The week is nearly wrapped up, and of course, there was 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.
- More Waiver Wire Picks
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
Ezekiel Elliott (RB – NE): 40% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAC, @PIT, KC
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $9
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: As desolate as New England’s fantasy production has been, Zeke has still earned enough of an opportunity to be rostered in your league. Rhamondre Stevenson is starting to roll, but don’t overlook the former Cowboy’s contribution to the backfield. Elliott is a flex starter in deeper leagues.
Jalin Hyatt (WR – NYG): 3% rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, GB, @NO
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Hyatt popped off in Week 12 with a team-leading 24% target share and 109 receiving yards while playing 65% of the snaps. That was Hyatt’s third-highest snap share of the season and the third time he has eclipsed 75 receiving yards in a game. The bottom can fall out again for Hyatt in any week, but he has displayed a high ceiling if you are desperate for a flex play. There are worse flex-type dice rolls to take.
Odell Beckham Jr. (WR – BAL): 49% rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, LAR, @JAC
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Beckham’s hot streak ended in Week 12. He drew a 15.6% target share, producing 34 scoreless receiving yards. That’s a far cry from the 116 receiving yards he posted in Week 11. It’s also not close to the two games prior, where he posted at least 40 receiving yards and a score in each game. Beckham still deserves roster consideration, as he is tied to one of the best quarterbacks in football in a passing offense that is still searching to fill the Grand Canyon-sized hole left by Mark Andrews‘ injury. Beckham likely never develops into a weekly WR3 we can count on, but he can still have spike-week games in the right matchups.
Gardner Minshew (QB – IND): 16% rostered
- Next Opponents: @TEN, @CIN, PIT
- True value: $4
- Desperate need: $7
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Minshew is averaging 14.6 fantasy points over his seven starts. That’s not an exciting number, but to be fair, Minshew has faced a difficult schedule since taking over for the injured Anthony Richardson. Four of Minshew’s seven starts have been against teams that rank top 10 in DVOA vs. the pass. He hasn’t faced a team ranked worse than No. 21 in DVOA against the pass all season, but that changes this week when he goes against the Titans, who rank No. 28. Minshew is very much in play this week as a streaming option, and you could also use him in Week 14 in a playable matchup against the Bengals.
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.