Michael Thomas Injury: Waiver Wire Replacements to Target (2022 Fantasy Football)

With the injury to Michael Thomas, fantasy football managers are left with a potential 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 4 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice

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Michael Thomas Injury Outlook

Saints’ HC Dennis Allen told reporters that WR Michael Thomas is out Sunday vs. the Vikings.

Fantasy Impact

In addition to Thomas, QB Jameis Winston is being listed as doubtful. This likely means more opportunities in the passing game for rookie WR Chris Olave and Jarvis Landry (who is also dealing with an ankle injury), but there is a clear downgrade at quarterback with Andy Dalton expected to start.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Isaiah McKenzie (WR – BUF) vs. Baltimore Ravens (19% Rostered)

I’m surprised McKenzie’s rostered percentage isn’t higher, given all of his preseason hype. Furthermore, the veteran is the WR35 for the year in half-point PPR scoring, averaging 10.4 fantasy points per game. He is second on the team with four receiving touchdowns despite averaging only five targets per game. However, McKenzie saw an uptick in work last week, with Gabriel Davis dealing with an ankle injury. The veteran caught seven of his nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown while scoring 17.7 half-point PPR fantasy points, a season-high.

While he will play again this week, Davis tweaked his ankle injury in practice and won’t be 100% for the matchup against the Ravens. Thus, opening up more targets and a bigger role for McKenzie. More importantly, Baltimore has struggled to defend the pass this season. They have surrendered 46.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Ravens have given up five touchdowns to wide receivers this season, the fourth-most in the league. With the great matchup and Davis at less than 100%, McKenzie is the ideal last-minute replacement for Michael Thomas.

Alec Pierce (WR – IND) vs. Tennessee Titans (7.7% Rostered)

Sometimes you need to dig deep when looking for replacement options on the wavier wire. Yet, if you dig deep enough, you will find a diamond in the rough. This week that diamond is Pierce. The rookie’s career didn’t get off to a great start, scoring zero fantasy points in Week 1 before missing Week 2 with a concussion. However, he showed promise last week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Pierce caught three of his five targets for 61 yards and scored 7.6 half-point PPR fantasy points in the win.

More importantly, the rookie was third on the team in targets last week, finishing behind Michael Pittman and Nyheim Hines. However, he did that despite playing fewer snaps than Parris Campbell, who had only two targets in the game. Meanwhile, the Titans have been awful at stopping wide receivers this year. They have given up an average of two touchdowns and 40.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to the position. Furthermore, wide receivers have totaled 31 receptions for 457 receiving yards, five touchdowns, and 45.5 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Titans over the past two weeks. So, consider the rookie if you need a last-minute dart throw wide receiver.