Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Tyjae Spears, Demario Douglas, Gardner Minshew, Isaiah Likely (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

Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN): 35% rostered

• Next Opponents: @MIA, HOU, SEA
• True value: $17
• Desperate need: $28
• Budget-minded: $12

Analysis: Derrick Henry got rocked and left Sunday’s game against the Colts with a concussion. Spears jumped in and garnered 20 touches, including four receptions, for 88 scrimmage yards. His 12.8 fantasy points were only a couple of yards away from a lot more, as he was cut down on a breakaway play just before reaching the end zone. The rookie from Tulane is incredible in the open field and will see increased work going forward, even if King Henry is able to return next week.

Demario Douglas (WR – NE): 26% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, KC, @DEN
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Douglas missed Week 13 due to a concussion. He should be back in Week 14. Douglas has finished as a WR3 or better in four of his last five games (WR29, WR27, WR23, WR35). Since assuming a starting role in Week 7, he has had a 22.4% target share, 1.96 yards per route run and a 27.8% first-read share as the unquestioned WR1 in the Patriots’ offense. He should flirt with WR2/3 production over the next two weeks. The Steelers and Chiefs have been plus matchups for slot receivers since Week 7, allowing the second-most and the eighth-most PPR points per target, respectively.

Gardner Minshew (QB – IND): 23% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CIN, PIT, @ATL
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: It wasn’t quite Minshew Mania, but he did score 20 fantasy points in Week 14, including a game-winning 4-yard toss to Michael Pittman Jr. in overtime. The streaming options at QB are as bleak in Week 14 as they have been all season, so I’m pretty keen on running it back with Gardner again.

Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL): 35% rostered

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

Analysis: In Week 12, as Baltimore’s starting tight end, Likely had a 69.4% route run rate, a 15.6% target share, 1.60 yards per route run and a 13.3% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). All of those usage metrics are TE1-worthy. Likely has had an up-and-down history when called upon as Baltimore’s starter, but he should piece together solid stat lines over the next two weeks. The Rams and Jaguars have allowed the eighth-most and 12th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, respectively. Likely is a plug-and-play TE1.

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.