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

Chase Brown (WR – CIN): 6% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIN, @PIT, @KC
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Color me shocked. After weeks of being mired behind Trayveon Williams on the Bengals depth chart, Brown, a rookie from Illinois, has exploded onto the scene as an exciting rotational complement to Joe Mixon. Brown was a fundamentally sound player through the draft process, but his athleticism was called into question. He reminds me a lot of Kyren Williams in that his football intelligence has staying power in the league. Brown scored 19.30 PPR points in Cincinnati’s Week 14 win over Indianapolis. A good chunk of that came from a middle screen where he navigated his blocking perfectly and broke away for a 54-yard house call. It’s encouraging that he got 12 touches on Sunday after getting nine the previous week.

Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB): 4% rostered

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

Analysis: Wicks is a receiver pickup who’s probably just for deep leagues or for rosters dealing with injuries in Week 15. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be extremely productive and help you take home a W. Wicks’ per-route metrics have been strong this season, with a 22% target per route run rate and 2.28 yards per route run. Wicks should assume Christian Watson‘s role in the Packers’ passing offense, with heavy usage against single-high looks. Wicks should destroy Tampa Bay’s secondary in Week 15. Since Week 8, Tampa Bay has utilized single-high at the eighth-highest rate (61.5%) while also allowing the 10th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Zach Wilson (QB – NYJ): 4% rostered

• Next Opponents: @MIA, WAS, @CLE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: I noticed something different on Sunday. Zach Wilson was given the keys to the offense, the whole offense, for the first time of his career. He was stellar. The BYU standout gashed Houston for 300 yards and two touchdowns in the rain and thoroughly outperformed the presumptive offensive rookie of the year, C.J. Stroud. I don’t mind swinging for the fences with Wilson again this week. Miami has a middling defense, and the game script is likely to favor a lot of volume for Wilson and the Jets passing game. Any repeat of the rhythm and chemistry with Garrett Wilson that we witnessed on Sunday and the script writers will have outdone themselves. Imagine the bragging rights that would result from riding a presumed draft bust to a fantasy championship.

Chigoziem Okonkwo (TE – TEN): 34% rostered

• Next Opponents: HOU, SEA, @HOU
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Okonkwo has been a disappointment this season after an offseason of hype built the case for him as a late-round draft selection. Okonkwo could redeem himself with three banner performances to conclude the 2023 fantasy season. Since Week 12, Okonkwo has had a 55% route run rate, a 16.4% target share, 2.82 yards per route run and a 13.3% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). In Week 15 and Week 17, Okonkwo faces the Texans, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game and the fourth-most receiving yards per game to tight ends. Sandwiched in between those two games, he squares off against Seattle, which has allowed the 10th-most receiving yards per game to the position.

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.