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 Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire advice.
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- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Quentin Johnston (LAC): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: BAL, @ATL, @KC
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Johnston finished with a familiar stat line against the Bengals in Week 11. He had only two receptions and 48 receiving yards, but the difference this week was that he saw a 22.2% target share with a season-high eight targets. Johnston has been a boom-or-bust player this season. He could boom again in Week 12. Baltimore will take away the Bolts’ ability to run the rock, so we should see Justin Herbert light it up, which is good news for Johnston. Baltimore has been a wonderful matchup all season, allowing the most receiving yards and fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (NO): 25% rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, LAR, @NYG
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Valdes-Scantling has been threading the needle over the last two games. He has only seen an 11.8% target share with five total receptions, but he has averaged 98 receiving yards per game and had three scores. Is this sustainable? No. Could he continue the hot streak after the Saints’ Week 12 bye? Possibly. Valdes-Scantling comes out of the bye with matchups against the Rams and Giants, who have allowed the fifth-most and sixth-most deep passing yards per game, respectively (per Fantasy Points Data). MVS will be a dice-roll flex play in those two matchups.
DeMario Douglas (NE): 28% rostered
- Next Opponents: @MIA, IND, BYE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Douglas has been a PPR merchant with Drake Maye under center. In their four full games together, Douglas has had a 21.5% target share and has finished with at least four receptions and 50 receiving yards three times. He’s a volume-based flex play in his next two games before his bye. Since Week 5, Miami has allowed the 12th-fewest receiving yards per game to slot receivers, while Indy has given up the 10th-fewest receiving yards per game to the slot (per Fantasy Points Data).
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.