Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Avoid (Week 5)

Let’s take a look at players who had strong weekly performances, but our fantasy football analysts aren’t buying it as they look ahead to this week and beyond. Here are a few players to avoid when making your fantasy football waiver wire pickups. And also be sure to check out our full fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Avoid

FOOL’S GOLD

The Washington offense has become a lot of fun, and journeyman RB Jeremy McNichols got in on the merriment in Week 4, carrying eight times for 68 yards and two touchdowns in Washington’s 42-14 romp over Arizona. Alas, Austin Ekeler will return from a concussion in a week or two, pushing McNichols back down to No. 3 on the depth chart.

Speaking of the Commanders, Olamide Zaccheaus had a team-high 85 receiving yards in Washington’s win over Arizona. But don’t be fooled: Zaccheaus recorded six catches despite playing only 18 snaps and running 11 routes, per PFF’s Nathan Jahnke. Leave Zaccheaus on the waiver wire.

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.