Fantasy Football: 4 Must-Read Waiver Wire Tips That Will Save Your Season

Fantasy football season is finally here. I've been waiting for this week for nine months, and now I can finally set my starting lineup for Week 1!

I can prowl the waiver wire for a last minute star or make a last minute trade to put my team over the top. 

The last fantasy football drafts are taking place this weekend, and I'm locked and loaded for the season.

In my years of playing fantasy football, I have picked up a wealth of knowledge about waiver wire acquisitions that could save your season.

Tip No. 1: Where there's smoke, there is usually fire. 

If rumors emerge of a potential favorite target for a quarterback, it's probably true. If rumors emerge of a backup running back that is going to steal carries, it's probably true.

Think Arian Foster last season.

Tip No. 2: Watch for breakout performances.

Ryan Grant? Who is that? Oh, just a guy that emerged on Monday Night Football with a 100-yard rushing effort.

How about Derek Anderson? Oh, just a Pro Bowl quarterback that emerged after Charlie Frye was traded from Cleveland to the Seattle Seahawks.

Of course we all remember Steve Johnson and Arian Foster last year.

Watch box scores, watch highlights, whatever you have to do, you need to be on the lookout for every breakout performer. If you're not, someone else will be. 

Tip No. 3: Claim those players, IMMEDIATELY!

Don't let someone beat you to those players. Put in a waiver wire claim immediately, and if you're team doesn't have waivers, that's even better. 

At the very least, these players may have some trade value, especially if the breakout player is a running back.

Running backs are always tough to come by so if you can pick up a player that has a breakout game and follows it up with another one, you could score big on the trade market.

Last year, I picked up Ryan Torain and moved him for a fourth round pick (technically a seventh, because it is a keeper league) in this year's draft after just two weeks of him starting. Torain eventually got injured and I stole an extra pick for this season. I was able to grab Percy Harvin with that pick, looks like a pretty good trade now, huh?

Top No. 4: Start the season with one empty bench spot, if possible

This may sound strange to some, why would you want to start the season with an empty roster spot? Because someone is going to breakout Week 1, and you need that empty spot to pick them up.

If you don't want to leave a roster spot empty, use it on a player from your favorite team who is a deep sleeper, or another deep sleeper you aren't afraid of releasing after the first week.

Keep these tips in mind this year, and you may just steal the show in your fantasy league.