The Replacements: Week 17

Photo: Jenna Watson, USA Today Sports

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The Coronavirus recently forced sports to adopt unique measures to produce a playing season. While there's still potential for a positive test to sideline a player for at least three weeks, and there’s no way of projecting how many positive cases occur during the NFL season, there are also compelling factors beyond illness that create a demand for this feature: Late-week injuries, suspensions, and coaching decisions with personnel.

We developed this feature to give you resources that will help you weather the potential loss of players.

As the author of the most comprehensive scouting analysis of skill players since 2006, I’m one of those resources—especially for players at the bottom of depth charts, signed to practice squads, and training at home with dreams of that phone call from an NFL team.

Each week, I’ll walk you through the shortlist of players who will get their shot to contribute as replacements for players falling victim to unexpected late-week events. This feature is also a great list for preemptive selections, a method of free agent shopping that's successful for a lot of fantasy GMs who reserve their funds for one costly addition and to stream defenses and kickers.

I won't be updating this piece over the weekend, but you'll get the goods on players worth consideration, and based on the past last two years, this column offered a lot of quality short-term and long-term options — many of them as preemptive picks:

• Khalil Herbert
• Craig Reynolds
• Boston Scott
• Josh Reynolds
• James Robinson
• Robert Tonyan Jr
• Travis Fulgham
• Tim Patrick
• Russell Gage
• Braxton Berrios
• Duke Johnson Jr
• Rashaad Penny
• Davis Mills
• A.J. Dillon
• Tyler Conklin

This is a partial list, but you get the point.

We’ll examine three types of replacements:

1. Players who get immediate playing time.
2. Pre-emptive additions from your league’s waiver wire.
3. Options worth monitoring in case the established backup eventually misses time.

Many of these players are late-round picks and street-free agents. I'm not giving you obvious waiver candidates that will command a large percentage of your FAAB dollars. These are options you'll often find in your First-Come, First-Serve section during the latter part of the week prior to kickoff.

If you think street-free agents won’t be factors TySon Williams from Week 1 last year is on Line 1 waiting for you to pick up. Craig Reynolds is on Line 2. Boston Scott is waiting patiently on Line 3. They each have a long list of players before them who would like to make an appointment to set you straight. James Robinson would like to tell you about his 2020 campaign. And Raheem Mostert has time on his hands if you need a deeper consultation.

Note About the Final Week of 2022

Since this is the final week for most fantasy formats, this is the last week of the feature for the year. As such, the format will change this week from the usual categories of "Add Now," "Preemptive," and "Monitor," to "Capable Producer," "Calculated Risk," and "Gamble with A Potential Payoff."

WEEK 16 REVIEW

Add Now: If they are available, consider them alongside my Capable Producer and likely above the Calculated Risk and Gamble with A Potential Payoff unless otherwise noted.

• Greg Dortch: An injury substitute and contributor with starter skills in an offense that his teammates dislike. The targets will be there.
• Jahan Dotson: A fantasy starter since Week 14 and the No.7 PPR option for the past two weeks. His route-running and tracking of contested targets are rising to the forefront.
• Zack Moss: Jonathan Taylor is out for the year and Moss has been the rushing leader.
• D.J. Chark: A fantasy starter since Week 14 and a big-play threat like Dotson.
• Chigoziem Okonkwo: The eighth-best fantasy tight end since Week 12.
• Donovan Peoples-Jones: A capable fantasy WR3 since Week 14 but his ceiling may be capped with Amari Cooper returning to form last week.
• Brock Purdy: The 10th-ranked fantasy QB since Week 10 as a capable executor in a loaded offense.
• Gardner Minshew: He performed well for fantasy GMs last week, and if he draws another start, he's a good bet for low-end starter production with a high ceiling.
• Geno Smith: He's worked out, and I doubt he's remotely available.
• Richie James: A borderline fantasy WR2 since Week 13 and the team's target leader.
• K.J. Osborn: He returned to earth last week, but the Packers are vulnerable. You can bet they don't want Justin Jefferson embarrassing them the way he did in Week 1. That could open things for Osborn.
• Gus Edwards: J.K. Dobbins returned in a big way, but Edwards maintained a viable role.
• Joshua Kelley: He's off IR and earning touches. If Austin Ekeler is a late scratch, Kelley could be the lead option and productive. He's had 22 touches, 73 yards, and 1 touchdown during the past 2 weeks.
• Jared Goff: He has been playing well since recommended early in the year and has taken it up a notch to top-five production during the past six weeks. See Geno Smith
• Davis Mills: He's back in the lineup. Expect decent numbers for Super-Flex teams needing a QB2 and a calculated risk against the Jaguars.
• Darius Slayton: Slayton remains a good bet for points that distributes the ball enough to support three wide receivers in New York.
• Greg Dulcich: Expect more boom-bust weeks ahead than what you'll get from Cade Otton (see below), but higher ceilings, which can work out well at this position given the dearth of consistent scorers with a high points baseline.
• Isiah Pacheco: He's getting more decisive with obvious solutions but needs to prove he can create in more difficult circumstances to lock down the starter job beyond this year. Last week's close-out touches were a good sign. Likely unavailable in most leagues.
• Van Jefferson: He's an inconsistent option, but his upside will be starter value.
• Latavius Murray: The lead option in a horrific offense facing a Chiefs' squad that should force Denver to pass a lot. Not this week.
• Rashid Shaheed: Outperforming expectations, there may be something here with Shaheed beyond this year.
• Jerick McKinnon: A committee option with most of his work in the passing game.
• Tyler Huntley: He gives teams a puncher's chance if Lamar Jackson is not back this weekend.
• Khalil Herbert: He returned last week and could see more touches this week. He and Jordan Mason give you a puncher's chance at a long run.
• Jordan Mason: The rookie earned more playing time last week and looked good as a committee option. He's a low-end flex with a big-play upside.
• Marlon Mack: I don't love the recommendation and consider it more of a calculated gamble that could pay off with a long reception against a high-scoring Chiefs offense.
• Justin Jackson: A gamble but the Bears are generous to the run and if this game gets out of hand early, Jackson could earn more touches.

Preemptive Pick: Not this week. Just keeping them here so you can see past recommendations