Picking up usable players on the waiver wire is usually the sign of a championship team. No matter how well you draft, you’ll need to supplement the roster with other players throughout the season. So it always pays to pick up talent throughout the year.
The problem is trying to keep that talent for too long. Some years you can pick up every-week starters and start them forever. This doesn’t look like one of those years.
I’m a big fan of the waiver wire, partially because I played for years (decades, really) in a competitive league that didn’t have one. You drafted who you drafted and good luck for the rest of the year. So picking up guys always feels like a bit of a luxury, and you really can find players who can help you win. For a week or two, anyway.
After that, the players’ utility tends to fade away, and too many managers keep going to that dried-up well, and coming up empty as a result. Now, I know there are guys who were available on the wire who have been pretty solid. But for every Puka Nacua there are many more D’Onta Foremans and Josh Palmers, who aren't consistent producers. You’ll have plenty of Hunter Henrys and Trey McBrides, too. You should feel good about picking them up, but keeping them in your starting lineup, no matter what, can have disastrous consequences.
And really, that’s okay. A waver wire pickup can be considered a one-week rental. To use a baseball (which I never watch) metaphor, every pick doesn’t have to be a grand slam. Doubles are valuable and can drive in runs. But when you keep going back to the same guys and coming up short, that luster comes off the pick and it looks like a bad decision. In reality, it was a good decision; you just kept them in the lineup too long.
Now, you might think you’re doing it out of necessity. You have a Nick Chubb-sized hole in your lineup, and you need a starter. If a player did the job for a week or two, then falls off, maybe he’s still the best option. And sure, that’s possible. Maybe. But I think you’re better off looking for another replacement, even for a week or two, and rolling with a player TBD each Sunday. You don’t even have to cut the first guy. But you simply can’t consider the position filled and move on, because that’s a recipe for disappointment when you really need to collect some wins.
Granted, you’ll have to fight off the uncomfortable feeling that comes with not having a set starter. It feels much better (even if you lose) to know who your best guys are, have confidence about putting them in, and dealing with however it turns out. You made the right decision, so it’s easier to accept a bad outcome. But by shuffling players in and out, you’ll have dilemmas every week, and that doesn’t feel great. And you might not pick the right guy, which feels worse. So there are variables involved that aren’t fun. But if you’re giving yourself a better chance to win, I think it’s worth it. And starting a waiver wire player who had a couple good weeks after they’ve fizzled out is not giving yourself the best chance to win.
Following this advice might not get you a win, of course. There are no guarantees in fantasy football. But at least you’re actually managing your team, instead of pretending you have another set-it-and-forget-it player, when you really don’t. And I’m not even saying that finding an every-week starter on the waiver wire is impossible. Dalton Kincaid sure looks reliable, for example. But in general, hanging on too long to a waiver wire pickup leads to losses, and lost seasons. Managing a position every week isn’t necessarily ideal, but sometimes it’s part of the job. That applies to your drafted starters too, by the way. But more on that next week.
Do you have positions that don’t have set starters? Do you prefer to just leave someone in a spot, or do you like making changes? Who’s your best waiver pickup this year? Share your thoughts below.
