Bam Peters

Who I Am Adding Before Week 1 and Who Can Stay on the Watch List

We have not played one FBS game in 2026, so I am not going to act like we know exactly how every one of these depth charts will look when the season starts.

There are no box scores to study. We do not have snap counts, target shares, or goal line usage. Right now, we have previous production, camp reports, coach comments, and players moving up or down the depth chart.

Camp reports matter, but they are not gospel. Coaches experiment with different combinations. Reporters only see what they are allowed to see. One good practice can create a lot of excitement without producing a real fantasy role.

That does not mean we sit around and wait for Week 1. By then, some of these players will already be gone.

The goal is to find the camp information that can turn into actual fantasy production while avoiding the noise that empties your FAAB account. These suggested bids are starting points. Adjust them based on your league depth, scoring, roster construction, and the players who are actually available.

Top Waiver Priorities
Isaiah West (RB – Ohio State): Aggressive add for 12 to 18 percent
Cornell Hatcher Jr. (RB – Oregon State): Add for 8 to 14 percent
Jaylen Raynor (QB – Iowa State): Add for 8 to 12 percent if available
Dane Jones (WR – TCU): C2C or deep CFF add for 4 to 9 percent
Jaylen Himes (WR – Southern Miss): Deep league add for 3 to 6 percent
Quarterbacks
Jaylen Raynor, Iowa State

If Jaylen Raynor is sitting on waivers, go get him. I do not need to make this more complicated than it is.

Raynor threw for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns at Arkansas State in 2025. He also ran for 423 yards and 7 more touchdowns. That rushing production is what gets my attention because it gives him a way to score fantasy points even when the passing game is not clicking.

Iowa State identified Raynor as its starting quarterback during camp and named him a team captain on August 15. That tells me the Cyclones trust him to lead this offense.

There is still some risk. Raynor is moving into the Power Four and learning a new system. The defenses will be better, and I am not expecting him to walk into Iowa State and immediately improve on everything he did at Arkansas State.

I do expect him to run. That alone makes him useful in four-point passing touchdown formats.

Iowa State opens against Southeast Missouri before traveling to Iowa. The first game should give Raynor a chance to settle into the offense before facing a much tougher defense.

My call: Add for 8 to 12 percent of your FAAB. His campus value is stronger than his long-term C2C value, but a starting quarterback with this kind of rushing production should not be on waivers.

Ethan Hampton, Southern Miss

This one depends on how deep your league is. Ethan Hampton reportedly left spring as the leader of the Southern Miss quarterback competition after taking control during the spring game. He has the clearest path to the starting job, but I am not treating the competition as completely settled yet.

The schedule is another reason to keep the bid low. Southern Miss opens against Alcorn State, which could give Hampton an immediate streaming opportunity. Auburn comes next, and I am not putting him into my lineup automatically for that matchup.

My call: Add for 1 to 3 percent in deeper leagues. He is a matchup play until we see him hold the job and produce in the new offense.

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