3 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 check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 5.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Avoid

Fool’s Gold

Zavier Scott got a little bit of run for the Vikings in Week 4 as the backup to Jordan Mason. Scott had six catches for 43 yards on eight targets and had a 16-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ 24-21 loss to the Steelers in Ireland. Don’t be bamboozled by the big target count. The Vikings fell into a deep hole in that game, forcing Carson Wentz to throw 46 passes as the Vikings tried to claw their way back into the game. Scott played 38.2% of the offensive snaps and had two carries for one yard. Jordan Mason is going to do the heavy lifting in the Minnesota backfield the next couple of weeks, and then Scott will lose his seat at the table when Aaron Jones returns from a hamstring injury.

With wide receiver Alec Pierce sidelined by a concussion in Week 4, Adonai Mitchell played 88.5% of the Colts’ offensive snaps and almost scored one of the best-looking touchdowns of the week. But after a long catch-and-run, Mitchell tried to one-hand the ball before crossing the goal line and fumbled it through the end zone. Mitchell’s combination of size and speed gives him an intriguing future, but he’ll go back to being Indy’s No. 4 receiver upon Pierce’s return.

With the Ravens in catch-up mode after falling into a deep hole against the Chiefs in Week 4, Justice Hill had a more productive day for the Ravens than Derrick Henry did, with 3-76-1 rushing and 5-41-1 receiving. Don’t chase the spike week. Hill had 12 total touches in the Ravens’ first three games and typically isn’t a big part of the Baltimore game plan.

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.