Top Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 1
1) Kalif Raymond
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine saying that Kalif Raymond is likely the best waiver wire pickup of the first week of the 2026 NFL season, but he was the centerpiece of the Bears passing offense on Sunday.
That offense will likely continue to be one of the highest-scoring in the NFL behind highly touted once-in-a-generation prospect Caleb Williams’ arm with Ben Johnson’s superior offensive scheme and playcalling.
every Kalif Raymond target from Week 1
8 catches for 84 yards
a true “knows the offense” performance. Slot work. Short zone feel. Intermediate patterns on three level concepts. Screen targets pic.twitter.com/tvezdThOEa
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 14, 2026
It’s worth noting Johnson even said during the offseason that he wanted the Bears to break the scoring record.
If Kalif Raymond ends up even being the WR2 in this offense in terms of target share, he’ll be fantasy starter across all formats ROS.
So far, he’s being treated as such as he ranked second to only Luther Burden in snap share against the Panthers with 60% which was 12% more than Rome Odunze’s 48%.
In Week 1, Raymond was essentially used like Ben Johnson used Amon-Ra St. Brown on his previous squad as the Bears pass catcher was peppered with screens and LOS passes.
Its clear that Johnson doesn’t just view Raymond as a serviceable weapon: He’s a playmaker that the offense frequently designs plays specifically for.
In the first game of the year, Raymond led the Bears in: Targets with nine (almost twice as much as the next-closest Bear – Luther Burden with five), receptions (8), receiving yards (84), and receptions for first downs (5). He finished second in YAC too with 21 yards after the catch.
At minimum, Raymond is the starting slot receiver/WR3 in maybe the highest-volume and highest-scoring offense in the NFL, which makes him an easy WR3/flex play in PPR leagues.
If he continues getting targeted at this rate, he will legitimately finish the season as a fantasy WR1. A player with that kind of potential is well worth the “risk” of cutting a Calvin Ridley, Rasheed Shaheed, or Jayden Reed on your bench (for example, not projecting at all).
2) Caleb Douglas
Drafted in the third round by the Dolphins, Caleb Douglas should be rostered in all fantasy leagues as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are gone, and Douglas may very well be the #1 receiver in this offense.
As a young, talented target with 4.39 speed with recent draft investment, its hard to imagine Douglas not being at least a fantasy WR2 ROS considering his obvious chemistry with Malik Willis as well.
Against the Raiders in Week 1, Douglas led Miami in receiving yards (94), receptions (5), YAC (35), and receptions resulting in first downs (3). He also ranked second in targets with seven.
Fantasy mangers will also want to note that Douglas was one of only two Dolphins WRs to play at least 91% of snaps, and fellow Miami rookie wideout Chris Bell trailed far behind with only 52% of snaps.
Dolphins rookie WR Caleb Douglas moved me in week 1. Feed him more targets pic.twitter.com/nm72ms8EJ1
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 14, 2026
Those numbers in addition to his 25.93% target share actually paced all rookie receivers.
His efficiency on his looks was elite too, as he ranked 18th among all WRs in yards per target in Week 1 (26th among all players), 13th in YAC per reception, and 19th in yards per touch.
Douglas, at the moment, is an every-down WR for the Dolphins which gives him WR3/flex appeal with WR2 upside in PPR leagues.
3) Kendrick Bourne
Bourne has a unique skillset that has kept him in the NFL and on the field as he has the agility and acceleration to get open on almost anyone, and he’s a refined route runner and dependable pass catcher.
Bourne has both the short-area separation skills that make him an easy first read, and the deep speed for big plays when he has the opportunity. In Week 1, Bourne trailed only Chris Olave in catches for 10+ yards with five of his own.
On a new team again, Bourne may have finally found his home as Marvin Harrision Jr.’s bust seems to have opened up a starting WR spot in Arizona.
8, count ’em 8 receptions on 8 targets for KB 🙂↕️
📲 NFL+ pic.twitter.com/APqAkuHvMG— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2026
In Arizona’s first game of the regular season, Bourne led Cardinals WRs in targets (8), target share (21.6%), first-read targets (7), receptions (8), receiving yards (75), receptions for first downs (5), and YAC (35).
Bourne ranks third on this list as while his involvement in Arizona’s passing game was undeniable, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson both played more snaps.
While Bourne is worth a pickup, he profiles as no more than a low risk, high reward bench stash until his snap percentage (67% in Week 1) either eclipses or contends with Marvin Harrision Jr.’s snaps (79% in Week 1).
