Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Adonai Mitchell, Jayden Higgins, Devaughn Vele

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 all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Devaughn Vele (WR – NO): 1% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @TB, CAR, NYJ
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: Devaughn Vele‘s role in the Saints’ passing attack has been growing. In Week 12, he had a 16.2% target share with an uninspiring 37 scoreless receiving yards. In Week 13, he took another step forward with a standout game. Against the Dolphins’ improved secondary, he had a 21% target share with 93 receiving yards and a score. Vele doesn’t have overwhelmingly bad matchups across the next three weeks. If Vele continues to see a weekly target shave hovering in the 20% range, he’ll be a decent PPR Flex play.

Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU): 35% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @KC, ARI, LV
• True Value: $6
• Desperate Need: $9
• Budget-Minded: $4

Analysis: Jayden Higgins‘ role in the Houston offense has been growing. Since Week 11, he has had two top-24 weekly finishes (WR22, WR23). In Week 12, he had a 67.7% route share, a 30% target share, a 51.3% air-yard share, 38 receiving yards, 1.81 yards per route run and a 38.9% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In Week 13, Higgins didn’t post gaudy numbers but still had a 63.1% route share, a 14.2% target share and was second on the team with 65 receiving yards. Higgins doesn’t have a tough matchup again until Week 17 against the Chargers. He’s firmly on the WR3/Flex radar for the rest of the season.

Adonai Mitchell (WR – NYJ): 2% Rostered

• Next Opponents: MIA, @JAX, @NO
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: The regression game was coming for Adonai Mitchell. His usage with the Jets before Week 13 had been too good not to catch fire and lead to a big week eventually. In Weeks 11-12, Mitchell had a 23.6% target share, a 35.5% first-read share and a 62.5% air-yard share, but he had only 26 receiving yards per game, 1.13 yards per route run and three drops to show for it, per Fantasy Points Data. In Week 13, Mitchell torched the Falcons with a 36.3% target share, eight receptions and 102 receiving yards. I’m not saying he will continue to produce at that pace moving forward, but he is the clear No. 1 WR for the Jets right now. I don’t want to use Mitchell as a Flex option in Week 14 against an improved Dolphins secondary, but his two matchups after that are wonderful. Since Week 8, the Jaguars and Saints have, respectively, allowed the fourth-most and seventh-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

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.