The Replacements: Week 16

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. Dowdle was the unquestioned starter for a month, but Chuba Hubbard has worked his way back into the offensive rotation. It's now a committee. 
• Michael Wilson: Week 11's Add-Now pick, Wilson delivered 15 catches for 185 yards with Jacoby Brissett at the helm and followed up with 10 catches for 118 yards in Week 12. 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 becomes a volatile flex with WR1 upside without Marvin Harrison Jr.
• Luther Burden III: The rookie led the Bears in receptions and yardage against the Browns in Week 15. If Burden's ankle injury doesn't cost him playing tim in Week 16, expect him to remain a prominent target in the lineup while the Bears explore options with Rome Odunze's foot injury. 
• Kyle Monangai: D'Andre Swift and Monangai have become the David Montgomery - Jahmyr Gibbs tandem in Chicago.  
• Christian Watson: Eight 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. 
• Kimani Vidal: Vidal had four weeks with at least 95 rushing yards since recommending him with caution. Omarion Hampton returned in Week 14, and we saw a backfield split for the past two weeks as Greg Roman promised this preseason. 
• Joe Burrow: If Burrow was 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. 
• Chris Godwin: As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Godwin is Baker Mayfield's favorite red-zone option. Expect more high-leverage targets for Godwin as the year closes. 
• Devaughn Vele: He has seen his targets jump to 15 total in Weeks 12-13 after earning 11 for the rest of the year. Vele's 8 catches, 93 yards, and a touchdown against the Dolphins in Week 13 indicate he is becoming a larger part of the rotation. Expect volatile weeks, but 3-5 catches appear to be the baseline. 
• Colby Parkinson: The veteran has been TE7 for the past eight weeks. Continue viewing Parkinson as a startable option.  
• Darren Waller: Greg Dulcich had the better Week 14, but Waller scored twice and caught 7 balls for 66 yards in week 15. Quinn Ewers as the new starter is a wild card for Waller's production, but Mike McDaniel runs his offense through the tight end, so the upside is still worthwhile if you have to take a risk somewhere.
• Jayden Reed: He has historically been Jordan Love's most trusted and versatile target. 
• 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. Even with Jakobi Meyers traded to the Jaguars, Washington will be the slot receiver and remain a favorite target. 
• Bhayshul Tuten: The rookie could see a huge increase in value if Etienne falters. He's a capable flex option. 

Preemptive

• Jalen Nailor: Recommended as a Monitor in Week 15, Nailor scored twice despite Jordan Addison being healthy enough to play. It's hard to bet on Nailor posting three-catch, two-score outings moving forward, but Addison is playing through an Achilles strain. Nailor could earn more targets if Addison's injury flares up.
• DeAndre Hopkins: He's still good enough when called upon, but he hasn't been called. 
• Mason Taylor: With the Jets' benching Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor, Mason Taylor becomes a less predictable target. The talent is there, but the rapport with Tyrod Taylor is less reliable. 
• Chimere Dike: For multiple weeks, Dike has delivered viable production. A good athlete with the skill to win against contact and after the catch, Dike has been the epitome of a boom-bust fantasy receiver during the past seven weeks -- four fantasy-worthy outings and three forgettable games. 
• 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. Dalton Kincaid is back, but with the Bills' issues at wide receiver, Knox remains a viable play. 
• 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, and he split the workload against the Jaguars, likely due to a blowout. 
• Trey Benson: His return is imminent, and it could lead to starter value in fantasy lineups. 
• Trey Lance: Justin Herbert may have played, but he's still playing hurt and behind a banged-up line -- see Daniel Jones.  
• Sean Tucker: A speedy cutback runner, Tucker is back to spot duty with Bucky Irving back, but he is earning high-leverage touches. 
• Shedeur Sanders: For a rookie who has had minimal reps with first-team talent for months, Sanders has fared better than the media has characterized. It doesn't make him a playable fantasy option every week. He's slow to move from read to read and not throwing with anticipation, but he is taking shots downfield and managing situational football better than many rookies. He was excellent for fantasy against a porous Titans' defense. It makes him a worthwhile consideration if your starters are walking wounded with tough matchups. 
• Brashard Smith: An inconsistent commodity in terms of usage, but he can offer big plays. With the Chiefs out of the playoff hunt, Smith could earn more playing time to give the team a clearer evaluation of him.
• Isaiah Bond: A recommendation to monitor a month ago, Bond has moments. With Shedeur Sanders in the lineup, Bond could have more of them. You can read more about Bond (and Dillon Gabriel) in this Gut Check.  
• David Sills V: After scoring two touchdowns in Weeks 12 and 13, Sills delivered a career high 6 catches for 78 yards for Kirk Cousins in Week 15. As long as Drake London is out, Sills gives you a chance at a manufactured red-zone target and garbage-time yardage. London is back at practice, so monitor closely.

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.  
• Tim Patrick: The veteran failed to record a reception in Week 15 after a 5-catch, 78-yard, and 1-TD outing in Week 14. Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr. led the way, and Parker Washington wasn't far behind. 
• Ben Sinnott: John Bates is the starter for the Commanders in place of Zach Ertz because of his blocking,  but Sinnott earned a catch for 36 yards, leading the TE room in yardage. He's likely no better than the third or fourth option for the Commanders' offense, and they play the Eagles twice and the Cowboys -- two teams that aren't overly generous to the position.
• 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. Williams is a big-play weapon who may get one shot play per game, at best. 
• Jaleel McLaughlin: A big-play speedster with shiftiness between the tackles, McLaughlin earns minimal touches as R.J. Harvey's backup. Expect the minor contributions to continue with the potential for a touchdown when one of those touches is near the red zone. 
• Teddy Bridgewater: Baker Mayfield played through his injury, but his tough-guy behavior could lead to Bridgewater taking over at some point.  
• 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 had been a productive option with volume and big plays. Harrison was back in Week 13, but may be out with a heel injury in Week 14. Unfortunately, Dortch will also miss.
• 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. 
• 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 2-3 weeks. He may offer nothing more than volatility as a big-play option.
• Brandin Cooks: The Bills signed Cooks two weeks ago. He can deliver big plays and work over the middle. He's a high-variance gamble.
• 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. But with Kenny Pickett in the lineup, that expectation of 3-4 catches and 40-50 yards per game wasn't happening. Geno Smith practiced fully this week, so expect Lockett to return to those modest totals.
• Devin Neal: Alvin Kamara's backup and working with a rookie quarterback. The Saints also added Audric Estime to the backfield. Neal has scored in consecutive games and offers some big-play potential in the passing game, but will miss Week 16 with a hamstring injury.

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. 
• Davis Mills: The veteran QB's overall performance has been mixed on film, but great for the fantasy box score. C.J. Stroud got his job back. 
• Lil'Jordan Humphrey: A zone and jump-ball winner. He is worth extreme desperation consideration because of how he's targeted. 
• 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. 
• Casey Washington: David Sills V has taken over the No. 3 role in Atlanta.
• 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; 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. He gives you a puncher's chance at a big play. 
• Isaiah Hodgins:  He followed up a 42-yard, 1-touchdown performance in Week 12 with a 1-catch, 4-yard output in Week 13. He's a volatile red-zone option, at best. 
• Xavier Weaver: A second-year receiver in the Cardinals' offense who has earned playing time, but he's most often the fourth or fifth option in the passing game, at best. 
• MarShawn Lloyd: The second-year running back for the Packers begins practicing, but he's on a loaded depth chart. Emmanuel Wilson performed well in place of Josh Jacobs. Don't expect Lloyd to preempt Wilson or even Chris Brooks, but keep an eye on the situation. 
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling: A big-play speedster with inconsistent hands who has experience with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. 
• Jack Bech: A special-teamer who didn't see a significant increase in playing time with Jakobi Meyers gone. 
• Max Brosmer: The rookie delivered four interceptions in his debut. J.J. McCarthy is expected to return in Week 14. 
• Tez Johnson: A preemptive recommendation in Week 7, Johnson was a compelling big-play slot receiver with excellent YAC skills. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. back, the band is back together, and Johnson isn't worth consideration. 

Week 16 Recommendations