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 are all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 15.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target
Bam Knight (RB – ARI): 32% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @HOU, ATL, @CIN
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: It’s still unclear whether Trey Benson will play another game for the Cardinals this season. If the team doesn’t open his practice window by Wednesday, he will be shut down for the season. There have not been a ton of reports regarding Benson’s status. As a result, I personally don’t think he will be back this week. Bam Knight has done an admirable job in Benson’s absence, scoring double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games. Although Michael Carter has pitched in, Knight has been the lead back for an Arizona offense that has performed reasonably well over the last few weeks. But the Cardinals face the Texans this week, so it will be hard to start Knight even if Benson remains out. However, Knight gets a much more favorable matchup with the Falcons in Week 16, and the matchup with the Bengals in the fantasy championship is very intriguing.
Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU): 42% Rostered
- Next Opponents: ARI, LV, @LAC
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: In Weeks 10-13, Jayden Higgins was the WR24 in fantasy points per game with an 18.5% target share, a 30% target per route run rate, 50 receiving yards per game, 2.15 yards per route run and a 22.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those four games, he had four red-zone targets and five deep targets. Higgins had a quieter night against the Chiefs on Sunday with a 16.1% target share and 34 scoreless receiving yards. That doesn’t change my view that he’s a strong WR3/Flex moving forward. Higgins has two fantastic matchups upcoming. Since Week 9, the Cardinals and Raiders have allowed the fourth-most and eighth-most PPR points per target, respectively, to perimeter wide receivers.
Luther Burden III (WR – CHI): 17% Rostered
- Next Opponents: CLE, GB, SF
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: With Rome Odunze sidelined against the Packers, Luther Burden had a 71.4% snap share, a 69% route share, a 17.1% target share and 67 receiving yards. Burden led the Bears in receiving yards and targets. Odunze is dealing with a stress fracture in his foot and has been labeled week-to-week. It’s possible we don’t see Odunze again in the regular season. I’m not in love with Burden’s rest-of-season schedule, but with DJ Moore looking cooked and Odunze on the shelf, Burden will remain a volume-based Flex play over the rest of the fantasy season.
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.
