Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Roschon Johnson, Tyjae Spears, Justice Hill, Antonio Gibson

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

Roschon Johnson (CHI): 41% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, LV, @LAC
• True value: $15
• Desperate need: $22
• Budget-minded: $9

Analysis: Despite leaving Chicago’s Week 4 game with a concussion, the “other” Texas rookie RB is still somehow the healthiest Chicago running back in the room. Clearing protocol will hopefully be less of an issue following a Thursday game. Khalil Herbert‘s ankle injury might land him on IR, while only D’Onta Foreman and newly acquired Darrynton Evans are expected to enter Week 6 without an injury designation. Travis Homer is also on the mend, so the hope will be that Roschon and Foreman will spearhead a nice stretch of matchups coming for the red-hot Bears offense.

Antonio Gibson (WAS): 49% rostered

• Next Opponents: @ATL, @NYG, PHI
• True value: $13
• Desperate need: $19
• Budget-minded: $7

Analysis: Seeing such a talented player fall below the 50% rostership threshold is a sign from the heavens that the creator loves us. Gibson is a great receiver and has a penchant for the big play. He has taken somewhat of a back seat to plodder Brian Robinson, but that shouldn’t shake us from rostering a player with weekly RB2 upside in a blossoming offense.

Tyjae Spears (TEN): 26% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, BYE, ATL
• True value: $12
• Desperate need: $16
• Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: Victory lap time! The rookie from Tulane was dazzling in Week 5, scorching the Colts for 16.9 fantasy points in the loss. Spears scored his first NFL touchdown and turned 11 touches into 69 scrimmage yards alongside a healthier-looking Derrick Henry. Incredibly, you can still claim Spears on waivers this week, albeit for a heftier fee than when I proposed it last week. The only little trouble is two brutal RB matchups in the next three weeks, with Tennessee’s bye week sandwiched between them.

Justice Hill (BAL): 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, DET, @ARI
• True value: $10
• Desperate need: $14
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: The Ravens desperately miss having J.K. Dobbins on the field. Lamar Jackson has to don a cape every week, while the RBs are a hodgepodge outfit and the WRs have a serious case of the “oopsy-dropsies.” Hill appears to have the most juice in this backfield, albeit most backs would in comparison with Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon. I like Hill’s open field-ability and receiving role that is game flow-independent.

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.