The big question with FAAB is when to spend your money. I tend to show restraint at the beginning of the season unless there is a player who gets hurt (Jordan Love) or someone I really need. Otherwise, there always seems to be a player who comes up later in the season that I want to save my money for.
Here are some early targets that are of interest. For the purposes of this article, I assume your league uses $1000 FAAB.
I’ve been saying all pre-season that Mayfield is worth a couple of dollars as a stash on a good offense. He’s still a must-add. FAAB: $30-50
Darnold is playing in a Dome with great receivers and an excellent play-calling head coach. 3500 yards and 25 touchdowns are not out of the question. His good game vs. NYG raised his cost. FAAB: $20-25
There’s upside with both his arm and his legs, but it comes with a TON of growing pains. FAAB: $5-10
He won’t be playing Carolina every game, but he is capable of passing 230-250 yards each week. New Orleans runs a TON in the red zone so don’t overbid. FAAB: $5-7
Yes, his Week 1 was a disaster, but the Bears are a great defense, and his second-half schedule is pretty easy. FAAB: $5-7
How good did Jordan Mason look on Monday night?! There’s a solid chance he’s out there in most shallow leagues. It’s obvious that SF is not rushing CMC back until he is 100%, and we all know how checkered his injury history is. FAAB: $250-300
There’s been a lot of talk in training camp that Tank looks a whole lot better this year than he did last year as a rookie. In fact, he DID look better against Miami. I’m interested in pieces of this offense. FAAB: $35-50
Chandler has juice and will be involved in the running attack, as Aaron Jones is not a true bell cow. FAAB: $35-50
He didn’t play a ton, but he showed some burst when he did. Then again, the Cardinals run defense is awful. FAAB: $30-40
Get him now in case of a Rachaad White injury. He’s the real deal. FAAB: $70-90
Get him right now in case of a Walker injury. He looks more comfortable than he did last season. FAAB: $60-80
Nix is going to dump the ball off to his running backs a ton and McLaughlin is the best pass catcher of the group. FAAB: $40-50
He’s capable of producing good numbers if Javonte gets injured. FAAB: $20-30
He’s the backup to Josh Jacobs until Marshawn Lloyd returns. FAAB: $5-10
He looked pretty good against the Chargers and is the 3rd down and receiving back. Better in PPR formats than standard. FAAB: $15-20
The Saints run a ton by the goal line. He’s the backup with Kendre Miller sidelined. FAAB: $2-4
Allen is Hall’s backup, and if he’s available in leagues, you need to pick him up right now. He’s difficult to stop when he gets a head of steam going. FAAB: $60-80 if you have Hall. $20-30 if you don’t.
I don’t think that JK Dobbins will make it to Week Eight. Once that happens, Vidal should have a chance to start and perform admirably. FAAB: $10-20
Surprisingly, Jaylen Wright was inactive for the game. Wilson is a TD vulture. Don’t pick him up, but put a watch on him. FAAB: $1
He’s a veteran WR3 in a good offense with an excellent quarterback. Plus, Puka Nacua just went on the IR for at least four weeks with a chance for more. FAAB: $180-220
Sean Payton must really hate Marvin Mims. Vele was a solid receiver at Utah, and the Broncos like his speed and size. FAAB: $10-15
Iosivas Is going to play the Tyler Boyd role this season, and he’s already becoming one of Burrow’s more trusted targets in camp. FAAB: $25-30
I loved him at the University of Washington, and he’s already worked his way into the starting lineup for Tampa. He scored one TD against Washington and really should have had a second. FAAB: $25-35
With Zay Jones out for the first five weeks, look for Dortch to come in and be an every-week starter. He has a very good rapport with Kyler Murray, so it wouldn’t shock me to see him stick in the starting lineup even when Jones returns. FAAB: $20-25
Brown just signed with the Commanders last week, and I think there’s a very good chance he might be the starter come Week 3. FAAB: $5-10
The Cowboys like Tolbert as their WR3. A lot of people are overlooking him, and that might be a big mistake in case of an injury to Lamb or Cooks. FAAB: $15-20
I would pay an extra dollar for Dotson if I already had A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith on my roster. FAAB: $15-20 if you have A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith. $1-2 if you don’t.
If your league gives extra points for long-distance touchdowns, Tucker might be a great pickup. He’s got tremendous speed, and you know that Gardner Minshew is always willing to take a few shots downfield. FAAB: $5-10
Right now, he’s the WR3 for the Vikings, which gives him some value, especially if you think that Jordan Addison might miss time (which I do). FAAB: $35-40
Both receivers have value now that we know Puka will miss time. FAAB: $10-20
Richardson is a great athlete but a real mess of a thrower. He missed Mitchell on two guaranteed TDs but threw downfield to Pierce, who made both receptions. Worth a grab IF: Downs is still out OR if he keeps the WR3 when Downs returns. FAAB $10-12
Kirk Cousins is not moving well in the pocket at all. Ray Ray is a shifty slot WR and he could see some quick looks every game if Cousins needs to be bailed out. FAAB: $5-10
He is the WR3 in Detroit. Would certainly grab if I had Jameson/St. Brown or was in a super deep league. FAAB: $10-15
Carolina will be playing from behind most weeks, and they are trying to get him reps. FAAB: $20-25
I am a huge Sinott fan, and I think it’s only a matter of time before he comes into the starting lineup and thrives. Think about what Trey McBride did last year, and that’s what I’m thinking for Sinnott in 2024. FAAB: $10-20
With Darren Waller out, the Giants are in desperate need of a starting tight end, and Johnson is supremely athletic. He played way more snaps than Bellinger in Week 1 FAAB: $5-10
Kraft will likely not see a ton of receptions, but I think he could be used in the red zone due to his size and pass-catching ability. FAAB: $5-10
With Tyler Higbee on the PUP, Parkinson is the TE1 for the Rams. FAAB: $20-25
I expect that Johnson should see at least 50% of snaps and is used a lot in the red zone. FAAB: $10-15
A lot of smart people seem to think that Hurst is going to be the pass-catching tight end for the Chargers. He could be a sneaky source of 50 receptions for 500 yards and five touchdowns. FAAB: $5-10
Lots of potential short passes for this tight end who plays more like a WR. FAAB: $10-15
Josh Allen’s road roommate. Kincaid dominated last season, but that was when Knox missed time. Knox is back, which complicates things a bit, but Allen always looks for him. FAAB: $3-5
Richardson only completed 9 passes this week, but Granson was on the field for a lot of those snaps. FAAB: $3-5
Kingsbury will get him the football until he inevitably misses time. FAAB: $3-5
David Njoku left the game with an injured knee. No word on his timetable, but speculation is worth a bid. FAAB: $3-5
Ferguson has a sprained MCL, and there’s a good chance he misses Week 2. FAAB: $10-20
He’s involved in the offense and would have nice value if Bowers misses time. FAAB: $1-2
You can punt with Mundt or take a shot on Oliver for a buck. FAAB: $1
New England can’t be good two weeks in a row, can they? FAAB: $5-10
I’ve got Carolina on my mind as the awful offense to pick on each week. FAAB: $5-10
Green Bay with Malik Willis? Definitely! FAAB: $5-10
Daniel Jones STINKS! FAAB: $5-10
