The Replacements: Week 9

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. 
• Christian Watson: Two weeks ago, I recommended Watson as a player to monitor. He's an add-now option who fits what the Packers have been missing from its offense. He's long, lean, strong, fast, and wins well after the catch and has moments of grace with the ball in the air. 
• Mason Taylor: With the Jets' potential of benching Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor over for now, consider Taylor a low-end starter because of Fields' penchant to check to the tight end in the passing game. 
• Jaylin Noel: Last week's Add-Now delivered as Christian Kirk's replacement. Until Kirk is back (he's limited as of Wednesday), Noel is startable because he has reliable hands, runs good underneath routes, and he has vertical explosiveness. Most importantly, C.J. Stroud trusts Noel. 
• Chimere Dike: For the consecutive weeks, Dike has delivered viable production. A good athlete with the skill to win against contact and after the catch, Dike has delivered 11 catches on 12 targets for 163 yards and a score against New England and Indianapolis. 
• Brashard Smith: An inconsistent commodity in terms of usage, but he can offer big plays, and with Isaiah Pacheco week-to-week with a knee injury, Smith could be in line for more playing time. He's dealing with a toe injury right now, so Elijah Moore might also be in consideration. 

Preemptive

• Tez Johnson: A preemptive recommendation in Week 7, Johnson scored on his only touch. He's a compelling big-play slot receiver with excellent YAC skills. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out, Johnson offers desperation value.
• DeAndre Hopkins: I'll speculate on Hopkins getting more playing time because when he does, he's so proven as an instant producer. If Lamar Jackson's return doesn't lead to more playing time, I'll drop Hopkins a tier.
• Bam Knight: Currently starting for the Cardinals, Knight is a good pass catcher with power. He's more of a straight-line runner than backfield cohort, Michael Carter. 
• Luther Burden III: Considering Burden's ceiling and the potential for D.J. Moore to get traded, 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. 
• 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.
• 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. 
• Casey Washington: If called upon, Washington's ball-winning skill could make him a worthwhile late-week addition for desperate GMs. Washington earns the No. 3 spot with Ray-Ray McCloud III cut from the team.
• Kyle Monangai: The Bears' ground game is improving thanks to its offensive line and schematic adjustments to running more zone. D'Andre Swift is playing well, and so is Monangai. He provides match-up value against mad defenses.
• Parker Washington: A double-digit scorer in PPR last week, Washington is a physical option with YAC and return skills who has earned the trust of Trevor Lawrence. Consider him the de facto TE for this offense in the passing game's pecking order without Brenton Strange.
• 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.  
• 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. 
• 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 gets hurt or gets traded -- the latter is becoming less likely. 

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.  
• Lil'Jordan Humphrey: A zone and jump-ball winner shut out against Denver, but worth extreme desperation consideration because of how he's targeted. 
• 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.
• Isaiah Bond: A recommendation to monitor a month 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.  He's dangerously close to forgetting.
• Emari Demercado: He's behind Bam Knight and Michael Carter at this point.
• Dillon Gabriel: The current rumor is that the Browns will start Shedeur Sanders for the final four games of the year. Gabriel is performing well enough to warrant a roster spot in most formats, as it is. 
• Greg Dortch: A slot receiver with good YAC skills who has stints with quality PPR games. 
• Pat Freiermuth: A preemptive suggestion in Week 8, Freiermuth didn't follow up on his huge performance against the Bengals in Week 7. Unless there's an injury to the depth chart, Freiermuth's production will be infrequent and less predictable. Freiermuth is also dealing with a quadriceps injury and didn't practice on Wednesday. 
• Devin Neal: Alvin Kamara's backup and working with a rookie quarterback whose debut was not impressive. 
• KaVontae Turpin: A slot and return option who is back to fourth on the receiver depth chart with CeeDee Lamb healthy.

Ignore

• Jake Browning: The Joe Flacco trade makes Browning expendable.
• Kendre Miller: Out for the year with a knee injury.
• Trevor Etienne: With Chuba Hubbard back, Etienne will earn minimal touches, at best. 
• Gus Edwards:  Kimani Vidal has played well, the Chargers added Jaret Patterson, and Omarion Hampton is close to returning. 
• Cam Akers: Zavier Scott proved he could handle the big stage of the regular season, and it has made Akers expendable.
• Zavier Scott: A well-built back with perimeter rushing skills, size, and burst, Scott displaced Ty Chandler on the depth chart due to his special teams prowess. Aaron Jones Sr. is back, so Scott is not worth monitoring.
• Michael Carter: Listed as a preemptive addition in Week 5, Carter earned the starter volume that week and produced, but the Cardinals prefer Emari Demercado and Bam Knight. 

Week 8 Recommendations