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 check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 9.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
Ezekiel Elliott (NE): 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: WAS, IND, BYE
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $8
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: The expectations for Zeke are as low as they have ever been. This might be why we’re still a little impressed with his sporadic production in New England. His seven carries in a Week 8 loss to Miami resulted in more than five yards a pop, but he did not find the end zone. The vet might be widely dropped to waivers after Tuesday’s run, and there are worse players who could be plugged into a position that requires fortification.
Antonio Gibson (WAS): 48% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NE, @SEA, NYG
- True value: $4
- Desperate need: $7
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: It’s not very exciting. Antonio Gibson has been completely removed from the running game by offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy this season, only finding the field as a mop-up receiver. You are more likely to find Gibson on Wednesday after waivers run as someone dropped by another manager. Be frugal, but Gibson still deserves to be on a roster for the upcoming war of attrition at RB.
Rashid Shaheed (NO): 36% rostered
- Next Opponents: CHI, @MIN, BYE
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $8
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: The Saints’ zone-beating big play threat did it again. Shaheed made all three of his receptions (11.1% target share) count, as he posted a season-high 153 receiving yards with one score. This is Shaheed’s third game of the season with at least 80 receiving yards and his fourth with more than 60 receiving yards. His next two matchups could allow him to keep up the hot streak, as the Bears and Vikings utilize zone coverage on more than 70% of their defensive snaps (per Fantasy Points Data). Entering Week 8, among 89 qualifying wide receivers against zone coverage, Shaheed ranks 35th in yards per route run, ninth in average depth of target and 37th in fantasy points per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Those numbers will only improve after his massive performance against the Colts.
Jayden Reed (GB): 17% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAR, @PIT, LAC
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Reed is coming off arguably his best game of the season. He played a season-high 79.4% of snaps as the Packers utilized more 11 personnel. I’m not sure if that trend will stick, since Green Bay loves its multiple-TE sets, but we can hope. Reed had a 14.6% target share, as he led the team with 83 receiving yards. Reed has seen a healthy share of high-cholesterol targets, entering Week 8 ranked 19th in deep targets and fourth in red-zone targets among wide receivers. Entering Week 8, among 116 qualifying wide receivers, he ranked 28th in fantasy points per route run and 23rd in expected fantasy points per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Reed has plus slot matchups in two of his next three games. The Rams and Chargers have allowed the second-most and fourth-most receiving yards to opposing slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
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.