Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Elic Ayomanor, Kenneth Gainwell, Woody Marks

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 5.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Elic Ayomanor (WR – TEN): 31% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @ARI, @LV, NE
• True Value: $6
• Desperate Need: $10
• Budget-Minded: $4

Analysis: In Weeks 2-3, Elic Ayomanor was the WR24 and WR27 in PPR scoring. He entered Week 4 with a 15.5% target share, a 24.6% air-yard share, a 15.6% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data), 47 receiving yards per game and 1.74 yards per route run. He had two scores and two end-zone targets. In Week 4, Ayomanor led the Titans with a 26.9% target share and a modest 44 receiving yards. He is stepping up at the team’s No. 1 WR, as Calvin Ridley looks cooked. I’m not rushing to plug Ayomanor into a Flex spot against the Cardinals this week, but he has three nice matchups after that against Las Vegas, New England and Indianapolis that should land him in strong Flex territory.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 23% Rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, CLE, @CIN
• True Value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Every fantasy manager’s worst nightmare happened this weekend. Right before the early game in Dublin kicked off, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was ruled out with a knee injury. This injury was not new, and he had been expected to play. In Warren’s absence, Kenneth Gainwell was Pittsburgh’s primary back in a tough matchup against the Vikings. Well, it was supposed to be tough. Gainwell popped off for 134 total yards and two scores. This week, the Steelers are heading into their bye, and it is expected that Warren will probably be healthy for Week 6. However, Gainwell has now proven he can carry the load if necessary. If Warren’s injury lingers, Gainwell could be in line for more work.

Woody Marks (RB – HOU): 30% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @BAL, BYE, @SEA
• True Value: $35
• Desperate Need: $50
• Budget-Minded: $25

Analysis: Woody Marks may have just taken over the Houston backfield. With 17 carries for 69 yards and a score to go along with four receptions, 50 yards and another score, Marks had a heck of a fantasy performance against the Titans in Week 4. With Nick Chubb only managing 47 yards on 13 carries, it’s clear who the more efficient back was. Coming into the league, Marks was touted as potentially the best pass-catching back in this class. For the Titans to have given him 17 carries in a game they were winning the entire time is a sign of good things to come. It’s essential to note that the Texans’ offensive line didn’t become functional overnight; however, Houston’s run blocking was competent against the Titans in Week 4. Next week, Marks faces a Ravens defense allowing the most yards and fantasy points to the running back position. We listed Marks as a stash last week. Hopefully, you already have him rostered. If not, this might be a time to bid heavily for what could be a weekly starter moving forward.

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.