams had a solid preseason, but he still needs more work before he’s ready to take a regular role in the backfield along with Rashad Jennings.  Jennings is now the three-down starter after David Wilson was forced into retirement this preseason.  Even though Jennings will get the work early in the season, Coach Tom Coughlin has always preferred a rotation at running back, and the potential Jennings-Williams rotation shares many similarities with his best combo featuring Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Jennings has never been a feature back and did have a few minor injury issues last season with the Raiders, so there’s also potential that Williams could be the starting back at some point this season.

Williams isn’t someone to plug in week one, but as the season goes on the Giants will seek to work him in more and more.  He will most likely start with goal line carries and get increasing work as he adjusts to the NFL offense, but I think by midseason there’s a good chance he has at least flex value.