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 2.
- More Waiver Wire Picks
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- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PIT): 1% Rostered
- Next Opponents: vs. SEA, @NE, MIN
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The most surprising shootout of Week 1 was the Steelers’ 34-32 win against the Jets. Aaron Rodgers passing for four touchdowns against Aaron Glenn’s defense couldn’t have been on many people’s bingo cards. And few people expected Kenneth Gainwell to lead the Pittsburgh backfield in snaps and out-touch rookie Kaleb Johnson 10-1. With a 37% share of the running back carries and the most receptions among Steelers backs in Week 1, signs point to Gainwell being a prominent weapon in this offense early on. Every season, fantasy managers need to be flexible with their player opinions and not overreact to a single week of results. This balancing act is never easy, but it seems safe to say that Pittsburgh is not ready to trust Johnson and will be using a Jaylen Warren–Kenneth Gainwell combo in the short term. Gainwell can jump into Flex territory in deeper leagues.
Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC): 8% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @LV, DEN, @NYG
- True Value: $8
- Desperate Need: $12
- Budget-Minded: $5
Analysis: It’s time to give Quentin Johnston his flowers and put some respect on his name. He started off the 2025 season with a bang as an integral part of the Bolts’ passing attack. Johnston had a 20.6% target share, 2.19 yards per route run and a 24% first-read share, finishing with 79 receiving yards and two touchdowns (two end-zone targets) against the Chiefs, per Fantasy Points Data. With an 87.8% route per dropback rate in Week 1, Johnston doesn’t have any concerns at the moment about losing time to Tre’ Harris or KeAndre Lambert-Smith. In two of his next three games (Raiders, Giants), Johnston has matchups that could easily put him in the Flex conversation for fantasy lineups.
Juwan Johnson (TE – NO): 1% Rostered
- Next Opponents: SF, @SEA, @BUF
- True Value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: Juwan Johnson had one helluva Week 1. He had a 23.9% target share, finishing second on the team in targets behind only Chris Olave. Johnson was an every-down player who also surprised with 1.61 yards per route run. Spencer Rattler and the Saints were trailing all day, which ramped up the passing volume, as New Orleans only handed it off to their running backs 18 times. This could be a familiar weekly scenario for this team, so the target volume could be here to stay. If you’re looking for a cheap option to replace an injured tight end, Johnson could be your guy this week.
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.
