Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Kyle Monangai, Bam Knight, Brashard Smith

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.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI): 44% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @BAL, @CIN, NYG
• True Value: $9
• Desperate Need: $15
• Budget-Minded: $5

Analysis: Bears head coach Ben Johnson has found the secret sauce to the Chicago running game. Over their last two games, the Bears have dominated on the ground. They piled up 222 rushing yards against the Saints, and both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai found pay dirt. Although Swift continues to operate as the lead back, the snap divide has been closing. Last week, Swift saw 52.9% of the snaps to Monangai’s 45.6%. This allowed both backs to pay off, with Swift rushing for 124 yards and a score, and Monangai rushing for 81 yards and a score. We know Johnson is no stranger to split backfields. In fact, Johnson presided over a split backfield in Detroit that included Swift. The Bears’ two running backs should continue to operate as a Walmart version of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. With Swift taking the Gibbs role and Monangai a discount version of Montgomery.

Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI): 22% Rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, @DAL, @SEA
• True Value: $5
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget-Minded: $3

Analysis: Usually, I don’t recommend grabbing a committee back heading into his bye. However, with the upcoming schedule for the Cardinals, you might want to get ahead of the curve on this one. After their bye, the Cardinals face the Cowboys. Dallas is allowing nearly 150 total yards to opposing running backs each week. That’s a lot of yards to go around, which is good, because Zonovan Knight is sharing work with Michael Carter and D’Ernest Johnson. With Emari Demercado missing Arizona’s Week 8 loss to the Packers due to an ankle injury, Johnson played on third downs, leaving Carter and Knight to split the early-down work. Knight was the lead back, playing on 13 of the team’s 16 first-quarter snaps. In contrast, Carter didn’t see a touch until the second quarter and only had 11 yards on seven rushing attempts. With Carter’s inefficiency issues, the Cardinals might give Knight more work coming out of their bye. Knight will get an excellent Week 9 matchup against the Cowboys, who have struggled against the run.

Brashard Smith (RB – KC): 6% Rostered

• Next Opponents: WSH, @BUF, BYE
• True Value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: The Chiefs’ offense is cooking. Being able to bench your starters in the middle of the third quarter against a division rival is a power move. Brashard Smith‘s increased involvement was partly the result of a blowout game script in the Chiefs’ 31-0 win over the Raiders. However, Smith was given an opportunity while the starters were still playing. Smith finished the game with 14 carries for 39 yards and five receptions for 42 yards. Smith’s receiving ability sets him apart as a weapon. With the Chiefs averaging the sixth-most pass attempts per game, Smith should continue to see opportunities. Also, monitor the status of Kareem Hunt, who sustained an ankle injury on Sunday, and adjust bids on Smith accordingly. Smith can be a Flex option in full-point PPR formats this week, and he could become more valuable in the weeks to come.

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.