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 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
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE): 40% Rostered
- Next Opponents: ATL, @TB, NYJ
- True Value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: Kayshon Boutte has been a volatile player for fantasy purposes, but he’s on a hot streak, catching passes from MVP candidate Drake Maye. Boutte entered Week 8 with an 11.8% target share, a 17.2-yard average depth of target (aDOT), with 2.03 yards per route run and a 14% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. He stayed in the flames against the Browns with a 20.8% target share, 75 receiving yards and another score. Boutte’s role in the offense has also been elevated with Stefon Diggs dealing with a chest issue. The Falcons aren’t a secondary that I am looking to attack in fantasy with Boutte in the Flex, but after that, he gets Tampa Bay and the Jets. Outside of Sauce Gardner and Jamel Dean in those secondaries, there’s nothing to fear, and Boutte will again be a volatile Flex option with strong weekly upside.
Troy Franklin (WR – DEN): 37% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @HOU, LV, KC
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: In Week 8, Troy Franklin finally turned his high-value role in the Denver offense into a monster performance. Franklin entered Week 8 third on the team in deep targets, and he is fifth in the NFL in red-zone targets. Franklin destroyed the Dallas secondary with a 27.5% target share, 89 receiving yards and two scores. Two of Franklin’s next three matchups are rough, but he is a strong Flex option again against the Raiders, who have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers, per Fantasy Points Data.
Malik Washington (WR – MIA): 15% Rostered
- Next Opponents: BAL, BUF, WSH
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Malik Washington hasn’t been a high-upside Flex option over the last two weeks, but he does hold some Flex appeal in PPR formats in two of the next three weeks. Over his last two games, he has drawn a 22.4% target share and averaged 4.5 receptions and 33 receiving yards. Toss a touchdown on top of a stat line like that, as Washington did in Week 8, and you have a player who will flirt with low-end WR2 production in PPR leagues. Washington is a decent PPR Flex option against Baltimore and Washington, who, respectively, have allowed the fourth-most and 14th-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to wide receivers, per Fantasy Points Data.
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.
