The new NFL Season begins at 8 PM ET on September 8 with a high-profile clash between last year’s Super Bowl winners, Los Angeles Rams playing against the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills.

Let’s find out the Top-5 Waiver Wire quarterback pick-up options in fantasy football before Week 1 of the upcoming season.  

Also Read: NFL fantasy football: Drafting from the 10th spot in 0.5 ppr 12-team leagues

1) Matt Ryan (Indianapolis Colts, 46%)

Matt Ryan is a seasoned QB in NFL. In Week 1, his team, the Colts face the Texans, providing an excellent opportunity for the player to pile up points against a defense that allowed the second-most total yards in 2021. Ryan has been predominantly a high-volume passing attempts QB. He’s only missed three games over a 14-year career. Ryan is an excellent backup quarterback in fantasy football who can be inserted into a starting lineup at any point during the season.

2) Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints, 45% rostered)

The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, Winston did not have a great last season. He only played in 7 games and averaged 167 passing yds and 2 TDs per game. The stats are likely to improve with Michael Thomas returning from an ankle injury recovery this year. Also, the team has acquired Jarvis Landry and drafted Chris Olave to improve their receiver position.

3) Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans, 21% rostered)

Tannehill was a solid fantasy option last year, finishing as the QB12 overall. He played in all the team’s matches and once RB Derrick Henry went down with an injury, the player was forced to throw the football more. He was the QB16 on a per-game basis in fantasy football. The Titans play New York Giants(bottom-10 in defense last year) in the opening week and it will be a great opportunity for the player to stack some good numbers which would increase his fantasy points.

Also Read: NFL: 5 players to look forward to in the first week of the upcoming season

4) Baker Mayfield (Carolina Panthers, 17% rostered)

The Panthers are scheduled to play against the Browns team which let go of Mayfield this off-season and being named the starting QB for week-1 will help the QB’s chances of putting good numbers against his former team. He also has the services of this year’s fantasy football’s most sought player in running back Christian McCaffrey also adds to the player’s profile in fantasy football.

5) Joe Flacco (New York Jets, 1% rostered)

Flacco will start the season opener in the place of Zach Wilson who sustained a pre-season knee injury and is currently recovering from it. He will face his former team in Baltimore Ravens. Flacco could do some damage against a defense that allowed the most passing yards and third-most passing touchdowns a year ago, with weapons like Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson at his disposal, as well as Breece Hall to help the run game.