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 article for Week 8.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Drake Maye (NE): 16% rostered
- Next Opponents: NYJ, @TEN, @CHI
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Drake Maye‘s first two career games have been a boon for fantasy production. I’m afraid this will dupe fantasy managers into shelling out precious FAAB to acquire him. His next three games are all against elite pass defenses. This, combined with atrocious offensive line play, worries me if I have Maye on my roster. He has a bit of cowboy bravado to his game, but Maye will be sternly tested.
Troy Franklin (DEN): 1% rostered
- Next Opponents: CAR, @BAL, @KC
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Last week might have been a stepping-stone game for Franklin. He had a 63.6% route share, a 23.1% target share and 2.38 yards per route run as a starter for Denver. The talented rookie fell in the NFL Draft, and it has been a slow burn this season for him to rise up the depth chart. Franklin’s next two matchups are quite wonderful. If he can take advantage of them, don’t be surprised if he is pushing Courtland Sutton for the team lead in targets down the stretch. Carolina has allowed the most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers. Baltimore has given up the third-most receiving yards per game to outside receivers.
Jauan Jennings (SF): 29% rostered
- Next Opponents: DAL, BYE, @TB
- True value: $14
- Desperate Need: $25
- Budget-minded: $8
Analysis: Jennings is dealing with a hip injury and didn’t practice at all last week, but he should walk into a big role once he returns to the lineup now that Brandon Aiyuk is most likely out for the season with what is believed to be a torn ACL. Jennings has three games this season with more than 60 receiving yards and two top-36 weekly WR finishes. Jennings has drawn an 18.9% target share and a 23.1% first-read share, with 2.91 yards per route run and five end-zone targets (per Fantasy Points Data). Jennings could be a weekly WR3/flex play moving forward.
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.