We've reached that point in the season when many managers can't simply "set it and forget it." Lineups are more fluid with bye weeks, questionable tags, and a greater need for risk-taking if you're in must-win mode.
One of the biggest challenges -- and this is true throughout the season -- is trying to predict which of last week's breakout performers will keep rolling this week, and which ones will fall flat. The former makes managers look brilliant. The latter makes us look like futile point chasers.
I experienced both outcomes a couple weeks ago. On Sunday morning Week 7, I picked up Oronde Gadsden for $1. He was coming off a 7-68-0 performance in a relatively crowded Chargers receiving corps. Two games and 48.1 fantasy points later, he looks like a rest-of-season steal.
That next Wednesday morning -- Week 8's first waiver period -- I needed to go for broke with several of my starters on bye. So I spent nearly half of my remaining waiver budget on Xavier Legette, who had two TDs in his previous three outings, including most recently a 9-98-1 receiving line. Huge mistake, and easily the most FAAB I've invested in a guy I might drop in the next week.
Entering today, many players are in the "are they great fantasy assets or not?" group. WRs like Troy Franklin and Chimere Dike seem startable, but with relatively low and/or unknown floors. Roman Wilson might or might not be Pittsburgh's #2 WR. Does Christian Watson have a shot a Green Bay's #1 WR role? At their best, they've proven to be useful. But we don't know week-to-week whether they're startable. So sometimes we need to roll the dice and hope the trend continues, at least for one more game.
Good luck today.
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* Today's FF4W podcast, episode 103: "Recommended Week 9 DraftKings DFS Lineup: Kyle Monangai, Kimani Vidal, Ja'Marr Chase, and Others" -- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantasy-football-for-winners/id1800490745