Fantasy football: top 10 waiver wire Week 1 pickups

4. Chris Carson

In picking up Chris Carson, you’re going for broke. He exploded onto the scene in the preseason with two touchdowns in his first outing as a Seahawk, followed by some extended action with the first team in the game three “dress rehearsal” against Kansas City. He’s made a strong impression, but adding him to your teams is pre-emptive.

While Carson appears as number four on the team’s depth chart, there are question marks about every player in front of him. Eddie Lacy, an offseason signing, was brought in to be “the guy”. It certainly seems he’ll have first crack at the job, but he’s had problems with weight and quite frankly, didn’t perform to expectations after a great start in the NFL.

Thomas Rawls had a strong spell as the starter in 2015, but has battled injuries and might not be available for week one. Sophomore CJ Prosise, like Rawls, didn’t play in the week three preseason game and still won’t be 100 percent for Week 1. Even when he’s healthy, he’ll predominantly play a third down role, and that leaves a lot of early-down work available for someone to take.

Chris Carson could see action early on in the year, and if he shows sparks like he did in the preseason, his role will grow. If you can add him to the end of your benches, do it.