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 pickups and advice for Week 7.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Josh Downs (WR – IND): 48% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @LAC, TEN, @PIT
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: In Week 5, Josh Downs had a season-high 71.9% route share, 21.9% target share, 54 receiving yards and a 29.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Downs finished with six grabs and 54 receiving yards. Against the Cardinals in Week 6, Downs played 50.8% of the snaps with a 60.6% route share, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). He had a 23.3% target share, finishing with six grabs, 42 receiving yards and a touchdown. I’d love to tell you that the hot streak will continue, but Downs likely remains a middling Flex play moving forward after he had a nice matchup against Arizona. Out of his next three matchups, only Pittsburgh is an advantageous one (sixth-most PPR points per target allowed to slot receivers).
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE): 7% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @TEN, CLE, ATL
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: The last time I was over the moon for Kayshon Boutte’s outlook in fantasy, he finished with only one grab (for a touchdown) and 16 receiving yards against the Dolphins. In Weeks 2-5, Boutte never had more than two receptions or 28 receiving yards in any game. Now, Week 6 enters the chat, where Boutte had a 19.2% target share with 93 receiving yards and two scores. His usage is extremely volatile week-to-week, but if you need a dart throw high-ceiling Flex, Boutte is your guy. He has nice matchups for the next two weeks. Tennessee and Cleveland have respectively allowed the 12th-most and fourth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers, per Fantasy Points Data.
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG): 29% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @DEN, @PHI, SF
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $7
- Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: The Giants are riding high with the rookie duo of Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. I’m skeptical it will last, but it is definitely fun to watch. These two players have the reckless abandon that Giants’ fans have been craving. Dart is only the third quarterback of the Super Bowl era to have 50+ rushing yards in each of his first three starts. He’s averaging nine carries per game, and his rushing ability is icing on this big blue cake. Next week’s matchup against the Broncos will be tough, as Denver is averaging the second-fewest points against (16.8) and has been stingy to opposing quarterbacks. The Broncos held Jets Justin Fields to 45 rushing yards on Sunday and sacked him nine times.
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.