X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Best Waiver Wire Pickups from 2019

Antonio Losada examines the top waiver wire pickups and adds from the 2019 fantasy football season. These QB, RB, WR, and TE were fantasy values and sleepers that paid off nicely last year.

Each and every year we see an incredible number of players step foot on the NFL gridiron. Just in 2019, using Pro-Football-Reference.com Play Index, a total of 2,025 players took part in at least one game while one (Emmanuel Sanders) did the impossible and played 17 (!) games in the regular season as he was traded and couldn't enjoy a bye week. Not all of those players are draftable in most leagues as their positions are not fantasy eligible, but even accounting just for skill positions there were 557 players with at least one game to their name.

If we go by the average of a 12-team, 15-round redraft fantasy league, we end with a total of 180 draft slots to fill with selections before the season starts, and those 180 drafts slots include (again, in the standard and average league, 12 kickers and 12 team defenses). Those 156 selections (excluding the non-skill positions) still left, in 2019, 401 players (!) on the board and available as free agents.

Logic says that there must have been at least some gems hidden in that massive pile of potential waiver wire pickups, and indeed that was the case. Using ADP data from the 2019 pre-season drafts I'll take a look at the best waiver wire pickups of the season, those forgotten draft-day players that became part of rosters for free but turned out to be tremendous additions in the long run.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

An Overview Of (Mostly) Undrafted Players

In order to get an answer for who were the most valuable waiver wire pickups of the 2019 season, I worked with ADP data from MyFantasyLeague.com. I have considered players with ADPs over 156 (13th-rounders or later picks) for this exercise, as kickers and team defenses are selected on average in the last two rounds of every draft. Players without ADP data were also considered, as those were even more "true free-agents" than those with an actual ADP. For the 2019 season, the resulting number of players within those parameters is 405 (two mostly free agent beasts who just missed the cut were Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Williams with ADPs of 155 each).

Here are some quick takeaways from the group of 405 mostly-undrafted (ADP>155) players:

  • There are 46 quarterbacks (11%), 98 running backs (24%), 98 tight ends (24%), and 163 wide receivers (41%).
  • The quarterbacks averaged 6.9 FP/G, the running backs 2.9, the tight ends 3.2, and the wide receivers 4.2.
  • The best-undrafted players at the end of the season per ranking (most fantasy points) at their respective positions were Darren Waller (TE3), Devante Parker (WR11), Gardner Minshew (QB20), and Raheem Mostert (RB26).
  • Of the 405 players, 17 finished inside the top-100 fantasy players of the season (PPR-format leagues, total fantasy points scored), ranging from No. 38 DeVante Parker (246.2 fantasy points) to No. 100 Raheem Mostert (165.2 FP).
  • Of the 405 players, 103 played in all 16 games of the season.
  • Of those 103 players, only four (all of them tight ends) were deemed "starters" (per PFR.com) in all 16 games: Darren Waller (221 FP), Jason Witten (139.9), Jack Doyle (111.8), and C.J. Uzomah (63.2).
  • The New York Giants left the most players on the board with 17. They were followed by the New York Jets and the Jacksonville Jaguars with 16 each. Daniel Jones was the best Giant (217 FP on the year), and Jamison Crowder (197.7) and D.J. Chark (225.8) were the best from the Jets and Jaguars respectively.
  • The Miami Dolphins' undrafted players (14) rewarded their ultimate owners the most total fantasy points (924.2 combined) while the Los Angeles Chargers (10) finished with the fewest (95.3). DeVante Parker led the Dolphins group with 246.2 FP on the full season and Virgil Green was the best Charger with a paltry 22.8 FP.

 

Best Undrafted Players (ADP>156) of 2019

If you read the section above, you know I'm considering only players with ADPs at or over 156. That is because I'm working in the context of the average 12-team, 15-round redraft league in which skill-position players often come off the board in the first 13 rounds (156 picks) leaving the last two for kickers and team defenses. With that already explained, here are some of the best undrafted-performers of 2019 (RK represents the position each player finished at among all fantasy football players to take part in the season in terms of total PPR-format fantasy points).

QB Gardner Minshew - JAX (ADP --, RK 45)

Nobody expected Minshew to do what he ended up doing in 2019, considering he was the backup to newly acquired Nick Foles and a sixth-rounder draftee just months ago. With Foles out injured from Week 1, Minshew was able to play 14 games, starting 12 of them. He finished the season with 3,271 yards, 285 completions, and a 21:6 TD:INT ratio. Minshew also added 344 yards on the ground on 67 attempts.

QB Ryan Tannehill - TEN (ADP 251, RK 51)

Another backup, Tannehill entered 2019 as no more than a pine-rider with Mariota fully entrenched in the starting position. It turned out the Titans ran out of patience with their franchise quarterback and opened the door to the veteran. Tannehill started 10 games and finished with 2,742 yards on 201 completions to go with 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions. His ground game was great, adding four more scores rushing and leading Tennessee to the postseason.

RB Raheem Mostert - SF (ADP --, RK 100)

After not even registering an ADP, Mostert took charge of the 49ers backfield and finished the year with 137 rushing attempts in which he ran for 772 yards and eight touchdowns. Not happy with that, he went and added an extra 180 yards and two more scores on 14 receptions through the air in the full 16 games he played.

RB Jamaal Williams - GB (ADP 183, RK 118)

With Aaron Jones as the clear No. 1 running back entering the season, it was reasonable to pass on Jamaal Williams and only consider him a potential handcuff in case of an eventual Jones injury. Even with that being the case, Williams found his place in Green Bay's offense as an often-used second-fiddle to Jones and still finished with 464 yards on 107 attempts for four touchdowns and added 253 more yards catching 39 passes with five more scores.

WR DeVante Parker - MIA (ADP 158, RK 38)

One of the best players in all fantasy football was, indeed, an afterthought during the draft season. Playing for a bad and supposedly tanking team, owners didn't bet on Parker but he finished the year strong rewarding those who got him for free via waivers. Parker crossed the thousand-yard mark with 1,202 on 72 receptions and added nine TDs to his season stat line in a career-best year.

WR A.J. Brown - TEN (ADP 167, RK 62)

The rookie from the Titans became a great waiver wire addition even with a slow start to the year. When all was said and done, Brown had turned himself into a fantasy football machine by reaching 1,051 yards on just 52 receptions for an average of 20.21 Y/R and eight scores to go with it. Considering he played for two quarterbacks and that he should be on a more stable situation next season as a second-year player Brown's got a sky-high ceiling.

WR D.J. Chark - JAX (ADP --, RK 52)

The most glaring of mistakes in drafts all around the nation, Chark proved wrong virtually every fantasy owner as he didn't even register an ADP but still finished as the 2019 WR17 and a top-52 player on the season, all positions considered. Chark was a monster in Jacksonville and amassed 1,008 yards on 73 catches with eight touchdowns in only 15 games (14 on a starter role).

WR Terry McLaurin - WAS (ADP 214, RK 80)

Although McLaurin didn't outperform fellow rookie A.J. Brown, Washington's first-year pro racked up fantasy goodies to the tune of a great 919-yard season on 58 receptions with seven touchdowns, which is doubly incredible considering he played for a rookie QB (Dwayne Haskins) and an underperforming veteran (Case Keenum) in alternate games.

TE Darren Waller - OAK (ADP 168, RK 57)

Considering the scarcity of the position, Waller could easily be named the best waiver pickup of 2019. Not a lot of owners considered the tight end in their drafts thinking Antonio Brown was going to command most of the opportunities over him or that Derek Carr wasn't going to be good enough at the QB position to make Waller draftable. They couldn't have been more wrong, as Waller finished the year with a massive 1,145 yards on 90 receptions and 117 targets and only lacked in the scoring department with three touchdowns, something bound to positively regress next season.

TE Tyler Higbee - LAR (ADP --, RK 105)

Higbee might not be a top-100 player in 2019, but again given how little quality the tight end position often holds and that the Ram wasn't even considered in the deepest of drafts, his production was more than enough for someone snatched for free. Higbee was the TE8 on the season and he achieved that in 15 games by logging 734 yards and three touchdowns on 69 receptions and out-performing his teammate, the also undervalued Gerald Everett on his way to lead L.A. at the tight end position.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

C.J. Stroud25 mins ago

Expects To Be "Running The Show" In New Offense
J.J. McCarthy34 mins ago

"No Limitations" For J.J. McCarthy
San Francisco 49ers41 mins ago

Fred Warner Could Stay Away From Offseason Program
Ousmane Dieng43 mins ago

Still Out On Tuesday
George Kittle46 mins ago

May Not Take Part In Offseason Workouts
Kevin Love50 mins ago

Remains Away From Team
Brock Purdy54 mins ago

Might Not Participate In Voluntary Workouts
Terry Rozier57 mins ago

Hurts Ankle Monday
New York Jets1 hour ago

Jets Picking Up Jermaine Johnson's Fifth-Year Option
New York Jets1 hour ago

Jets Picking Up Sauce Gardner's Fifth-Year Option
Damian Lillard1 hour ago

Officially Listed As Questionable For Game 2
Garrett Wilson1 hour ago

Jets Picking Up Garrett Wilson's Fifth-Year Option
Isaiah Stewart1 hour ago

Ruled Out For Game 2 Against Knicks
Spencer Strider1 hour ago

Placed On 15-Day Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Tobias Myers1 hour ago

To Start On Thursday Against Giants
Trent Frederic2 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Monday
Leon Draisaitl2 hours ago

Returns To Oilers Lineup For Postseason Opener
Logan Henderson2 hours ago

Heading Back To Triple-A
Jake Walman2 hours ago

Available For Game 1
Craig Yoho2 hours ago

Brewers Calling Up Craig Yoho
Brett Kulak2 hours ago

Ready To Play Monday
Christian Walker2 hours ago

Getting A Day Off
Aliaksei Protas2 hours ago

Expected To Return During First-Round Series
Mark Vientos2 hours ago

Still Absent Against Phillies
Nick Lodolo2 hours ago

Activated From Paternity List, Starting On Monday
Miro Heiskanen2 hours ago

Out On Monday
Jeimer Candelario2 hours ago

Out Again On Monday
Ross Colton2 hours ago

Uncertain For Game 2
Luis Arraez2 hours ago

Going On Seven-Day Injured List
Gabriel Landeskog2 hours ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Nick Kurtz2 hours ago

A's Calling Up Nick Kurtz
Javier Báez3 hours ago

Javier Baez Starting In Center Field On Monday
Keider Montero3 hours ago

Starting On Monday Against Padres
Jace Jung3 hours ago

Recalled And Starting On Monday For Tigers
Kerry Carpenter3 hours ago

Out On Monday, Not Going On Injured List
Jorbit Vivas4 hours ago

Yankees Recall Prospect Jorbit Vivas
Trent Grisham4 hours ago

Placed On Paternity List
Ben Rice4 hours ago

Still Out On Monday
Chase Meidroth4 hours ago

White Sox Place Chase Meidroth On 10-Day Injured List
Kyle Stowers5 hours ago

Sitting Against Southpaw
Jake Rogers5 hours ago

Plays Catch On Monday
Triston McKenzie5 hours ago

Designated For Assignment
Auston Matthews11 hours ago

Finishes Game 1 With Two Assists
Mitchell Marner11 hours ago

Totals Three Points In Postseason Opener
Matt Boldy11 hours ago

Bags Two Goals In Losing Effort
Brett Howden11 hours ago

Scores Twice In Sunday's Win
Logan Stankoven11 hours ago

Nets Two Goals In Game 1 Victory
Brenden Dillon11 hours ago

Makes Early Exit Sunday
Cody Glass11 hours ago

Injured In Game 1 Loss
Jayden Daniels1 day ago

Focused On Improving In 2025
Isaiah Stewart1 day ago

Iffy For Monday Night
Aaron Gordon1 day ago

Listed As Probable For Game 2
Gabriel Vilardi1 day ago

To Remain Out For Game 2
Logan Thompson1 day ago

Could Be An Option Monday
Martin Fehérváry1 day ago

Martin Fehervary Iffy For Game 1
Tanner Jeannot1 day ago

Remains Week-To-Week, Out For Game 1
Zeev Buium1 day ago

Makes NHL Debut In Playoff Opener
Anthony Stolarz1 day ago

Makes First Career Postseason Start
1 day ago

Washington Hosts Tre Harris
NFL1 day ago

Will Johnson Visits With Seattle
NFL1 day ago

Devon Key Sticking With Denver
Jaylen Brown2 days ago

Not Expected To Be Limited On Sunday
Irv Smith2 days ago

Houston Re-Signs Irv Smith Jr.
Ja Morant3 days ago

Cleared To Play Friday
Brandon Williams3 days ago

Available Against Grizzlies
Anthony Davis3 days ago

Will Play Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.3 days ago

Available For Game 1 Against Pacers
Taurean Prince3 days ago

Returns To Bucks Lineup Saturday
NFL3 days ago

Justin Hardee Sr. Waived With Non-Football Injury
Isaiah Stewart3 days ago

To Return For Game 1
Ausar Thompson3 days ago

Available For Game 1
Rui Hachimura3 days ago

On Track To Play Saturday
Austin Reaves3 days ago

Ready To Go For Game 1
NFL3 days ago

Bills Release Armani Rogers, Branson Deen
Luka Dončić3 days ago

Luka Doncic Removed From Injury Report
LeBron James3 days ago

Listed As Probable For Game 1
Ben Sheppard3 days ago

Probable For Saturday's Game 1
NFL3 days ago

Kolton Miller Absent From Raiders' Voluntary Offseason Program
Kevin Durant3 days ago

To Houston Already Losing Steam
NFL3 days ago

Ross Blacklock Let Go By New York
NFL3 days ago

Raiders Considering Drafting A Quarterback
Irv Smith3 days ago

Sticking With Texans
NFL3 days ago

Texans Expected To Draft Wide Receivers
Greg Dortch3 days ago

Returning To Cardinals
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Bold Strategies Fall Flat, Still Musters A Top-Five Finish At Bristol
Lucas Glover5 days ago

Looks To Rebound After Poor Performance
Daniel Berger5 days ago

Looking To Continue Solid Play At RBC
Sepp Straka5 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At RBC
Justin Thomas5 days ago

Looking To Shake Off Poor Masters At RBC Heritage
Xander Schauffele5 days ago

Still Looking For Year's First Win At RBC Heritage
Austin Dillon5 days ago

Nabs His First Top-10 Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
Maverick McNealy5 days ago

Is An Intriguing Play At RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry5 days ago

Looks To Shake Off Poor Masters Sunday At RBC Heritage
Will Zalatoris5 days ago

Eyes A Bounce-Back At RBC Heritage
Gary Woodland5 days ago

Could Add Some Surprise At Hilton Head
Sam Burns5 days ago

Hoping For Better Times At RBC Heritage
Sahith Theegala5 days ago

Still Trying To Put It All Together
Aaron Rai5 days ago

Might Be That Guy For Hilton Head
Robert MacIntyre5 days ago

All Or Nothing At RBC Heritage
Tom Hoge5 days ago

Still Playing Solid Heading To Hilton Head
Nick Dunlap5 days ago

Continues To Have Rough Stretch
Keegan Bradley6 days ago

Looks To Move On From Masters Performance
Matt Fitzpatrick6 days ago

A Boom-Or-Bust Option At RBC Heritage
Patrick Cantlay6 days ago

A Strong Play At RBC Heritage
Jordan Spieth6 days ago

Targets Another Strong RBC Heritage Showing
Collin Morikawa6 days ago

Eyeing Victory At RBC Heritage
Max Homa6 days ago

Breaks Through At The Masters
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF