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 here’s all of our fantasy football Week 12 waiver wire advice and targets.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
Demario Douglas (NE): 32% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYG, LAC, @PIT
- True value: $8
- Desperate need: $13
- Budget-minded: $5
Analysis: Douglas has been money since becoming a starter in New England, with WR3 or higher fantasy finishes in three of those four games (WR29, WR27, WR23). Since Week 7, Douglas has had a 21.5% target share, 1.88 yards per route run and a 27.1% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). That’s WR2-equivalent usage. Douglas has not scored any touchdowns this season, or those WR3 weeks would easily all be WR2 finishes. Douglas’s roster percentage is a travesty. He should not be so readily available, and if you don’t rectify this NOW, you’ll be sorry. Douglas has an amazing three-game stretch starting this week against three secondaries that all rank inside the top 10 in PPR points per target allowed to slot wide receivers (ninth, sixth, third). Pick him up and find a way to get him into your lineups for the next three weeks.
Jayden Reed (GB): 36% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DET, KC, @NYG
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $9
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Reed’s snap share has bounced all over the map this season, but it seems as if Green Bay is beginning to understand that good things happen when Reed is a big part of the offense. In Week 11, Reed played 69% of the snaps with a 15% target share while also chipping in three carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. Reed entered Week 11 with five weeks of WR3 or higher weekly fantasy scoring production (WR20, WR36, WR32, WR36, WR11), and I’m sure when the dust settles from Week 11, he’ll have a sixth plaque to add to the wall. Reed has beautiful slot matchups coming up against the Lions and Giants, who, respectively, have allowed the most and ninth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Rashid Shaheed (NO): 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: @ATL, DET, CAR
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $9
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Michael Thomas is dealing with a significant knee injury. As long as he is sidelined, Shaheed will be the WR2 in this offense. In Week 10, with Thomas leaving the game, we got a peek at what that would look like, as Shaheed commanded a 20.9% target share, an 18.7% air-yard share and a 24.2% first-read share. That’s WR2-level usage. I don’t expect Shaheed to produce as a weekly WR2 for as long as Thomas is out, but we need some context around just how juicy that usage is. Shaheed has been an excellent zone beater this season, which lines up well in the next three weeks, as Atlanta, Detroit and Carolina have all utilized zone coverage on at least 70.4% of their defensive snaps since Week 6. Among 109 qualifying wide receivers, Shaheed ranks 32nd in yards per route run (2.05) and 30th in fantasy points per route run (0.40) against zone coverage (per Fantasy Points Data). As long as Thomas is sidelined, Shaheed is in the WR3/4 conversation with weekly WR2 upside.
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.