A lot of times in fantasy football, players will bust or get injured and you feel your team is basically done for the year. However, without even making trades you can drastically improve your team by working the waiver wire. For those new to fantasy football, the waiver wire is full of ‘free-agent’ players that you can pick up and add to your team.
Oftentimes, there will be a variety of players worth adding to your roster and depending on your team this article might contain most of them or just a few. Therefore, whenever I put a player on this list he will have a 50% ownership percentage or lower to make it so there should be players for everyone to add and make their teams significantly better.
Additionally, all ownership percentages will be based on the ESPN website data but usually the percentages are relatively uniform across platforms from my experience.
I am going to always divide this article into three sections: Running Backs, Wide Receivers, and Tight Ends. So if you need one of those positions more than anything else feel free to just scroll to that given section.
Running Backs:
Damien Williams (3% owned):
With David Montgomery now out for the next four to five weeks, Williams has a chance to have a major role in this offense. He is now a must pick up as he is really the only guy in the backfield right now. Grab him before your league-mates do. He could bring you to a great record with the touches he should get!
JD McKissic (49% owned):
We all thought McKissic would be phased out of his receiving role this year with the potential emergence of teammate Antonio Gibson. However, that simply has not happened. McKissic has had at least two targets each of the last three weeks and has five or more targets in two of the last three games. He is not the most exciting option in the world but he has some flex upside and if you really need a running back due to injury he is definitely a guy worth picking up.
Samaje Perine (2% owned):
With Mixon potentially missing a week or two, Perine seems to be the player most likely to fill Mixon’s role as the RB1 on the Bengals. Perine is worth the pick up because of the potential role he could have as the main running back on a solid offense. There is the risk that Mixon doesn’t miss any time at all but if he does Perine can do very decently as the running back. It is always hard to find players on the waiver wire who could get 10+ touches a game and if Mixon goes down it appears Perine could easily do that.
Latavius Murray (34% owned):
Murray is the clear RB1 in this backfield now. He had 18 touches for only 59 yards but did have a touchdown to go along with it. In a run heavy offense, Murray should be getting a good amount of touches week in and week out. Additionally, he is the Ravens’ guy in the red zone which gives him touch upside every single week. In fact, Murray has had three touchdowns in three out of the last four games.Start him with confidence if you need a running back.
Alexander Mattison (59% owned):
Mattison obviously does not make the under 50% threshold however, he most certainly needs to be picked up in every single format. Mattison is THE guy for the Vikings if Cook is ever injured as evidenced by his 23 carries last week and even his ten carries this week when Cook was injured for a short period. Mattison should be rostered everywhere and with Cook’s propensity for getting injured, Mattison has a ton of upside.
Wide Receivers:
Jamison Crowder (15% owned):
Despite being injured and out with COVID the first three games, Crowder made a massive impact in his first game back. He had nine targets which he turned into seven receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. Zach Wilson seemed to have a great connection with the veteran receiver and it should come as no surprise given how productive Crowder has been in the past. Crowder has weekly flex ability and can be played with little fear of risk in my opinion.
Darnell Mooney (41% owned): Is this the breakout Mooney game we have all been waiting for? Mooney had five receptions for 125 yards to go along with seven targets. Mooney has been involved a lot so far this season with 4+ targets in every single game but he has not really done a ton with those targets thus far. Is that the fault of Andy Dalton? Fields was graded as the third best deep ball thrower in week four and maybe that is all Mooney needs to finally break out.
Emmanuel Sanders (45% owned):
Alright this better be the last week Sanders is on this last because he is way too good to keep being here. Sanders had another awesome week with six receptions for 74 yards plus a seven yard rush attempt. Sanders has 6+ targets in EVERY game this year so far. I still cannot believe he is available in most leagues. Please pick him up. He literally has low-end WR2 ability.
Kadarius Toney (3% owned): Toney got the touches he deserved in week four and looked electric on the field. His athletic ability is through the roof and every time he touches the ball it looks like magic is about to happen. Toney had nine targets for six receptions for 78 yards plus a one yard rush attempt. Clearly, the Giants want to get him involved and if that’s the catch watch out because Toney can do special things with the ball in his hands.
Tight Ends:
Dawson Knox (20% owned):
Is there actually a really good tight end option on the waiver wire this week? Yes, there finally is. Knox has been a touchdown machine with four touchdowns in four weeks and is coming off a two touchdown performance this past week. Knox has 3+ targets in every game and honestly brings low-end TE1 upside into every week.
Tyler Conklin (23% owned):
Conklin is a target attractor thus far as he has 4+ targets in every game not to mention the fact that his targets have increased to six and eight respectively each of the last two weeks. Conklin has a really solid role in this offense and do not be afraid to start this guy if you need to.