Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Adam Thielen, Tank Dell, Luke Musgrave, Jake Ferguson (Week 4)

The week is nearly wrapped up, and of course there were another round of injuries and surprising performances. As a result, fantasy managers will be on the lookout for wavier wire additions and replacement options for those injured over the weekend or just to bolster their lineup moving forward. Here are a few players to consider adding via the waiver wire this week. And also be sure to check out our full waiver wire article for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Tank Dell (HOU): 31% rostered

• Next Opponents: PIT, @ATL, NO
• True value: $12
• Desperate need: $20
• Budget-minded: $8

Analysis: Dell is the truth. The rookie has led the Texans in targets in each of his first two starts, providing juicy stat lines in each outing. Dell has a 22.0% target share and 3.05 yards per route run (YPRR) across his last two games. The talent is real. Toss out your predraft notions. Forget about his size or draft capital. Dell has produced in back-to-back games with legitimate receivers flanking him. Rookies don’t earn targets at this type of clip unless they are the real deal. Dell is a strong WR3 for the rest of the season with still-untapped upside in an offense that’s moving at a swift pace with a ravishing neutral passing rate.

Adam Thielen (CAR): 47% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, @DET, @MIA
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: Thielen blew up with a monster performance in Week 3. He snagged 11 of his 14 targets with 145 receiving yards and a score. Over the last two games, Thielen has a 25.2% target share and 1.70 YPRR (per PFF). I don’t know how long the veteran receiver can keep this up, but it’s time to ride the wave. Next up, he has a revenge game against his former team, the Vikings, followed by a game against the Lions. Minnesota and Detroit entered Week 3 having allowed the 11th and 13th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Fire up Thielen as a strong flex play over at least the next two weeks.

Luke Musgrave (GB): 18% rostered

• Next Opponents: DET, @LV, BYE
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Musgrave has been checking the boxes for playing time that we look for in tight ends. The on-field production hasn’t been there, though. His 18.1% target share and 49 receiving yards in Week 3 might not look like it, but it’s an extremely good sign. Against New Orleans, those are sparkling numbers. The Saints have been a dreadful matchup for tight ends for a few seasons. Musgrave will have peaks and valleys in his production as with most rookies, but the usage remains for Musgrave to grow into a weekly TE1.

Jake Ferguson (DAL): 41% rostered

• Next Opponents: NE, @SF, @LAC
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Brace yourself. It’s a tough scene on the waiver wire if you’re looking for tight end help. Ferguson is among the best available options this week. He played 69% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps in Week 3, with a 61% route participation mark. His 17.5% target share was nice, but Ferguson’s playing time will make it difficult to trust him week to- week. Entering Week 3, Ferguson was leading the NFL in red zone targets. If we’re just touchdown-hunting by picking him up, at least we can feel pretty good that Ferguson is a decent bet to make at the TE position.

Written by Derek Brown

Check out our full Week 4 fantasy football waiver wire article

Successful In-Season Fantasy Football Management

Once your fantasy football team is drafted, the work is not over. Successful in-season management is crucial to a winning fantasy football season. Here are some tips to help you manage your team effectively throughout the season:

Stay up to date on player news
Keep track of player injuries, suspensions, and other news that may impact their performance. This will help you make informed decisions about which players to start each week.

Monitor the waiver wire
Keep an eye on the waiver wire and be ready to pick up players who may be undervalued or overlooked by other teams. This can provide valuable depth to your roster. Use our waiver wire assistant to view optimal lineups, waiver and trade suggestions, and league analysis.

Analyze matchups
Analyze the upcoming matchups for your players and opponents to determine which players to start in your lineup each week. Look for favorable matchups and take into account the strength of the opposing team’s defense.

Stay active in trades
Be open to trading players with other teams if it will benefit your team. Analyze the potential impact of a trade before making a decision and negotiate with other teams to find a mutually beneficial agreement.

Be prepared for bye weeks
Plan ahead for bye weeks by having backup players ready to fill in for your starters. Avoid having too many players with the same bye week, which can leave your team short-handed.

Don’t overreact to one bad week
Avoid overreacting to one bad week of performance by a player. Take a long-term view of their performance and evaluate their potential moving forward.

Continuously evaluate your roster
Continuously evaluate your roster throughout the season and make adjustments as needed. Be willing to drop underperforming players or make changes to your lineup if necessary.