Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Ezekiel Elliott, Rashid Shaheed, Khalil Shakir, Joe Flacco (Week 14)

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

Ezekiel Elliott (RB – NE): 40% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, KC, @DEN
• True value: $13
• Desperate need: $21
• Budget-minded: $8

Analysis: It was Rhamondre Stevenson who toted the rock nine times in the first quarter on Sunday, but his day was cut short by a lower leg injury caused by a hip-drop tackle. Elliott stepped in admirably and finished with 92 yards from scrimmage on 21 touches. He had four receptions for 40 yards, so it’s safe to project Zeke into Stevenson’s three-down role going forward. One word of caution; We should probably manage expectations for any player involved in this horrendous New England offense. It’s difficult to imagine upside on a team that couldn’t even muster a point against the Chargers on Sunday.

Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO): 43% rostered

• Next Opponents: CAR, NYG, @LAR
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Shaheed missed Week 13 with a quad issue. While his return remains up in the air, Shaheed has the talent to pop off once he’s back. Among 100 qualifying wide receivers, he ranks 48th in yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). He has three games this season as a WR1 (WR12, WR12, WR8). With Michael Thomas still sidelined, Shaheed should compete with Alvin Kamara for the second spot in the target pecking order behind Chris Olave. Shaheed has plus matchups in Week 15-16 against the Giants and Rams. The Giants have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Since Week 7, the Rams have given up the sixth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF): 12% rostered

• Next Opponents: @KC, DAL, @LAC
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Since Week 8, Shakir has had an 11.2% target share and 2.29 yards per route run, but he has only seen a 6.8% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data), which accounts for his volatility. He’s a talented young receiver in one of the league’s best offenses, but he has been the fourth or fifth option in the target pecking order. Hopefully, that changes coming out of the bye, but there’s no guarantee that it will. Over his last five starts, Shakir has had two games with at least 92 receiving yards. His next three matchups are all intriguing spots to consider flexing him. Since Week 7, the Chiefs and Chargers have allowed the second-most and 10th-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Jourdan Lewis is the easiest corner to pick on in the Dallas secondary.

Joe Flacco (QB – CLE): 5% rostered

• Next Opponents: JAX, CHI, @HOU
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The former Super Bowl MVP was very good in his Browns debut, especially considering that he joined the team two weeks ago and was facing Aaron Donald and the Rams out of the gate. Cleveland’s next three games are against bottom-10 pass defenses. It isn’t sexy, but streaming Flacco might propel your team into the fantasy playoffs and beyond.

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.