2020 reared its ugly head on NFL Sunday. Injuries were up all over the place. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many injuries to key players so early in the season. But this means there are more targets on the waiver wire this week.
NOTE: This column refers to players rostered in under 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Our medical specialist Adam Hutchison did a great job laying out the injuries in his thread, it’s is a must-read if you want to understand the impact of this week’s injuries.
FF Injury recap from yesterday:
Saquon Barkley: ACL done for the year.Parris Campbell: MCL sprain/ACL intact could end up on IR depending on severity. Typically 2-4 week injury wouldn’t be shocked to see him on IR for 3 weeks.
— Adam Hutchison PT, DPT (@TheRealAdam_H) September 21, 2020
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew – Rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues. In Week 2 Minshew threw for 339 yards and then threw 3 touchdowns again. I have touted him all off season on Twitter with my buddy The Honest Cowboy as he will gladly tell you . We did this for a reason: Minshew can ball. Next up is the Miami Dolphins, who were just torched by Josh Allen.
Hey @MikeReedyFF remember when we told people all off-season to go get @GardnerMinshew5!!! #MinshewMania https://t.co/PyHvjQNWkk
— The Honest Cowboy ☆ Coast2Coast Cowboys™ (@FootballRaw) September 21, 2020
Ryan Tannehill – Rostered in 46% of Yahoo leagues. Tannehill continues his run since being named the starter after Week 6 of last season. Tannehill has the Vikings up next, who are second worst against the pass so far this season. Look for over 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tannehill will be a top 10 play again in Week 3.
Other potential adds at quarterback include: Mitchell Trubisky, Derek Carr and Ryan Fitzpatrick
Running Backs
Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman– Rostered in 6% and 11%of Yahoo leagues. With Barkley out for the rest of the season, Lewis and Gallman will pick up the slack (at least for now). Gallman was a healthy inactive, which makes me believe that Lewis with his pass catching ability is probably the better add right now.
Mike Davis – Rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues. Davis took over for McCaffrey in Week 2 due to McCaffrey’s ankle injury. It’s a high ankle sprain and will most likely keep him out 4-6 Weeks. Davis did most of his work in the passing game with 8 receptions for 74 yards. In PPR, he should help alleviate your roster pain.
Darrel Henderson – Rostered in 33% of Yahoo leagues. Henderson led the Rams backfield this week, which explains my warning last week in regards to making Brown an addition. With the Akers injury, Henderson had 81 yards rushing with a touchdown and added 40 yards receiving. He looks to be back to invest in, at least for now, on the Rams.
Joshua Kelley – Rostered in only 39% of Yahoo leagues. Kelley produced well in Week 2, so if you didn’t consider adding him after he appeared in this column Week 1, maybe you will now. Kelley tallied up 64 yards rushing and an additional 49 yards receiving. He’s certainly doing the most with his touches. Next up is Carolina, it just feels like a touchdown or 2 nest week already.
Jerick McKinnon – Rostered in only 24% of Yahoo leagues. With both Mostert and Coleman out, McKinnon got the work at running back and produced 77 yards and a touchdown (his second of the season). HE will have the backfield all to himself next week with significant injuries all over the field for the 49ers. I expect him to produce big in Week 3 against the Giants.
Other potential running backs to add: Myles Gaskin and Devonta Freeman (He is meeting with the Giants on Tuesday)
Wide Receivers
Keelan Cole – Rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues. Cole has a touchdown in each of the first two weeks. In Week 2, he had 7 targets for 6 receptions, gaining 58 yards and a TD. He shared the lead in targets with Chris Conley.
Russell Gage – Rostered in 22% of Yahoo leagues. Gage followed up his great play from Week 1 with 6 receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. In Week 2, Julio Jones was the odd man out in the Falcons passing attack, as Gage, Ridley and Hurst all produced numbers. Something to watch as we move forward.
Cory Davis and Adam Humphries – Rostered in 42% and 2% of Yahoo leagues. Davis is the primary receiver in Tennessee now; he had 3 receptions for 36 yards and a TD in Week 2 after 101 yards in Week 1. Humphries had 5 receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, after having 6 receptions for 47 yards in Week 1. Humphries looks like a solid add for PPR.
Tre’Quan Smith – Rostered in 14% of yahoo leagues. Smith is picking up where Michael Thomas left off. Smith finished Monday Night Football with 5 receptions for 86 yards.
Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdez-Scantling – Rostered in 47% and 36% of Yahoo Leagues. With Adams tweaking his hammy in Week 2, one or both of these wide receivers will pick up the slack. Both are worthy as additions to have some potential additional volume.
Other wide receivers to consider: Michael Pittman and Mecole Hardman
Tight Ends
Jordan Reed – Rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues. As long as Kittle remains out, Jordan Reed will be utilized. His 7 receptions for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns helps fill the void for the Niners with injuries all over the field.
Logan Thomas – Rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues. In Week 1, Thomas was targeted 8 times and produced 4 receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. Thomas is seeing a high volume of targets for the Washington Football team, (17 total) and is the secondary option in their passing attack. Thomas had 26% target share from Haskins to start the season.
Mo Allie Cox – Rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues. Week 2 saw Parris Campbell get injured and Jack Doyle was already out. Allie-Cox stepped in as Rivers’ target to do lots of damage in the passing game, with 6 targets for 5 catches and 111 yards. Big Mo produced in the pinch.
Other tight ends to consider: Dalton Schultz, Jordan Akins, and Drew Sample
Defense
Colts – Rostered in 41% of Yahoo leagues. The Colts defense had 3 sacks and 3 interceptions against the Vikings in Week 2. Next up is the Jets, who have one of the most pathetic offenses in the league right now.
Remember to check out Kyle Larson’s Stream Option for Week 3 for a more in-depth look at defenses to stream.
Thanks for checking out our waiver wire column. For more great content from the Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back soon for Mike’s weekly Money Makers and Heart Breakers article.
