Waiver Wire Pickups to Avoid: Jamison Crowder & Pierre Strong (Week 9)

While it’s important to identify strong waiver wire targets each week, it’s equally crucial to determine players to avoid. Let’s take a look at players who had strong weekly performances, but our analysts aren’t buying it as they look ahead to this week and beyond. Here are a few players to avoid when making your fantasy football waiver wire pickups. And check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 9.

Waiver Wire Pickups to Avoid

Commanders WR Jamison Crowder caught 7-of-7 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles on Sunday. Curtis Samuel sustained a toe injury in that game, so it’s possible Crowder will get more playing time in the next week or two. But don’t grab Crowder based on his glittery Week 8 surface stats. He played only 23 of Washington’s 72 offensive snaps – a 31.9% snap share. Since 2021, Crowder has averaged 8.9 yards per catch and has scored three touchdowns in 24 games.

Pierre Strong had 10-41-0 rushing and 1-41-0 receiving against the Seahawks on Sunday. He was part of the Browns’ three-pronged approach at running back. One of those prongs, Jerome Ford, was seemingly destined to miss Week 9 with a high-ankle sprain, but Ford played and had nine carries and one reception. With Ford not missing any time and Kareem Hunt continuing to play a significant role in the Cleveland backfield, there’s no point to picking up Strong, who’s destined to be a third wheel.

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.