Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Jonnu Smith, Michael Mayer, Luke Musgrave (Week 7)

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

Michael Mayer (LV): 5% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, @DET, NYG
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Finally! Mayer is now a full-time player in the Raiders’ offense. He played 81% of snaps this week with an 18.7% target share and a 68.7% route run rate (per PFF). Over the last two weeks, he has produced some electric efficiency numbers, with a 25% target per route run rate and 3.16 yards per route run. Mayer has top-12 rest-of-season upside. Over the next four weeks, he has cushy matchups with the Bears, Lions and Jets, who have allowed the 13th-most, sixth-most and most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season.

Jonnu Smith (ATL): 19% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TB, @TEN, MIN
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Smith continues to be the Falcons’ WR3. In Weeks 2-5, he had a 64.2% route run rate, an 18.7% target share and a 22.4% first-read share. From Week 2 to Week 5, among 36 qualifying tight ends, Smith ranked 10th in target share, second in receiving yards per game, second in yards per route run and fifth in first read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Over that span, he was the TE10 in fantasy. Smith will continue to be a weekly borderline TE1 if this usage continues.

Luke Musgrave (GB): 18% rostered

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

Analysis: I know I sound like a broken record, but Musgrave’s ancillary usage metrics all scream that he will be a weekly TE1 at some point this season. In the full games he has played, he has a 72.7% route run rate, a 17.6% target share and 1.56 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Among 34 qualifying tight ends this season, those metrics rank 11th, 10th, and 10th. Over the next three weeks, he faces Denver and Los Angeles, who have allowed the second-most and third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Spike weeks are coming for Musgrave.

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.