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
Curtis Samuel (WAS): 17% rostered
- Next Opponents: @ATL, @NYG, PHI
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Samuel is another plug-and-play waiver wire flex gem this week. He is coming off a productive Week 5 game where Sam Howell dropped back 51 times. While I don’t envision Howell accruing that much passing volume in Week 6, Samuel should be an integral part of the game plan against the Falcons. Samuel will run about 68% of his routes against Dee Alford (77.3% catch rate and 125.8 passer rating), who is the easiest corner matchup on the board for the Washington passing attack.
Kendrick Bourne (NE): 18% rostered
- Next Opponents: @LV, BUF, @MIA
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Bourne is a deep-league flex play this week. Demario Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster left New England’s Week 5 game with head injuries. If they can’t get cleared in time for Week 6, Bourne could offer some flex appeal. Bourne’s playing time has been hit or miss, but when he’s been on the field, he has been productive. He entered Week 5 with an 18.1% target share, 26% target per route run rate, and 1.64 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). The Raiders have been giving to wide receivers with the 12th-most fantasy points per game allowed.
Stash Candidates:
Marvin Mims continues to split work with Brandon Johnson for some reason. Make it make sense, Sean Payton. I don’t get it, but that’s where we are. Mims’ per-route metrics continue to be insane. He is a priority stash who could be a stretch-run league winner if Payton ever gets out of the talented rookie’s way.
Jayden Reed is another talented, must-stash rookie. While he remains in a capped snap role as the Packer’s slot receiver, that hasn’t stopped him from posting fantastic per-route numbers. Entering Week 5, among 139 wide receivers, Reed ranked 29th in target per route run rate, 28th in fantasy points per route run and 30th in yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). His weekly target volume is worrisome, but his talent is not.
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.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.