For a couple of years, the Coronavirus 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 will 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.
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 three years, this column offered a lot of quality short-term and long-term options — many of them as preemptive picks:
- Jaleel McLaughlin
- Tank Dell
- Josh Downs
- Geno Smith
- 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
- AJ Dillon
- Tyler Conklin
This is a partial list, but you get the point.
We'll examine three types of replacements:
- Players who get immediate playing time.
- Preemptive additions from your league's waiver wire.
- 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, Ty'Son 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.
WEEK 4 REVIEW
In the coming weeks, I'll provide brief thoughts and recommendations for the previous week's candidates as we move forward. Since I devoted this year's All-Gut Check Team to Waiver-Wire Sleepers as my unofficial Replacements piece for Week 1, let's use that list as the starting point.
Add Now:
- Jaleel McLaughlin: Javonte Williams' injury gave McLaughlin significant playing time and earned over 100 yards of offense, looking like the most explosive weapon on the Broncos while doing it. Sean Payton intends to give McLaughlin a recurring role regardless of Williams' health.
- Tyjae Spears: The Titans running back earned a pivotal passing-down role in the opener at the deafening Superdome and looked great as a pass protector. It may not have led to points, but it's a huge indicator that he can take over this backfield if needed. If Ryan Tannehill were more accurate on a pair of vertical routes, Spears could have had a huge day. He had a good day running the ball last weekend. He's going to earn more playing time to keep Derrick Henry fresh.
- Calvin Austin III: A favorite of mine, Austin was efficient as a short-range option against the 49ers and has the potential to stretch the field or deliver a breakaway touch on any opportunity. We'll see if he can have a strong rapport with Mitchell Trubisky. Considering that Austin probably earned as many second-team reps as first-team reps this summer, his familiarity with Trubisky could be a good thing for the weeks ahead.
- Jerome Ford: The Browns will spread the field more, which changes the impact of the ground game in Cleveland, but Ford's receiving skills make him a versatile asset worth starting.
- Tank Dell: He's the best big-play option on the team and has a rapport with fellow rookie C.J. Stroud. He exploited two bad coverage decisions by the Jaguars in Week 3 that resulted in a majority of his yardage totals and a touchdown.
- Josh Downs: The box score production hasn't been there, but the snaps and route running have. Remain patient.
- Kareem Hunt: I recommended him as a preemptive addition last week, and this week, he's rejoining the Browns after Nick Chubb's season-ending injury. He'll likely serve in a similar capacity to Jerome Ford as he did with Chubb.
- Kadarius Toney: His toe injury is limiting him and it may be time to cut bait, but I'd rather be patient based on the ceiling of his potential.
- Chuba Hubbard: Miles Sanders is limited at practice again, which could lead to Hubbard at least earning a larger share of touches. He has looked better than Sanders as a decision-maker.
- Jake Ferguson: The second-year tight end has been a nice preemptive addition because his snaps and targets are strong enough to consider him a low-end starter — just like his fantasy totals the past three weeks.
- Jayden Reed: Although the volume of catches hasn't been there for Reed, the targets have and so has a chunk gain in or a touchdown in every game. He's a reasonable reserve for your rosters with flex appeal.