Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: D.J. Chark, Jayden Reed, Luke Musgrave (Week 5)

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 here is all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 5.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Luke Musgrave (GB): 36% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LV, BYE, @DEN
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Musgrave left Week 4 with a concussion, so toss that game’s stats in the trash. Entering Week 4, among 45 qualifying tight ends, Musgrave ranked 17th in yards per route run and 10th in yards after the catch per reception (per PFF). He has a 15.8% target share and 91% route participation. His three red zone targets rank eighth at the position. Everything about his usage screams top-12 upside tight end for the rest of the season. The only reason Musgrave remains available is because he has yet to have a blowup game. It’s coming. Grab him now.

Jayden Reed (GB): 24% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LV, BYE, @DEN
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Before I discuss Jayden Reed, I need to toss a glass of cold water on this pickup. Remember, this is a Jordan Love-fronted offense, so the peaks and valleys will be real for the rest of the season. OK, now to the good stuff. Reed has a 69% route run rate, a 17.4% target share and 1.97 yards per route run. He has played quite well this season, but we need to understand the context of his role and the Packers’ offense. Green Bay ranks 14th in the usage of multiple-TE sets. With Reed lining up in the slot 73% of the time, he’ll never be an 80%-90% route per dropback player unless the team changes course. Also, he is no better than the third or maybe fourth option in this offense now that Christian Watson has returned. Reed has favorable slot matchups in his next two games that could give him flex viability.

D.J. Chark (CAR): 17% rostered

• Next Opponents: @DET, @MIA, BYE
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: While many will run to the waiver wire to grab Terrace Marshall Jr., don’t do it. Marshall is fool’s gold. Once Jonathan Mingo is back, Marshall will head back to the bench. Chark is the pickup here. Chark led the Panthers in snaps and routes on Sunday. Adam Thielen and Marshall overshadowed him, as Chark drew only a 9.3% target share. Chark will have big days moving forward against teams that struggle to defend the deep ball. He’s a WR4/5 on your bench who could provide WR3 production in any week that the matchup is right.

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.