Waiver wires typically go through during early morning hours after games have finished for the week. In fantasy football leagues, players dropped or undrafted usually go on waivers Sunday night or Monday morning, with waivers processing overnight Tuesday or Wednesday morning. The process generally runs between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., depending on the league settings. For example, a waiver claim made on Thursday evening might process on the following Saturday morning between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Eastern Time. In the NFL, the waiver process usually begins right after roster cut deadlines, with teams submitting waiver claims by a set deadline (e.g., 12 p.m. Eastern Wednesday). Then claims are processed at that time, and players not claimed within a 24-hour waiver period become free agents. The waiver period often lasts 24 hours but may be shorter on cutdown day. In summary:
- Fantasy football waivers generally process early Tuesday or Wednesday morning after weekend games.
- In the NFL, waivers are processed shortly after the roster cut deadlines, with a typical 24-hour claim window.
- Waiver claims priority determines who gets a claimed player if there are multiple claims.
This timing promotes fairness and prevents immediate pickups, keeping competition balanced.
