Sometimes, it's not the player's fault.
But your fantasy football schedule takes no prisoners, and the result can be a messy beginning to your league's year.
So today, we dedicate an article to the guys who ruined (are still ruining?) your early-season success, and what kind of replacements are going on around the league.
1. WR Eric Decker (New York Jets)
So today, we dedicate an article to the guys who ruined (are still ruining?) your early-season success, and what kind of replacements are going on around the league.
1. WR Eric Decker (New York Jets)
Injury: Partially torn rotator cuff
Timeline: Week-to-week
Current Situation: 3rd in targets and receptions, 1st in yards and touchdowns among Jets' WR corps
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Quincy Enunwa, Robby Anderson
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Quincy Enunwa, Robby Anderson
Only Brandon Marshall and Dez Bryant (45 each) have more touchdown catches than Eric Decker (43) in the last five seasons. https://t.co/SAs760YFu9— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 30, 2016
This sucks for fantasy owners: head coach Todd Bowles calls the injury "week-to-week", which at least means surgery isn't needed, but that option hasn't been ruled out either.
No one knows whether he'll be back in Week 5 or if he's done for the season.
Quincy Enunwa should already be owned in most leagues (though ESPN is only recording him at ~37% ownership) due to the heavy usage of 3-wideout sets, but in case he isn't, pick him up fast.
The next man up would be Jalin Marshall, but he also has a significant injury: a torn shoulder labrum.
That leaves preseason stand-out Robby Anderson, a 6'3 undrafted rookie from Temple University weighing in at only 190 lbs.
Proceed with caution.
2. WR Sammy Watkins (Buffalo Bills)
No one knows whether he'll be back in Week 5 or if he's done for the season.
Quincy Enunwa should already be owned in most leagues (though ESPN is only recording him at ~37% ownership) due to the heavy usage of 3-wideout sets, but in case he isn't, pick him up fast.
The next man up would be Jalin Marshall, but he also has a significant injury: a torn shoulder labrum.
That leaves preseason stand-out Robby Anderson, a 6'3 undrafted rookie from Temple University weighing in at only 190 lbs.
Proceed with caution.
2. WR Sammy Watkins (Buffalo Bills)
Injury: Foot (pain management post-surgery)
Timeline: 8+ weeks
Current Situation: 2nd in targets and receptions, 4th in yards among Bills' WR corpsS
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Greg Salas, Justin Hunter
The Bills aren't much of a passing team right now (with the exception of the occasional deep ball), and Watkins hadn't been on the field much yet, but you had to expect more out of a guy who was being drafted 27th overall in Yahoo leagues and 32nd overall in ESPN leagues.
At this point, though, being out 8 weeks is the majority of the season: he might be back in time for fantasy football playoffs, but even that's up in the air.
Given the fact that that there isn't really a strong #2 wideout on this team, nor someone who can really fill those shoes, let's look at the most targeted WR: Robert Woods, who is only owned in 2.3% of ESPN leagues.
If that doesn't float your boat, you could aim for the more explosive but less targeted Goodwin or Salas, or take a true gamble on Justin Hunter.
If you're in a PPR league, Woods might be worth a look, but this feels like a situation to stay away from entirely.
3. RB Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Injury: Hamstring strain
Timeline: Week 5 or Week 7 return
Current Situation: 2nd in rushing attempts and yards, 2nd in targets and receptions among Bucs' RBs
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers
Martin is a pretty consistent fantasy producer when healthy, but Sims has been given a shot to take RB1 duties because of this injury.
Sims has shown strong talent in the past, and so this might get tricky once Martin is back.
Sims is already owned in 82% of Yahoo leagues and 85% of ESPN leagues, so it's not like this is one most people have left on the waiver wire.
Sims is a fantasy RB1 until Martin is healthy, and Rodgers has some previous NFL experience, so he could be a valuable backup if Sims goes down and/or if Martin ends up hurt for longer than projected.
4. RB Jeremy Langford (Chicago Bears)
Injury: Ankle
Timeline: 4-6 weeks
Current Situation: 1st in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns, and targets among Bears' RBs
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Jordan Howard, Ka'Deem Carey
Langford was being praised in certain realms during the offseason, and was praised by the coach for being better prepared and looking good, but was still struggling to get yards after contact this year when he went down with an ankle injury.
Howard immediately took over, and is currently considered an every-down back in Chicago's system.
Ka'Deem Carey may eventually play a role once he's healthy, but that's a couple weeks down the road, and since he's only owned in 1% of Yahoo and 5% of ESPN leagues, you don't have to rush to pick him up.
Also, Chicago's offense is not inspiring in the least, so don't lose sleep over missing out on these options.
Timeline: 8+ weeks
Current Situation: 2nd in targets and receptions, 4th in yards among Bills' WR corpsS
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Greg Salas, Justin Hunter
The #Bills have placed WR Sammy Watkins on Injured Reserve, putting him on the shelf for at least 8 weeks. They claimed Justin Hunter.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2016
The Bills aren't much of a passing team right now (with the exception of the occasional deep ball), and Watkins hadn't been on the field much yet, but you had to expect more out of a guy who was being drafted 27th overall in Yahoo leagues and 32nd overall in ESPN leagues.
At this point, though, being out 8 weeks is the majority of the season: he might be back in time for fantasy football playoffs, but even that's up in the air.
Given the fact that that there isn't really a strong #2 wideout on this team, nor someone who can really fill those shoes, let's look at the most targeted WR: Robert Woods, who is only owned in 2.3% of ESPN leagues.
If that doesn't float your boat, you could aim for the more explosive but less targeted Goodwin or Salas, or take a true gamble on Justin Hunter.
If you're in a PPR league, Woods might be worth a look, but this feels like a situation to stay away from entirely.
3. RB Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Injury: Hamstring strain
Timeline: Week 5 or Week 7 return
Current Situation: 2nd in rushing attempts and yards, 2nd in targets and receptions among Bucs' RBs
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Charles Sims, Jacquizz Rodgers
Bucs officially ruled out RB Doug Martin (hamstring) and DE Robert Ayers (hamstring) for Sunday vs Denver. https://t.co/oWxGQwFvZf— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2016
Martin is a pretty consistent fantasy producer when healthy, but Sims has been given a shot to take RB1 duties because of this injury.
Sims has shown strong talent in the past, and so this might get tricky once Martin is back.
Sims is already owned in 82% of Yahoo leagues and 85% of ESPN leagues, so it's not like this is one most people have left on the waiver wire.
Sims is a fantasy RB1 until Martin is healthy, and Rodgers has some previous NFL experience, so he could be a valuable backup if Sims goes down and/or if Martin ends up hurt for longer than projected.
4. RB Jeremy Langford (Chicago Bears)
Injury: Ankle
Timeline: 4-6 weeks
Current Situation: 1st in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns, and targets among Bears' RBs
Potential Fantasy Replacements: Jordan Howard, Ka'Deem Carey
In the first 2 weeks, Jeremy Langford saw 77.4% of the Bears RB carries. With Langford out, Carey doubtful, Jordan Howard should eat.— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) September 30, 2016
Langford was being praised in certain realms during the offseason, and was praised by the coach for being better prepared and looking good, but was still struggling to get yards after contact this year when he went down with an ankle injury.
Howard immediately took over, and is currently considered an every-down back in Chicago's system.
Ka'Deem Carey may eventually play a role once he's healthy, but that's a couple weeks down the road, and since he's only owned in 1% of Yahoo and 5% of ESPN leagues, you don't have to rush to pick him up.
Also, Chicago's offense is not inspiring in the least, so don't lose sleep over missing out on these options.
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