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 here is all of our Week 4 fantasy football waiver wire advice.
- 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
Sam Darnold (MIN): 29% rostered
- Next Opponents: @GB, NYJ, BYE
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Ironically enough, Darnold scored more fantasy points against the tough 49ers and Texans defenses than he did in the opener against the Giants. I think there’s a bit more meat on this bone in Week 4 against Green Bay before we stream someone else thereafter. Darnold looks incredibly efficient under Kevin O’Connell’s tutelage in Minnesota and is due to have Jordan Addison back in the fold soon.
Andy Dalton (CAR): 4% rostered
- Next Opponents: CIN, @CHI, ATL
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: The Red Rifle is back. Bryce Young‘s benching was an instant cash-in for Dave Canales’ Panthers. Dalton passed for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns against the Raiders. His next three opponents are much better in the secondary than Las Vegas is, but Dalton might be the cheapest streamer you can find if your FAAB is running dry.
Justin Fields (PIT): 16% rostered
- Next Opponents: @IND, DAL, @LV
- True value: $7
- Desperate Need: $13
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: I hate to break it to the weirdos who don’t think Russell Wilson is cringe: Wilson is not getting the starting job from Justin Fields anytime soon. Fields has led Pittsburgh to a 3-0 start and passed for a season-high 245 yards in Week 3. Fields threw for one touchdown and rushed for another to put up a solid 18.4 fantasy points, even though he only earned six yards on six rushing attempts. That rushing upside puts Fields in potential QB1 territory every single week. He also faces three struggling defenses in a row: Indianapolis, Dallas and Las Vegas. Fields is the best widely available waiver QB on the market.
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.