Fantasy Football Midseason Report Card: 5 Best Waiver Wire Pickups

Three rookies are among the top fantasy players who were added after the season began.

We’re midway through the fantasy football season, and it’s time to check in on our waiver wire selections. I was pleased to see there have been more than a few waiver pickups that could be carrying your fantasy football teams to weekly victories. I have selected my top 5 waiver adds for this season as of the midway point. All of these players made the list before the Week 3 games, and all of these players could still carry your team to a fantasy football championship.

Fantasy Football Midseason Report Cards: Top Candidates for MVP, Bust, Waiver Wire Pickup and Rookie

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Fantasy Football Midseason Report Cards: Top Candidates for MVP, Bust, Waiver Wire Pickup and Rookie

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Puka Nacua, WR, Rams

If you dropped the bulk of your free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) on Puka Nacua for Week 2, congratulations. You’re probably well on your way to the fantasy playoffs. Heading into Week 8, Nacua is the WR4 for the season in PPR leagues and he’s the WR7 in points per game. Even after the return of Cooper Kupp, Nacua has been a fantasy gem, leading the Rams with a 33.3% target share and finishing top 11 at the position in two of the three weeks he has shared the field with Kupp. In fact, Nacua has only finished outside the top 11 twice this season.

Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions

Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA TODAY Sports

LaPorta made our list of waiver suggestions before the season even started, and those who picked him up for Week 2 are still reaping the rewards. LaPorta is the TE3 for the season, behind only Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews and just ahead of T.J. Hockenson. LaPorta has five top 10 finishes, his 49 targets are the third-most at the position and he’s run the seventh-most routes this year. He’s also found the end zone three times. He’s averaging 13 PPR points per game, and you can’t ask for a much more solid contribution from the position.

C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans

If you needed a replacement for Aaron Rodgers or Anthony Richardson, I hope you grabbed Stroud before Week 3. The No. 2 draft pick is what many expected No. 1 pick Bryce Young to be -- or maybe even better. Stroud’s 277 passing yards per game rank fourth in the league heading into Week 8. He has thrown only one interception to nine touchdown passes, and he set a new NFL record by starting his career with 177 pass attempts without an interception. Stroud’s fine freshman season has also boosted another excellent waiver wire pick: WR Tank Dell.

Zack Moss, RB, Colts

If you picked up Moss for Week 3, you have been a very happy fantasy manager. Moss is the RB5 for the season and he is second in the NFL in rushing yards. He has even remained fantasy relevant after the return of Jonathan Taylor, with his best game of the season coming in Week 5 vs. a tough Titans run defense. That could be changing soon, however, as the running backs are now splitting the snaps equally. Still, Moss will be a flex play at least until further notice.

Kyren Williams, RB, Rams

I debated whether or not to add Williams to the list as he’s currently out with an ankle injury, but it’s clear Williams has still been one of the best waiver adds this year, averaging the fifth-most PPR points per game at the position. One can argue De’Von Achane was even better on a per game basis and should make the top 5, but I am going with Williams as he played six games this season to Achane’s four. Williams and Achane are both expected back in the coming weeks, and both will help managers make the playoffs.

Honorable Mentions: Dolphins RB De’Von Achane, Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers (Week 2)

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