The Replacements: Week 7

The Way This Works...

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: Week 5's Add Now, Dowdle delivered two weeks of career-level marks that placed him in elite company. 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 in Week 5, Bourne has been the primary receiver as a fantasy WR1. 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. 
• Kimani Vidal: Last week, I suggested buying into Vidal with low expectations for now. Although there may be another option signed off the street, short-term, Vidal's strong outing against a weak Dolphins defense buys him more opportunities. 
• 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.  
• Luther Burden III: 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. 
• 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. Noah Brown is on IR, and Moore can help you if desperate. 
• Mason Taylor: For two of the past three 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. 

Preemptive

• DeAndre Hopkins: I'll speculate on Hopkins getting more playing time because when he does, he's so proven as an instant producer. 
• 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. Although the Steelers shut down the Browns' ground game and rendered their play-action passing game useless, Cleveland 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. 
• Michael Carter: Listed as a preemptive addition in Week 5, Carter earned the starter volume that week and produced. The Cardinals have drifted toward a three-headed committee with Emari Demercado and Bam Knight. 
• 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.
• Isaiah Bond: A recommendation to monitor a few weeks ago, Bond has moments, but Dillon Gabriel and the Browns can't afford to have opposing defenses shut down the running game. You can read more about Bond (and Dillon Gabriel) in this Gut Check. 
• 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. 
• Kendre Miller: 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

• 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.  
• Brashard Smith: Smith is no more than a receiving back in this offense. At best, he's a patience play. At worst, he's a roster-clogger.   
• Casey Washington: If called upon, Washington's ball-winning skill could make him a worthwhile late-week addition for desperate GMs.
• 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. 
• 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.
• Gus Edwards:  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 field. You can probably wait 1-2 weeks for now because of Vidal's success against the lowly Dolphins' defense. 
• Christian Watson: Watch Watson's progress over the next 21 days and monitor what is said about him. He's long, lean, strong, fast, and wins well after the catch and has moments of grace with the ball in the air. 

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 7 Recommendations