Perhaps the only thing more satisfying than hitting on a late fantasy draft pick is striking gold on a waiver-wire pickup.
As the saying goes: You can’t win your league in the draft, but you can lose it there. Your path to a title is built on the back of good in-season roster management. And if you find a free agent who turns into an every-week starter, well, move over Life’s Many Pleasures and make room for new member.
There are a few worthy candidates. There’s 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, but he is a quarterback, and, normally, QBs are easy to find (this year being a rare exception). Any extra points he wins for the unusual attrition at QB this season was lost with his dud in the middle of the fantasy playoffs last week.
There also is Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, but he was declared the Madman’s Fantasy Rookie of the Year last week, and you can only win one award a season, you greedy greenhorn.
Which bring us to our winner, the 2023 Fantasy Waiver Pickup of the Year, Rams running back Kyren Williams.
Some of you aren’t going to like this pick, because his total numbers aren’t out of this world. After all, he is just the eighth-best RB on the season and ranks No. 36 overall in PPR.
And those things are true. But so is this: He has averaged 20.4 per game in PPR. That is seventh-best overall in the league.
Williams was added in most leagues after a big Week 1. There were some questions around who would be the primary ballcarrier for the Rams. Williams got the bulk of the load, and he produced well.
His status and workload gave fantasy managers five more weeks to start the season before he was sidelined with ankle injury. In that span, he produced three top-five weeks, and he was the seventh-best RB in that time and 24th overall in PPR.
Above him in the ranks at that point were two other likely waiver-wire RBs — De’Von Achane and Zack Moss. But Achane went down for a spell then failed to reproduce his early season success. Moss was a placeholder until Jonathan Taylor returned, then a letdown when Taylor went down again.
Williams missing four games wasn’t ideal, but he was a waiver pick, so presumably those rosters had some other options to fill that gap. And when Williams returned? He ranks fourth overall, with four top-10 games and the other still a strong 18th overall.
So congrats, Kyren. Puka being eliminated helped make it an easy call.
Best Waiver QB: C.J. Stroud, Texans
His late-season injury obviously was troublesome, but when he played he routinely was dynamite.
Best Waiver WR: Adam Thielen, Panthers
Once you eliminate Puka, then Rashee Rice (who won best rookie WR), then all WRs who were normally drafted, you’re not left with much. At least Thielen had a rip-roaring start.
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Best Waiver TE: Trey McBride, Cardinals
Sam LaPorta was drafted a tad too often.
Big weeks
Jordan Love QB, Packers, at Vikings (FanDuel $7,500/DraftKings $6,400)
He has averaged 20.4 per game since Week 12 and is QB4 in that stretch. A de facto playoff game, so don’t expect Pack to put a leash on Love.
Jaylen Warren RB, Steelers, at Seahawks (FD $5,700/DK $5,500)
Najee Harris continues to nurse a knee issue, limiting his practice time. In a juicy matchup at Seattle, a few extra touches is all it takes to give Warren a boost.
Austin Ekeler RB, Chargers, at Broncos (FD $6,900/DK $6,700)
Looks like new coaches want to feed Ekeler, based on last week. Even if minimally efficient, as he has been most of the season, that type of volume warrants a starting spot.
Javonte Williams RB, Broncos, vs. Chargers (FD $6,500/DK $5,600)
With QB Russell Wilson benched, guessing Denver leans more on the ground game rather than the immortal arm of Jarrett Stidham.
Small weeks
Calvin Ridley WR, Jaguars, vs. Panthers (FD $7,100/DK $6,700)
Inconsistent all season, now Ridley has C.J. Beathard at QB instead of Trevor Lawrence (shoulder), playing against a tough fantasy pass D in a matchup that won’t require a lot of scoring to win.
Tony Pollard RB, Cowboys, vs. Lions (FD $7,000/DK $6,400)
First, played his way onto the fantasy bench, then back into the lineup, now back on the bench again. The Lions are the toughest defense vs. fantasy RBs.
Courtland Sutton WR, Broncos, vs. Chargers (FD $7,000/DK $6,400)
Remember that immortal Stidham guy? Well, he is who you’ll be relying on at QB if you play Sutton. Not what we prefer in the fantasy playoffs.
Dalton Schultz TE, Texans, vs. Titans (FD $6,200/DK $4,300)
Even if C.J. Stroud plays, we’re not using Schultz against a defense that has given up one TD to tight ends all season.
Daily Duel
Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk submit dueling rosters into a DFS contest:
Site: DraftKings
Slate: Sun. main (13 games)
Type: $12 tourney
Top prize: $15K
Pot: $150K
Drew’s Crew
QB: Bryce Young Car (at Jac) $4,900
RB: Travis Etienne Jr. Jac (vs. Car) $7,200
RB: Jaylen Warren Pit (at Sea) $5,500
WR: Terry McLaurin Was (vs. SF) $5,500
WR: Jonathan Mingo Car (at Jac) $3,500
WR: Rashee Rice KC (vs. Cin) $6,900
TE: Isaiah Likely Bal (vs. Mia) $4,600
Flex: Puka Nacua LAR (at NYG) $7,900
DST: Bills Buf (vs. NE) $3,900
Wilk’s Warriors
QB: Jarrett Stidham Den (vs. LAC) $4,800
RB: D’Andre Swift Phi (vs. Ari) $6,500
RB: Javonte Williams Den (vs. LAC) $5,600
WR: Noah Brown Hou (vs. Ten) $5,100
WR: Chris Olave NO (at TB) $6,800
WR: George Pickens Pit (at Sea) $5,300
TE: Darren Waller NYG (vs. LAR) $4,500
Flex: Kyren Williams LAR (at NYG) $8,300
DST: Raiders LV (at Ind) $3,000
For late changes to Daily Duel rosters, follow @NYPost_Loftis on X
Season risked: $151.44
Season’s winnings: Drew $106, Jarad $60
