Javonte Williams Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Targets (Week 5)

With the injury to Javonte Williams, fantasy football managers are left with a void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your waiver wire this week.

• Week 5 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice

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Javonte Williams Injury Outlook

Javonte Williams suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. (Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Williams left Sunday’s game with a knee injury and was quickly ruled out, which is rarely a good sign. The Broncos were reportedly bracing for bad news on Sunday night, and an MRI on Monday morning confirmed a torn ACL. He will miss the rest of the 2022 season. With Williams out, look for Melvin Gordon to lead the backfield in snaps and touches while Mike Boone plays a larger role. The Broncos will add reinforcements in the coming days, but whoever they add will likely just be for depth.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Tyler Allgeier (RB – ATL): 16% rostered

• Next opponents: @TB, SF, @CIN
• True value: $22
• Desperate need: $34
• Budget-minded: $14

Analysis: The touches from the Atlanta backfield were as bountiful as they were evenly distributed in Week 4. The rookie from BYU logged 11 touches for over 100 yards from scrimmage. Cordarrelle Patterson has not been completely healthy, and now he’s on IR with his knee issue. The other active RB is Caleb Huntley, who also logged 10 carries Sunday and scored a touchdown. Patterson still figures to be the starter when healthy, but Allgeier is likely to be the leading man in the Atlanta backfield for the next month.

Raheem Mostert (RB – MIA): 50% rostered

• Next opponents: @NYJ, MIN, PIT
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Although the Dolphins offense has been explosive this season, it has mostly been a product of their passing attack. With Tua Tagovailoa likely to miss some time, it might benefit Mike McDaniels’ team to get down and dirty with the run game like his longtime cohort Kyle Shanahan. Mostert was the lead back in Weeks 2 and 4, but ceded to Chase Edmonds in Weeks 1 and 3. If the alternate-RB strategy is just coincidence, Mostert is a plug-and-play addition with decent upside in Week 5 versus the Jets. He also has the type of speed to occasionally pop off for performances in RB2 territory.

Kenneth Gainwell (RB – PHI): 32% rostered

• Next opponents: @ARI, DAL, BYE
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: There isn’t much more to say at this point about Gainwell, who has graced every waiver column in 2022. Miles Sanders has been a pleasant surprise this season and has earned a larger volume of touches in the high-flying Eagles attack. Gainwell is still a very talented player, but he needs to score touchdowns to justify a fantasy roster spot if his receiving role doesn’t expand from its current status.

Ken Walker (RB – SEA): 43% rostered

• Next opponents: @NO, ARI, @LAC
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Week 4 was the Rashaad Penny show. Unfortunately, the Seahawks cannot play the Lions every week. Even though the rookie from Michigan State took the back seat to Penny again, he more than doubled his season total in rushing attempts with eight. Walker stands as the best handcuff available with less than 50% rostership. He is a home run hitter who is one Penny malady away from taking over this backfield.