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 all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice.
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- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Avoid
FOOL’S GOLD
Calvin Austin III had 78 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ snowy Thursday-night loss to the Browns, but he did his damage on only three targets. Austin is averaging 3.3 targets a game for the run-heavy Steelers — not the sort of usage you can hang your hat on.
Austin Hooper had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown Sunday against the Dolphins. Hooper hasn’t drawn more than five targets in a game all season. Hunter Henry is still the only fantasy-relevant tight end in New England, and even Henry has had trouble generating consistent production.
A spare part in a lackluster Carolina offense, David Moore hadn’t scored a touchdown or produced more than 40 receiving yards in a game all season before erupting for 6-81-1 Sunday against the Chiefs. At best, Moore is the No. 3 pass-catching option behind Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen in one of the NFL’s least productive passing attacks. No thanks.
Over the last two weeks, Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker has had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets. Schoonmaker is getting extra snaps while TE Jake Ferguson is sidelined with a concussion. There’s a good chance Ferguson comes back this week, in which case Schoonmaker goes back to irrelevance. Even if Ferguson misses another game, it’s hard to imagine being tempted to use Schoonmaker when he’s tied to a backup quarterback, in a week when there are no teams on bye.
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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