Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Michael Carter, Mason Taylor, Theo Johnson

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 here is all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 6.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Michael Carter (RB – ARI): 39% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @IND, GB, BYE
• True Value: $22
• Desperate Need: $36
• Budget-Minded: $14

Analysis: Going into Week 5, it was unclear how the Cardinals were going to divide the running back workload in the absence of Trey Benson, who was placed on injured reserve (IR) last week after sustaining a knee injury in Week 4. (Benson himself was starting in place of James Conner, who was lost to a season-ending foot injury.) Michael Carter, who began the season on Arizona’s practice squad, played 57.4% of the Cardinals’ offensive snaps in Week 5 and had a team-high 18 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown against the Titans. Carter also led the backfield in pass routes (18) and had five catches for 22 yards. As if the usage gap between Carter and Emari Demercado wasn’t big enough, Demercado did himself no favors by lollygagging at the end of what should have been a 72-yard touchdown run and then dropping the ball before he crossed the goal-line, blowing a chance to salt away a game that the Cardinals wound up losing 22-21. Carter figures to lead the Arizona backfield again in Week 6 and should be startable until Benson’s return — even in a tough matchup against the Packers in Week 7.

Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ): 13% Rostered

• Next Opponents: DEN, CAR, @CIN
• True Value: $11
• Desperate Need: $15
• Budget-Minded: $6

Analysis: Mason Taylor finally had the breakout game I’d been waiting for in Week 4. He followed it up with a monster outing in Week 5. In Week 4, Taylor was the TE11 in fantasy, soaking up a 25.9% target share with 65 receiving yards (2.50 yards per route run) and a 33.3% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In Week 5 against Dallas, he had a 26% target share with nine receptions and 67 receiving yards. He led the Jets in targets, cementing his status as the team’s clear No. 2 option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson. Taylor offers TE1 plug-and-play value. Yes, this week’s matchup against Denver is tough, but he follows that up with cakewalks against Carolina and Cincinnati before the Jets’ bye week. If you are dealing with some frustrating veteran such as T.J. Hockenson or Mark Andrews at tight end, you should be rostering Taylor. He could be a more consistent volume earner and producer moving forward.

Theo Johnson (TE – NYG): 11% Rostered

• Next Opponents: PHI, @DEN, @PHI
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: Theo Johnson has scored three touchdowns over his last two games. Will he keep up that pace the rest of the season? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a strong streaming option at tight end moving forward. Over the last two weeks, Johnson has had a 20% target share while averaging 4.5 receptions and 20 receiving yards. His role in this offense is growing, and his rapport with Jaxson Dart looks good.

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.