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The headline: Conner starts the year on IR
Arizona placed James Conner on injured reserve with a designation to return, an ankle injury that also ended his 2025 season early. He'll miss at least the first four games (RotoWire, NBC Sports). Complicating things further, rookie third-overall pick Jeremiyah Love is himself dealing with a high-ankle sprain and is questionable for the opener (RotoWire Depth Chart). With Trey Benson also on IR, that leaves Tyler Allgeier as the presumptive lead back in Arizona's Week 1 backfield.
Top Waiver Wire RBs Out of the Arizona Backfield Mess
- Tyler Allgeier Direct beneficiary of Conner's IR stint and Love's ankle question mark — could be in line for a hefty early-season workload.
- Bam Knight Backs up Allgeier — the clearest handcuff if Arizona's early-down role shakes out in his favor.
- Kaleb Johnson Fresh start in Green Bay, where the Packers lean on an untested MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks with Josh Jacobs on the exempt list.
- George Holani Pre-Week 1 stash — reportedly holds the goal-line and third-down role with Zach Charbonnet on PUP.
Top waiver wire adds
Priority order for Week 1, blending FAAB guidance from RotoBaller's post-draft board and Yahoo Fantasy's pre-Week 1 rankings.
| Player | Matchup | Priority | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler AllgeierRB · ARI | vs NO | Add in all leagues | Presumptive lead back with Conner on IR and Love banged up — real Week 1 workload upside. |
| Keenan AllenWR · IND | — | Add in all leagues | Expected to play Week 1, reuniting with Shane Steichen after 777 yards and four scores last year; strong red-zone target for Daniel Jones. |
| Keaton MitchellRB · LAC | — | Add in all leagues | Rostered in just 42% of leagues behind Derrick Henry, but a strong offensive line and creative playcalling give him real breakthrough upside. |
| Corey KinerRB · NE | @ SEA | Speculative | Acquired from Arizona in late August — the direct handcuff if TreVeyon Henderson's ankle keeps him out of the opener. |
| Brenton StrangeTE · JAX | — | Add | Rostered in just 35% of leagues despite a clear role in Jacksonville's offense — a strong streaming option at a thin position. |
| Kaleb JohnsonRB · GB | — | Speculative | Rostered in just 12% of leagues but sits in a Green Bay backfield with real early-season upside. |
| Chicago BearsD/ST | @ CAR | Top streamer | Rostered in just 10% of leagues; Carolina's offense scored the sixth-fewest points per game in 2025, and Bryce Young's early-season struggles make this a prime spot. |
Start/sit calls that matter
Matchup-driven calls for Week 1 lineups, via RotoBaller's start/sit breakdown and FantasyPros' injury report.
| Player | Call | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | Start | Must-start in every format regardless of matchup — a true RB1 workload in Atlanta's offense. |
| Derrick HenryRB · BAL | Start | Top-10 fantasy back for four straight seasons draws a soft Indianapolis run defense to open the year. |
| Kyle Pitts Sr.TE · ATL | Start | Must-start TE1 after a career-high 88 catches in 2025; Pittsburgh allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends last year. |
| Patrick MahomesQB · KC | Caution | Questionable as he returns from a torn ACL/LCL — treat as a high-end QB2 rather than a locked-in start in his first game back. |
| DK MetcalfWR · PIT | Caution | Nursing an injury, and Atlanta's A.J. Terrell Jr. — a top-20 corner in target separation — could shadow him. Lower-end WR3 this week. |
| Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT | Sit | Finished as PPR TE25 in 2025, and Atlanta allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last year. |
Also on the Wire: Patriots Backfield Watch
- TreVeyon Henderson Ankle injury has kept him out of practice since Aug. 24 and his Week 1 status is uncertain — a bench candidate if he's inactive against Seattle (ESPN).
- Rhamondre Stevenson Clear-cut starter regardless of Henderson's status — already rostered in most leagues, but locked into volume either way.
- Corey Kiner The direct waiver-wire handcuff if Henderson sits — acquired from Arizona late in August specifically for depth.
Want live lines on these Week 1 matchups? Check the spreads and player props on DraftKings Sportsbook.
View odds Coming soonHold, don't panic
Week 1 rosters are still settling, and a few notable names could show up on "droppable" lists simply because of ankle-injury noise. Jeremiyah Love, Ashton Jeanty, Breece Hall, and Christian McCaffrey are all tracking toward playing or returning soon — don't let one banged-up week talk you into cutting a startable asset (FantasyPros).
Read the full report with all tables and pickup boards on the Waivers Edge site →