Wisp rare choice/ having to follow it

When I open a map, the first thing i do is use the rares to calculate an optimal path

When I come across a wisp, it sometimes heads off in the opposite direction to a rare I was not intending on hitting up yet, fine but because I need to follow it I end up having to backtrack to carry on my original path as it could well be heading to one that would require even more backtracking if I continued from there

Sometimes, I just don't bother following it as it would take too long

Is it possible they don't need to be followed? They just go on their merry way once released and we deal with it when we get to it

Or drop a checkpoint at the wisp beginning and end