Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Khalil Shakir, Josh Reynolds, Michael Gallup, Demario Douglas (Week 9)

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

Demario Douglas (NE): 3% rostered

• Next Opponents: WAS, IND, BYE
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Douglas was a full-time player in Week 8 with a 77% snap share and a team-leading 24.1% target share. Douglas could continue to lead this passing attack in the short and long term. Kendrick Bourne has been the team’s WR1, but he left the game with a knee injury that could sideline him for a few weeks. DeVante Parker also left the game with a concussion, but Douglas was already seeing more pass-game work than Parker. Douglas’s upcoming matchups aren’t easy. Danny Johnson has been stellar in slot coverage for Washington since taking over for Benjamin St. Juste, allowing only a 40% catch rate and 61.3 passer rating (per PFF). Indy has held slot receivers to the 10th-lowest PPR points per target (per Fantasy Points Data).

Michael Gallup (DAL): 17% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PHI, NYG, @CAR
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Gallup didn’t have a banner Week 8, with only three targets, two receptions and 20 receiving yards. He could have some usable weeks ahead, though, that are flex-worthy. His usage has increased against zone-heavy teams. Luckily for him, the Eagles and Panthers utilize zone coverage on 69% and 82.6% of their defensive snaps, respectively. Entering Week 8, against zone coverage, Gallup had an 18.1% target share, a 23% target per route run rate and a 22.2% first-read share. Each of those usage metrics against zone ranks second on the team. Philly and Carolina have allowed the most and the eighth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers. I would sit Gallup against the man-coverage-heavy Giants, but flex him against the Eagles and Panthers.

Khalil Shakir (BUF): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CIN, DEN, NYJ
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Shakir saw a big bump in playing time in Week 8 with a 66% route run rate. He had a 15% target share, finishing with 92 receiving yards and a scorching 3.07 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). I worry this could all be a flash in the pan. The snaps could remain, but I worry about Shakir’s ability to draw targets consistently, as he had only a 3.8% first-read share in Week 8. Shakir is a pickup this week, though. The idea is to stash him and consider flexing him against the Broncos, who have allowed the most PPR points per target this season (per Fantasy Points Data).

Josh Reynolds (DET): 40% rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, @LAC, CHI
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Entering Week 8, Reynolds has had a 66% route run rate with an 11.3% target share and a 21.3% air-yard share (per Fantasy Points Data). Reynolds has put together a strong 2.11 yards per route run with three top-36 fantasy wide receiver weeks this season. Reynolds is a player to consider rostering now, because once he returns from his bye, he gets the turnstile Chargers’ secondary that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

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.