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
C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU): 42% Rostered
- Next Opponents: ARI, LV, @LAC
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: After lighting the league on fire as a rookie, C.J. Stroud has taken a step back, at least for fantasy purposes. Still, he remains a competent game manager for a defensive juggernaut of a team, providing a decent fantasy floor despite a limited ceiling. In Week 15, Stroud takes on the Cardinals, who have played better defense than most people expected for much of the season. The Cardinals entered Week 14 having allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to the quarterback position, but Matthew Stafford shredded them for 281 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. With a dominant receiver in Nico Collins, Stroud may be able to come through for fantasy. On the other hand, the Texans’ defense will be a tall order for Jacoby Brissett, so the Texans may be able to lean on their defense and running game, limiting Stroud’s ceiling.
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE): 39% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @CHI, BUF, PIT
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $9
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: In Weeks 12-13, Harold Fannin Jr. finished as the TE15 and TE12 in weekly scoring. He led the Browns in those two games with a 23.9% target share, 41.5 receiving yards per game and 2.02 yards per route run. He ranked second on the team with a 19.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Fannin exploded in Week 14 against the Titans with a 26.1% target share, eight receptions, 114 receiving yards and a score. Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders will continue to lean on his rookie tight end to close the regular season, especially with Fannin drawing favorable matchups against the Bears and Steelers, who have, respectively, allowed the 14th-most and fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Shedeur Sanders put up big numbers Sunday in his third NFL start, throwing for 364 yards and three touchdowns in the Browns’ 31-29 loss to the Titans. In two previous starts, Sanders threw for a combined 359 yards and two touchdowns. The rookie has earned our attention, but for now, the prudent move is to monitor his progress from afar.
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.
