The week is nearly wrapped up, and of course there were another round of injuries and surprising performances. As a result, fantasy football 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 fantasy football waiver wire this week. And also be sure to check out our full fantasy football waiver wire advice 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 Pickups to Target

Josh Downs (IND): 20% rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, @TEN, MIA
• True value: $4
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Well, so much for the concerns about Indy’s passing attack. Anthony Richardson started hot in Week 4 before injuring his hip. Joe Flacco did 2023 Flacco things after Richardson was lost for the week. He supported Downs and Michael Pittman solidly. Downs finished Week 4 with a 30% target share, 82 receiving yards and a score. Richardson might be back next week, but if he’s not, we should still feel great about Downs’ outlook against Jacksonville. The Jaguars have conceded the ninth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Downs also has a solid matchup in Week 7 against the Dolphins, who have allowed the 13th-most PPR points per target to slot receivers.

Xavier Legette (CAR): 14% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CHI, ATL, @WAS
• True value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Finally! With Adam Thielen felled by a hamstring injury, Legette finally got full run as a starter in the Panthers’ offense in Week 4. He responded nicely with a 25% target share, 66 receiving yards (1.78 yards per route run) and a score. The hyper-athletic rookie could use this game as a stepping stone. The talent is there for Legette to challenge Diontae Johnson for the team lead in targets weekly if he hits the ground running. He should be the team’s WR2 for the rest of the season if the coaching staff doesn’t continue to insist upon Jonathan Mingo getting a shot.

Darnell Mooney (ATL): 47% rostered

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

Analysis: Mooney has been a consistent source of volume as a steady flex over the last three games. He has a strong 20.1% target share as the WR2 in the Falcons’ passing attack. Mooney has had at least 56 receiving yards in each of Atlanta’s last three games. Toss a touchdown on top of that production in any week, and Mooney is flirting with WR2 fantasy numbers. He should continue his hot streak over the next two weeks before hitting a brick wall with Seattle’s outside corners in Week 7.

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.