Maxing E (Dark Wind) on Middlesticks. Also, Athene's Unholy Grail on Fiddlesticks mid.

I don't see why people don't do this already. Really, what else are you going to max? Q didn't give you any damage whatsoever previously when you maxed it, and now you have even less incentive to max it as it is a much stronger 1 point skill and you get less from maxing it first due to the fear duration nerf.

W max... might be situational. It might work on some low range champs that need to get at least somewhat in your face to do damage, such as Katarina and Swain. But against 90% of mid laners, what are you going to do with it? If you want to walk forward to get in range to drain them, chances are, you're going to get punished severely. Most mid laners also have some way to interupt and using this skill forces you to get close to your enemy and root yourself, making you vulnerable to sudden jungler appearances and whatnot.

Also, if you max W, what are you going to do against a mid laner that just constantly shoves you into your tower? You have no waveclear, and with fiddlestick's lack of mobility and short ranged W you can't try to trade back at all.

Maxing your E is what a fiddlesticks mid should be doing 90% of the time. Waveclear is EXTREMELY important for mid laners, especially the ones that intend to roam, and they need to push fast to the enemy tower. Yes it costs a lot of mana, but it's your best option. If you want to play fiddlesticks mid but you can't abuse your roaming potential, then there is a problem. Also, contrary to popular belief, I don't think Athene's unholy grail is that bad an option on fiddle. Fiddlesticks already has high base damages on his skills, and often already does more damage than he needs to. It will delay his Zhonya's hourglass, which is its main drawback, but unless full on 5v5 teamfights come extremely early in the game it shouldn't be too large a drawback, Fiddlesticks will still survive well in skirmishes as even a rank 1 or 2 drain coupled with a fear on a high damage target is usually enough to sustain a Fiddle throughout a fight (I also take barrier as well). Athene's unholy grail gives magic resist which is likely to help fiddlesticks more than armor is in mid lane, since most mid lane champions deal mostly magic damage. I have no idea where the misconception that fiddlesticks mids should max W came from. It's so stupid.