Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Frenzy
Sione Vaki is leading waiver wire adds with 889x-1036x pickups across different timeframes, followed by Jalen Nailor (189x), Malik Willis (161x), and Tyson Bagent (126x-162x). Jimmy Garoppolo and Nathan Carter are also hot commodities in dynasty and Sleeper leagues.
The frenzy around Sione Vaki is a direct result of the Detroit Lions trading away running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. This move potentially opens up a significant workload for Vaki as the RB2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Vaki, a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was a versatile player at Utah, playing both running back and safety. Jalen Nailor is entering free agency, and according to league sources, more than 10 teams are interested in the wide receiver. Some NFL evaluators believe he has the potential to be a "priority signing" and could command a contract in the range of $12 to $15 million per year. This interest stems from a belief that he was underutilized in Minnesota and could flourish with a larger role. Malik Willis is considered the top quarterback available in a relatively weak free-agent class, with the Arizona Cardinals emerging as a primary suitor. The Cardinals are expected to release Kyler Murray, creating a clear path for Willis to compete for the starting job. In his two seasons as a backup in Green Bay, Willis threw for 972 yards and six touchdowns without an interception, adding 261 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent is generating significant trade interest around the league, with the team reportedly seeking a second-round pick in return. Teams like the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets have been linked to Bagent, who is on an affordable contract. A trade to a quarterback-needy team could provide Bagent with a legitimate opportunity to start. The interest in Jimmy Garoppolo in dynasty leagues stems from his status as a high-end backup with a history of starting. He is a free agent and could land in a situation where he is one injury away from taking over a starting role, providing valuable quarterback depth for fantasy managers. Nathan Carter, an undrafted rookie running back for the Atlanta Falcons, is gaining traction in dynasty and sleeper leagues due to a potential future opportunity. With Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier set to become an unrestricted free agent, Carter could compete for the No. 2 spot behind Bijan Robinson in the upcoming season.
