Week One Waiver Wire Pick Ups

Cecil Shorts

Cecil Shorts is the only proven wide receiver on the Jaguars’ roster.

Cecil Shorts finished the preseason in strong fashion. He is going into the season as a number one wide receiver. Eventually Blake Bortles will have to be thrown in the Jaguars’ starting lineup. The team did not spend a third overall draft pick to watch him have a great preseason and then let him sit. It appears Bortles and Shorts have already started to form a good relationship. Shorts could definitely come in handy later this season. He is only owned in about 35 percent of leagues and is slowly gaining more recognition from fantasy owners. Get him now and store him for the long haul.

Santonio Holmes

Santonio Holmes was finally picked up by the Chicago Bears. This is a great situation for Holmes. Sure, he is no more than a third wide receiver. However, a third wide receiver on the Bears is going to put up fantasy points. Best of all when he is on the field he will not be the defense’s first priority. He will be able to slip under the radar while Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery take all the pressure. He was able to score in his preseason debut with the Bears, so obviously there is still some good thing that could come out of this veteran.

Dri Archer

With legal problems looming over the Steelers’ backfield, Dri Archer could be a popular waiver wire addition. You should especially target him if you paid that high draft pick for Le’Veon Bell.

Dri Archer may be a bit of a long short, but you probably drafted a long shot in the late rounds anyways and have come to find out they already did not pan out. Archer is currently listed as the third running backs on the Steelers’ depth chart. He is owned in only three percent of leagues, so more than likely he is available in yours. He could end up a starter this season due to the possibility of a suspension for Le’Veon Bell and LaGarrette Blount after the two were arrested for drug possession. Commissioner Roger Goodell just stated he was too light on Ray Rice. Goodell looks like he is ready to start dishing out bigger sentences. If the two do receive a suspension, Archer will be the guy in Pittsburgh.

Tim Wright

Tim Wright had a pretty good rookie season with the Buccaneers. The Bucs did not seem ready to put Wright on the field very much in 2014. Instead, they traded him to the Patriots. After not receiving any attention in drafts, the newest addition to the Patriots’ offense is starting to become a hot waiver wire item. His pass catching ability will open the Patriots up to once again use the two tight end formation. No, Wright will never replace Gronkowski as Tom Brady’s go-to tight end; but he may be able to fill the void left from the Aaron Hernandez incident.

Ryan Shazier leads a new crop of speedy, young Steelers’ defenders who have show great things already in 2014.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Team Defense

It is hard to believe that a defense coached by Dick Lebeau is owned in less than fifteen percent of fantasy football leagues. The Steelers did not receive much love in drafts this year due to its aging secondary. However, the front seven has definitely showed vast improvements from last year. The team focused on adding youth to the line and the linebacker corps. These have proven to be great additions. Ryan Shazier is looking like a monster in the middle of the field. He was considered undersized, but his speed and ability to play sideline to sideline is definitely showing why he was a first round draft pick. The Steelers have a pretty easy stretch during the middle of the season facing offenses such as Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Houston, and the New York Jets.