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Late-week injuries, suspensions, and unexpected coaching decisions with personnel can upend a fantasy lineup.
We've developed this feature to provide you with resources to help navigate potential player losses and stay ahead in free-agent bidding wars by securing an early look at the future fantasy flavor of the week.
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, practice squad hopefuls, and even the occasional case of the guy training at home with dreams of that phone call from an NFL team.
Every 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 has offered a lot of quality short-term and long-term options — many of them as preemptive picks.
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-Served section during the latter part of the week before kickoff.
If you think street-free agents won't be factors, talk to Jordan Mason last year. 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.
Past Replacements
Here's a running list with brief thoughts. I update how I have them categorized as the season unfolds.
Add Now
- Rico Dowdle: Last week's Add Now, rushed for more than 200 yards, displaying the versatility, contact balance, agility, and receiving skills that were touted here. Expect Dowdle to earn a larger share of the split he had with Chuba Hubbard in the coming weeks. Until then, it's Dowdle's show.
- Kendrick Bourne: The other Add Now last week, Bourne earned 10 catches for 142 yards. As long as one of Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings is out, Bourne offers fantasy value as a flex. If you're seeking PPR volume, route diversity, and the potential for a big play on a deep shot, Bourne gives you those opportunities.
- Michael Carter: Listed as a preemptive addition last week, Carter earned the starter volume last week and produced. Expect more potential weeks of viable fantasy value than Rico Dowdle at the moment, but with a lower ceiling due to the presence of Demercado.
- Isaiah Bond: A recommendation to monitor last week, Bond made two excellent grabs last week and became the starter opposite Jerry Jeudy after Cedric Tillman injured his hamstring. You can read more about Bond (and Dillon Gabriel) in this week's Gut Check.
- Kimani Vidal: Omarion Hampton going to IR makes Vidal part of a committee with Hassan Haskins and Nyheim Hines. Vidal has the best all-around athletic traits of the Chargers' RB depth chart, although camp reviews were mixed, depending on the report. If he hits, think of him as a more physical and wiser decision-maker along the lines of D'Andre Swift. Buy into Vidal with low expectations, for now. There may be another option signed off the street, short-term.
- Luke McCaffrey: The second-year receiver's skills are a good mix of Terry McLaurin's and Noah Brown's. He can do a little bit of everything in the Commander's offense as the third option in this passing game. He has performed well enough to deliver some fantasy value.
- Bhayshul Tuten: The rookie's workload includes red-zone touches. He's Mr. Inside to Travis Etienne Jr.'s Mr. Outside in a Liam Coen offense that likes to run outside. Tuten could see a huge increase in value if Etienne falters.
- Dillon Gabriel: The rookie wasn't a world-beater against the Vikings in his first start, but he only made a few mistakes and survived an aggressive defense. He has a favorable schedule for the next 5-6 weeks, where he could prove why the Browns saw him as a strong fit for the scheme.
Preemptive
- Brashard Smith: I moved Smith down from preemptive status to monitor last week after learning through Cris Collinsworth's conversation with Andy Reid that Reid doesn't believe Smith is big enough to handle the Chiefs' lead role at this time. The Chiefs announced this week that Smith will see more touches in the offense. It could still play out that Smith is no more than a receiving back, but the news returns Smith to preemptive status. At best, he's a patience play. At worst, he's a roster-clogger.
- Sean Tucker: A speedy cutback runner, consider Tucker a preemptive play with Bucky Irving out this week. The likely plan will be for Rachaad White to lead the way, but the staff likes Tucker and believes he has starter ability. If Tucker gets hot early, the Buccaneers could ride him for the duration of the game.
- Isaiah Davis: Consider Davis a luxury-level preemptive addition who can deliver as a runner and receiver. He has the size to start for the Jets if Breece Hall somehow follows Braelon Allen to the injured list.
- Zavier Scott: Labeled a monitor last week, Scott scored twice as a receiver who has rapport out of the backfield with Carson Wentz. Scott is a well-built back with perimeter rushing skills, size, and burst. He displaced Ty Chandler on the depth chart due to his special teams prowess.
- Emari Demercado: A preemptive stash two weeks ago when James Conner got hurt, Demercado scored twice. Michael Carter is the starter in a three-man rotation to replace Conner, which includes Demercado. In fact, Demercado was inches away from outscoring Carter if he hadn't dropped the ball early. Still, Carter projects best as the weekly volume leader, and it makes Demercado a player to monitor in case you need a desperation flex option.
- KaVontae Turpin: A speedster from TCU who is an electric return specialist, Turpin as the Lamb replacement might be overstating it for fantasy GMs, but the ceiling for Turpin as a big-play option is high enough to consider week-to-week if he's healthy enough (foot) when he returns to the lineup.
- Trevor Etienne: A preemptive suggestion last week, Etienne earned touches against the Dolphins and was competent in his role. Expect a reduction in that role when Chuba Hubbard returns. He's still worth consideration for your roster as long as Hubbard is out.
Monitor
- Malik Washington: Tyreek Hill will miss this year and part of next year, and his career may be effectively over after dislocating his kneecap and tearing ligaments. Washington has been playing a bit part in the Dolphins' offense as a check-down extension of the ground game. If Washington shows the vertical prowess he displayed at Virginia, he'll become a hot property in fantasy football. So far, Miami has been too predictable with Washington's role to the detriment of the offense.
- Casey Washington: If called upon, Washington's ball-winning skill could make him a worthwhile late-week addition for desperate GMs.
- Chris Moore: A longtime veteran with stints with a variety of teams, including the Texans, Cardinals, and Ravens. He's an excellent contested-catch option at the boundary, but he's not as promising with other man-to-man routes. More is at his best with zone coverage.
- Kyle Monangai: The Bears are among the league leaders in yards before contact, but among the worst in yards after contact. Far and away, the only RB with relevant touches has been D'Andre Swift. Monangai's opportunities should be coming, but "should" is a dangerous word.
- Trevor Etienne:
- Khalil Herbert: Signed to the Jets after New York lost Braelon Allen, he'll earn playing time if one of Breece Hall or Isaiah Davis gets hurt. Herbert is a proven runner with skills between the tackles and speed for big plays.
Ignore
- Cam Akers: Zavier Scott proved he could handle the big stage of the regular season, and it has made Akers expendable.
- Jake Browning: The Joe Flacco trade makes Browning expendable.
Week 6 Recommendations
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Add Now: TE Mason Taylor (Jets)
The Skinny on Taylor: A promising rookie from LSU, Taylor can do it all -- block, catch, run, and win against zone and man-to-man coverage. Taylor has put many of his talents on display during the past two weeks with the Jets. You can read more about him and my recommendations in this week's Gut Check.
Recommendation: Justin Fields targeted Cole Kmet on 37 percent of his career attempts and made Kmet a fantasy starter for two seasons. Patrick Mahomes II and Lamar Jackson have targeted Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews over 45 percent of their career attempts, respectively.
Kmet will never be confused with these Pro-Bowl pass catchers, but Fields' penchant for targeting his starting tight end is notably high. For the past two weeks, Fields has targeted Taylor at a rate favorable to Jared Goff and Sam LaPorta.
Fields has fewer weapons to take away targets from Taylor. Expect Taylor to be the No. 2 receiver in New York, as discussed this summer.
Add Now: WR Luther Burden III (Bears)
The Skinny on Burden: The Bears' second-round pick has displayed moments of fantasy promise during his first month in the NFL. He's a big-play artist after the catch, and he can win down the field.
The only reason he hasn't played early is that Ben Johnson is a stickler for detail, coaches hard, and has had the luxury of using veteran Olamide Zaccheaus in the role Burden will eventually take. Zaccheaus has allowed Johnson to limit the number of rookies involved in the passing game, which, in theory, reduces the potential for conceptual mistakes.
Burden has earned playing time and played well, and Johnson has likely been pleased with gradually bringing along the rookie. Once Burden earns a full-time role, expect him to compete with Rome Odunze for the lead in production in any given week -- he's that skilled.
Recommendation: Coaches tend to unleash part-time rookies after the bye week. Considering Burden's ceiling, it's worth adding him to a good roster as a luxury pick or to a struggle roster as a high-upside option who can help you win down the stretch.
Add Now: WR DeAndre Hopkins (Ravens)
The Skinny on Hopkins: The most efficient producer at the receiver position in the NFL on a per-catch basis this year, Hopkins looks like the same awesome receiver he has been for most of his career. The problem is he's only earning 2-3 targets per game as a part-time player.
With Lamar Jackson out, the Ravens will be forced to throw the ball and likely play from behind because the Baltimore defense has also struggled with injuries. Cooper Rush likely earned a fair bit of second-team reps with Hopkins this summer. Even if he hasn't, Hopkins' route skills are peerless on this depth chart (and much of the NFL), which makes him a reliable target for a replacement starter at quarterback.
Recommendation: Baltimore faces a Rams squad that has faced Jonathan Taylor, Saquon Barkley, and Christian McCaffrey, and they are still the stingiest fantasy unit against running backs. Expect moderate production, at best, from Derrick Henry and the Rams offense to gain an early lead on the Ravens' defense.
It means Cooper Rush will be throwing the ball a lot. With Zay Flowers' shoulder limiting him in practice and Rashod Bateman not factoring as greatly as he did last year, Hopkins may earn more playing time.
I'll speculate on Hopkins getting more playing time, because when he does, he's so proven as an instant producer.
Preemptive: RB Gus Edwards (Chargers)
The Skinny on Edwards: A power back who starred with the Ravens and Chargers in recent years, Edwards is a street free agent who knows the Harbaugh offense, has more burst than Hassan Haskins, and could offer short-term starter value for the Chargers while Omarion Hampton misses a month.
The Chargers also don't have to trade for a veteran, give up draft capital, and rush the acclimation process for the new starter.
Recommendation: If you have the luxury and missed on Kimani Vidal, add Edwards as a bet they sign him after giving Haskins and Vidal a tryout on the fielld.
Preemptive: RB Kendre Miller (Saints)
The Skinny on Miller: Alvin Kamara's backup has the physical traits of a Pro Bowl runner, and his running back skills are good enough to consider him the heir apparent in New Orleans. He had a reputation for a lackluster work ethic early in his career, and it kept him from earning playing time.
No more. Miller has performed well in limited time, and the expectation is that he'll continue to earn more playing time.
Recommendation: Could Alvin Kamara get traded to a contender? It's a plausible theory, but merely a theory at this point. Still, if you have the luxury, Miller has starter value if he gets starter reps. The Saints may also feel comfortable with Devin Neal as the backup if they were to trade Kamara.
If you're in the market for a high-upside speculative addition you can park on your roster, Miller is a good one.
Monitor: WR Christian Watson (Packers)
The Skinny on Watson: Here we go again...Watson has Pro Bowl upside as a receiver. He's long, lean, strong, fast, and wins well after the catch and has moments of grace with the ball in the air.
He's also coming off an ACL tear, and he's part of a Packers' depth chart that has three startable options in the lineup. Still, Watson might have more value than 1-2 of those options if he proves fully recovered.
The recovery is the biggest "if," because it usually takes two years before your knee is in shape to play week-in and week-out at a high level.
Recommendation: Watch Watson's progress over the next 21 days and monitor what is said about him.
Final Thought
Good luck!
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