The Replacements: Week 12

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

• Michael Wilson: Week 11's Add-Now pick, Wilson delivered 15 catches for 185 yards with Jacoby Brissett at the helm. The production came on a variety of targets that Wilson rarely sees from Kyler Murray under center and calls into question what the quarterback and offensive staff have been doing for at least two years. Wilson will be the WR1 for at least another week while Marvin Harrison Jr. recuperates from an appendectomy. 
• Davis Mills: The veteran QB's overall performance was mixed on film, but great for the fantasy box score. He had some rough sequences against the Jaguars, but also some spectacular throws to generate a comeback and the victory. The Texans are preparing Mills as if he will be the starter in Week 11. Monitor C.J. Stroud's health. 
• Rico Dowdle: Week 5's Add Now, Dowdle delivered two weeks of career-level marks that placed him in elite company. Dowdle is now the unquestioned starter. 
• Bhayshul Tuten: The rookie could see a huge increase in value if Etienne falters. He's a capable flex option.
• Kyle Monangai: D'Andre Swift was playing well, and Monangai had a career-level game in his debut as Swift's replacement. He provides match-up value against bad defenses like the New York Giants in Week 10. He could become the David Montgomery to Swift's Jahmyr Gibbs in this year's scheme. 
• Christian Watson: Four 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. 
• Greg Dortch: A slot receiver with good YAC skills who has stints with quality PPR games. With Marvin Harrison Jr. and Zay Jones out, Dortch could factor again this week.
• Kimani Vidal: I suggested buying into Vidal with low expectations in case there may be another option signed off the street, but Vidal's strong outing against a weak Dolphins defense and subsequent work has made him the lead back until Omarion Hampton returns. 
• 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. 
• 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 has been a startable piece. 
• Chimere Dike: For the consecutive weeks, Dike 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. 
• Parker Washington: A double-digit scorer in PPR in recent weeks, 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. Even with Jakobi Meyers traded to the Jaguars, Washington will be the slot receiver and remain a favorite target. 

Preemptive

• Joe Burrow: If Burrow is somehow on your waiver wire, he's an excellent starter or backup for your current roster if you don't like the matchups with your current depth chart. 
• Luther Burden III: Considering Burden's ceiling, D.J. Moore's shoulder injuries, and Olamide Zaccheaus' three drops in Week 10, 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. He's earning more snaps, according to Ben Johnson.
• 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 as they did in Week 12 against Buffalo. 
• Gabe Davis: A big-play speedster with inconsistent hands who has experience with Josh Allen as his quarterback. Expect him to earn more playing time within the next 2-4 weeks. He made a few plays against the Buccaneers that indicate his production is trending up. 
• Jaleel McLaughlin: A big-play speedster with shiftiness between the tackles, McLaughin earned 19 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 as R.J. Harvey's backup. Expect the contributions to continue. 
• Tyler Lockett:  Jakobi Meyers is a Jaguar, and Lockett has earned a clear path to playing time as Meyers' likely replacement. He has earned 9 targets, 8 receptions, and 77 yards during his two weeks with the Raiders. Expect 3-4 catches and 40-50 yards per game from Lockett in this offense. 
• Jaylin Noel: He delivered as Christian Kirk's replacement. When called upon, Noel is startable because he has reliable hands, runs good underneath routes, and he has vertical explosiveness. Most importantly, C.J. Stroud trusts Noel. With Kirk back, Noel is a boom-bust flex, at best. 
• Dawson Knox: A sturdy, all-around tight end with contested-catch skill who lacks the dynamic route-running ability of Dalton Knox but will see enough targets to have viable fantasy production when the defensive matchups are optimal. 
• Pat Freiermuth: A preemptive suggestion in Week 8, Freiermuth didn't follow up on his huge performance against the Bengals in Week 7, but scored in Week 9. Unless there's an injury to the depth chart, Freiermuth's production will be infrequent and less predictable. Still, he's the only TE who seems to have a rapport with Aaron Rodgers when it comes to tight-window adjustments. 
• Bam Knight: Currently starting for the Cardinals, Knight is a good pass catcher with power. He's more of a straight-line runner than his backfield cohorts. 
• 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. 
• Devin Neal: Alvin Kamara's backup and working with a rookie quarterback. The Saints also added Audric Estime to the backfield. 

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: 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 Mitchell might also be in consideration. So far, not really. 
• Jack Bech: A special-teamer who might see more playing time with Jakobi Meyers gone, but Tyler Lockett is the favorite to continue earning the most from Meyer's absence. 
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling: A big-play speedster with inconsistent hands who has experience with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. Give him another 1-2 weeks to determine if his targets expand beyond three per game, which we've seen lately. 
• Lil'Jordan Humphrey: A zone and jump-ball winner shut out against Denver, but worth extreme desperation consideration because of how he's targeted. With Jameis Winston starting, Humphrey could earn some contested opportunities for big plays. 
• Xavier Weaver: A second-year receiver in the Cardinals' offense who could earn some intermediate and deep shots while Marvin Harrison Jr. is out. 

Ignore

• Michael Carter: Listed as a preemptive addition in Week 5, Carter earned the starter volume that week and produced. He's  splitting reps with Bam Knight,  but has only minimal  PPR value.
• Emari Demercado: He's earning touches but not enough to count on. He's out for Week 12. 
• 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.
• Kyle Williams: Recommended as a player to monitor in Week 10, Williams caught an over route and turned it up the boundary for a long touchdown. He didn't make the most of his opportunities with Kayshon Boutte out, and Boutte is back.
• Kendrick Bourne: The other Add Now in Week 5, Bourne was the primary receiver as a fantasy WR1. With Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings back, Bourne is no longer a consideration. 
• 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.
• Casey Washington: David Sills V has taken over the No. 3 role in Atlanta.
• DeAndre Hopkins: He's still good enough when called upon, but he hasn't been called. 
• 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 offered no value since Week 6. 
• 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 and there's reason to expect he'll get targets. There isn't. 
• KaVontae Turpin: A slot and return option who is back to fourth on the receiver depth chart with CeeDee Lamb healthy. He earns 2-5 targets and might catch 1-2 of them for minimal value. 
• Devaughn Vele: He earned a catch for 15 yards in Week 10. He was the only receiver other than Chris  Olave to earn production in the game. The targets aren't enough to consider him at this time. 

Week 12 Recommendations