One of the all-time cliches in fantasy football is that no one wins their league on draft day. You can have the strongest draft in the world, but if you don’t know how to properly work the waiver wire, you may as well pack it in right now.
We have, once again, witnessed this throughout the 2023 NFL season as top-tier players such as Justin Jefferson, Nick Chubb and a list of quarterbacks too lengthy to mention have all missed significant time. Without proper replacements, your team was probably dead in the water.
But you fought back. You worked the waiver wire, were clever with your FAAB bidding and you were attentive to all the latest news and injury information.
You may not have side-stepped the vast number of injuries, but you didn’t let them ruin your season.
And after fighting tooth and nail for more than 16 grueling weeks, you have one more fight on your hands.
Nothing derails a championship run like a late-season injury and a good, old-fashioned benching. Losing players such as Russell Wilson and T.J. Hockenson at this time of the season can be a disaster, but you know how to roll with the punches and you’re ready for one more fight.
When word came down the Broncos were benching Russell Wilson for the final two games, shockwaves rippled through the fantasy realm.
Most playing in single-quarterback leagues weren’t hit too hard, but those playing in Superflex leagues now have their backs to the wall.
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But rather than panic, you make an immediate move to the waiver wire. Sifting through the rubble that is Tyrod Taylor or Jaren Hall isn’t what you want to be doing, but unearthing Jarrett Stidham, who will start in place of Wilson, could be your saving grace.
Stidham may not be a top-tier gunslinger, but even just a cursory glance at his impressive numbers from the end of the 2022 season should offer some encouragement.
He managed a 300-yard, multi-touchdown effort against the 49ers late last season and gets a much easier task, facing the defensively-challenged Chargers this year. Los Angeles ranks 29th in DVOA against the pass and allows the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Even Stidham, in Joe Lombardi’s offense should prevail.
Replacing Hockenson may actually be just as easy as the Broncos quarterback “next man up” philosophy.
We’ve already witnessed Vikings tight end Josh Oliver emerge with a 40 percent snap-share and five targets over his last three games.
With Hockenson on the shelf, backup Johnny Mundt will stay in-line and block while Oliver gets the targets.
With the Packers ranking 28th in DVOA against the tight end and allowing double-digit fantasy points to the position each week, Oliver could be the fantasy hero you never knew you needed.
You have one more week before you get to wear that championship crown, so there is no stopping right now. You don’t lament over injuries and you don’t cry over lost players. One more trip to the waiver wire is all you need and that title is yours. Go get it.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to Fantasy-Alarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.