Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Make Prior to Late Slate in NFL Week 1

If any of your fantasy football starters were declared inactive for the 1 p.m. EST slate, or you chose to bench Stefon Diggs due to his injury concerns, don't fret as there are still some viable options likely available on the waiver wire that are worth a last-minute pickup and play for Week 1.

With that in mind, here are three players that could be worth starting in the opening week of 2019 fantasy football, all of whom are owned in less than 30 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.

1. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy Garoppolo was drafted as a low-end QB1 a season ago, but is seemingly a forgotten man this season. He faces a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in Week 1 that gave up the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2018 (20.9). This game also has one of the highest projected over/under totals of the week, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, which could point to a good fantasy day for Jimmy G, who is owned in 29.4 percent of ESPN leagues.

2. Dare Ogunbowale, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There has been little to be impressed with regarding the Tampa Bay backfield. Peyton Barber remains the clear-cut lead back by default, partly due to another lackluster training camp from Ronald Jones II. However, Dare Ogunbowale impressed enough in the preseason to make the team as a passing-down back. With this game expected to be a high-scoring one, Ogunbowale is a dart throw as a flex option, owned in just 5.8 percent of ESPN leagues.

3. Ted Ginn Jr., WR, New Orleans Saints

While Michael Thomas is a clear WR1, Drew Brees seems to always spread the ball around and the QB loves to take at least a couple of deep shots every game. And that's something that Ted Ginn Jr., who is owned in 15.3 percent of ESPN leagues, thrives at. Now healthy, Ginn is a high-risk, high-reward player for fantasy owners. But with the highest projected over/under total of Week 1, he is a good bet to see at least a couple of downfield targets on Monday night against the Houston Texans – and it only takes one play for Ginn to pay off.

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