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 article for the week.
- 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
Daniel Jones (QB – IND) (17% Rostered)
- Next Opponents: @TEN, @LAR, LV
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: Seeing Daniel Jones become a fantasy QB1 is like looking at a Picasso. You may not know what’s going on, but you don’t want to take your eyes off it. Seriously, this is not your dad’s Daniel Jones. Before Week 2, the last time Jones had passed for 300 yards was Week 2 of 2023. Now with the Colts, Jones has been balling out, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for 588 yards in his first two games. Although his upcoming schedule is not the most appealing, after seeing what he did against an elite Broncos defense in Week 2, he should be played every week. Plug your nose, close your eyes, give him a different name. Do whatever you need to do to stomach seeing him in your lineup. Grab your Pepto-Bismol and get yourself a weekly top-12 quarterback for the 2025 season.
Juwan Johnson (TE – NO): 44% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @SEA, @BUF, NYG
- True Value: $8
- Desperate Need: $12
- Budget-Minded: $5
Analysis: Juwan Johnson is in the running for one of the best waiver wire pickups of the year for teams that have been hurting at tight end. In Week 1, he had a 79.6% route share with a 23.9% target share (second on the team), 1.95 yards per route run, 76 receiving yards, a team-leading two red-zone targets, a 28.1% first-read share (tied for the team lead) and 0.103 first downs per route run, per Fantasy Points Data. Johnson was the TE1 in fantasy last week. This week, he should end up a top-12 option again when it’s all said and done. He had a 26.4% target share against the 49ers, finishing with five receptions, 49 receiving yards and a score. Only Chris Olave had more targets than Johnson in Week 2. Even if you’re in good shape at tight end, Johnson should be picked up. At this point, he has proven he isn’t a one-week wonder. It feels like he’ll have staying power.
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE): 43% Rostered
- Next Opponents: GB, @DET, MIN
- True Value: $6
- Desperate Need: $10
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: In Week 1, Harold Fannin Jr. had a 20% target share, 2.17 yards per route run, 63 receiving yards and a 24% first-read share as the TE6 in fantasy. He had only a 60.2% route share. In Week 2, he saw his playing time increase with a 70% snap share and 73.3% route share. Sadly, his target share dipped to 11.1%, as he had only five receptions and 48 receiving yards. The increase in playing time is really what we wanted to see, though. If Fannin is getting adequate snaps, I believe the target share will increase because the talent is there. He could easily flirt with TE1 value moving forward, and don’t discount the possibility of the Browns eventually trading David Njoku, which gives Fannin a monster ceiling that few tight ends on the waiver wire have.
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.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
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.
