Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Emari Demercado, Quentin Johnston, Brandin Cooks, Wan’Dale Robinson

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

Emari Demercado (ARI): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAR, @SEA, BAL
• True value: $8
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Instead of blowing your FAAB balance on RBs such as Chuba Hubbard (meh) and Jamaal Williams (still out at least until Week 7), drop down and grab Demercado, the shifty, undrafted Cardinals rookie. I do a lot of college scouting and still didn’t have a lot of knowledge on the pride of TCU by way of Saddleback College until recently. Five seasons as a Horned Frog and none as a full-time player, Demercado has shown off his prototypical NFL RB size and very good athleticism so far. James Conner and Keaontay Ingram are oft-injured, leaving the next man up in Arizona freely available to plug in as an emergency flex.

Quentin Johnston (LAC): 33% rostered

• Next Opponents: DAL, @KC, CHI
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: The numbers for Johnston haven’t been pretty. He has a 7.5% target share, an 8.9% air-yard share and a 9.9% first-read share. His Week 4 usage was more encouraging, with a 67.7% route run rate and a 12.5% target share (per Fantasy Points Data). Investing in Johnston is a belief in not only his talent bubbling to the surface as we move through the season but also buying into a high-powered offense. The Chargers are seventh in points per game and yards per play. Johnston is a talented rookie coming out of a bye week who has been thrust into a larger role that could continue to grow. The upcoming matchups are gruesome, but by the time we get to the Bears’ secondary in Week 8, Johnston could be headed for a monster stretch run. In Weeks 14-17, the Chargers get two dates with the Broncos and a game against the Raiders.

Brandin Cooks (DAL): 47% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAC, BYE, LAR
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Cooks might already be rostered in your league, but if he is out there, pick him up now as a possible flex play for Week 6. Cooks entered Week 5 with a 14.9% target share and only 0.85 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). I know those aren’t pristine numbers by any stretch of the imagination, but hear me out. The Chargers’ secondary is Swiss cheese. They entered Week 5 having allowed the most fantasy points per game, the second-most receiving yards and the second-most receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. Dallas can feed Tony Pollard this week and Cooks can still walk away with a good game.

Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): 24% rostered

• Next Opponents: @BUF, WAS, NYJ
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Robinson’s playing time is trending up. In Week 5, he played 65% of the snaps with 75% route participation and an 18.7% target share. As wild as it is to say, with Daniel Jones (neck) sidelined with an injury, the Giants’ offense could be in better hands in Week 6 with Tyrod Taylor possibly under center. Robinson could face Taron Johnson (100% catch rate and 113.0 passer rating) this week or Cam Lewis (career: 62.5% catch rate and 108.6 passer rating per PFF) if Johnson (knee) can’t go. Either way, Robinson will have the easiest corner matchup for the Giants to pick on this week. Robinson gets a bump in PPR formats.

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.