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 check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 10.
- 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 Week 10
Quentin Johnston (LAC): 15% rostered
- Next Opponents: TEN, CIN, BAL
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: We need to start taking Johnston seriously at this point. This is his third game of the season with at least 44 receiving yards and a score. Sunday against the Browns, Johnston played 68% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps, seeing an 18.5% target share and producing 118 receiving yards and a score. Johnston should be a strong flex moving forward, especially against Cincy and Baltimore. The Bengals and Ravens have allowed the seventh-most and the most fantasy points per game, respectively, to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Drake Maye (NE): 11% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CHI, LAR, @MIA
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: I want to offer you a hypothetical situation. You’re up a creek without a paddle at QB and are running low on FAAB. All the good quarterbacks are rostered in your league. You need a cheap streamer who can run. May I interest you in Drake Maye? He looked horrendous passing against Tennessee, so how did he manage 15.74 fantasy points? A whopping 95 rushing yards is how. Even against a brutally difficult Chicago defense this week, the rookie from North Carolina can pop off and win you a matchup. He’s a wild child, but that Jameis Winston style of play can be fantasy gold if you’re feeling frisky enough for the risky.
Mike Gesicki (CIN): 13% rostered
- Next Opponents: @BAL, @LAC, BYE
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: With Tee Higgins out in Week 9, it was wheels up for Gesicki. Prior to his meeting with the Raiders on Sunday, in the three games without Higgins, Gesicki effectively operated as the team’s WR2 with a 20.6% target share, a 21.9% air-yard share, 2.98 yards per route run, and a 25.3% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). In Week 9, he continued this trend with a 15.3% target share, 100 receiving yards, and two scores. The tight end could keep up this amazing run in Week 10, as Tee Higgins isn’t a lock to return, and Gesicki has another smash matchup. The Ravens have allowed the second-most receiving yards per game and the ninth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
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.