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:
D’Onta Foreman (36% owned):
No one seemed to pick him up this week due to his bye week but Foreman was amazing against the Patriots two weeks ago. Foreman had 19 touches for 109 yards and one reception for three yards. Any running back who can get 20 opportunities in a game needs to be rostered absolutely immediately and given how the Jaguars run defense has been relatively bad, Foreman has a great matchup in the week before the playoffs or in the actual playoffs of your league. Grab him before your playoff run starts to add that piece to take your team to the next level.
Tevin Coleman (41% owned):
With Michael Carter out the past two games, Coleman has accrued 18 and 14 touches in the past two games respectively. He has averaged 4.6 yards per carry which is quite impressive given the struggles of the Jets’ offensive line this year in run blocking. Furthermore, Coleman provides receiving points too and he has five receptions in the two games he has played a majority in. I love Coleman with Carter injured and think he has great upside, especially with how competent the Jets’ offense has looked recently.
Sony Michel (35% owned):
Michel went from getting inconsistent reps to having the workhorse role with Henderson sidelined due to injury and produced amazingly. Michel had 121 rushing yards and a touchdown in addition to three receptions for eight yards. He was the first Rams’ runner to go for over 100 in a game this season. If Henderson continues to miss time, Michel is a bonafide RB2 with upside. Even if Henderson comes back, I still think Michel will have an expanded role after his performance this past Sunday.
Wide Receivers:
Russell Gage (25% owned):
With no Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage is taking full advantage and is coming off of a monster game. He had 11 receptions for 130 yards and 12 total targets. Gage obviously has a massive role in this offense when healthy. He has seven or more targets in each of the last three weeks and his quarterback, Matt Ryan, is trying to get him as involved as possible. Gage has WR2 upside and maybe even a WR2 floor with his target share. In my opinion, he is a must pickup and should be rostered in every league going into the playoffs.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (7% owned):
Although the Lions’ offense has been absolutely brutal in 2021, St. Brown has been a very underrated rookie this year. St. Brown just had the best game of his career by far putting up 10 receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown plus one rush attempt for two yards. Evidently, Jared Goff is slowly growing a rapport with the young guy. This is shown by the fact that St. Brown has only had one game this year under four targets. St. Brown is not the highest upside player but he does have a decent floor and if you need some decently reliable St. Brown is absolutely that player.
Devante Parker (54% owned):
I understand Parker does not quite meet the threshold of 50% that I usually set but I think Parker can have a massive impact in the fantasy playoffs. He essentially has put up double digit points in every game he has played this year but he has dealt with injuries all season. Parker has incredible flex ability and might even have some WR2 upside as well. Get him while you still can.
Tight End:
Evan Engram (28% owned):
Tight end is as shallow as ever and that’s why Engram continues to be on this list. He had four receptions for 61 yards against the Dolphins in week thirteen and continues to be productive. Engram has 10+ points in four of the last six games which is the type of production you want from a tight end waiver wire pickup this late in the season.