Tee Higgins Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Targets (Week 6)

With the injury to Tee Higgins, 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.

• Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire FAAB Advice
• Erickson’s Week 5 Rapid Reactions & Top Performers
• Fantasy Football Panic Meter
• Fantasy Football Week 5 Takeaways: Surprises & Disappointments
• Fantasy Football Heat Index
• Fantasy Football Rest of Season Rankings

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

Tee Higgins Injury Outlook

Tee Higgins shut out in Week 5

Tee Higgins was not targeted in a 19-17 loss to the Ravens in Week 5.

Fantasy Impact

Higgins came into the Sunday night game questionable with an ankle injury. He ultimately suited up but seemed to aggravate the injury during the first half and did not play after halftime. After the game, head coach Zac Taylor said that Higgins wanted to keep playing in the second half but he ultimately remained out of the game. Now sitting on 20 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns through five games, Higgins can be considered questionable to play in Week 6 against the Saints.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Jakobi Meyers (NE): 47% rostered

• Next opponents: @CLE, CHI, @NYJ
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: This isn’t Meyers’ first time making the waiver column, but after two games missed due to injury, he’s slipped back below 50% rostership. Before the missed time, he saw a 29.7% target share (eighth-best), a 35.8% target per route run rate (fifth-best) and was the WR21 in fantasy points per game. Well, not much changed through the absence. Meyers returned just in time to feast on Mike Hughes in the slot against the Lions with a 38% target share, seven grabs, 111 receiving yards and one touchdown. Meyers has a dumpster-fire slot corner buffet upcoming with Greg Newsome, Kyler Gordon and Michael Carter on deck. If you need wide receiver help, Meyers is the player to spend aggressively on this week.

Alec Pierce (IND): 8% rostered

• Next opponents: JAC, @TEN, WAS
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Rookie wide receivers selected outside the first round of the NFL draft rarely hit the ground running from Day 1. Such has been the case for Pierce, who has been splitting routes with Ashton Dulin and Mike Strachan. Parris Campbell (why, I don’t know) and Michael Pittman have been the only full-time receivers for the Colts. This week, FINALLY, the Colts bumped up Pierce’s route run rate to 75%, and he responded by commanding a 21.9% target share. He’s now logged back-to-back games with 80 or more receiving yards. The Colts need another consistent pass catcher to step up opposite Pittman. Pierce could be that guy. He’s 27th in yards per route run, immediately behind D.K. Metcalf and CeeDee Lamb (per PFF, minimum 10 targets). The talent and athletic measurables are real. Pierce’s upcoming schedule is juicy, with a plus matchup against Jacksonville followed by heavenly contests against Tennessee and Washington, who entered Week 6 allowing the most and fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Isaiah McKenzie (BUF): 48% rostered

• Next opponents: @KC, BYE, GB
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: McKenzie missed Week 6 (concussion), but before the missed game, he was playing well and earning more opportunities in the Bills’ offense. His snap rate had increased every week, and he has averaged 7.5 targets over his last two games, finishing as the WR10 and WR29 those weeks. Khalil Shakir just helped dismantle the Steelers and is now a possible threat to assume the Jamison Crowder role as a roadblock to a full-time role for McKenzie. That’s the worrisome case, but it’s equally possible that Shakir returns to the bench while McKenzie returns and assumes an every-down role. He’s made the most of his previous opportunities, so there’s little reason to dial back his workload once he’s fully recovered from the concussion. Over the next three weeks, McKenzie has two plus matchups (KC, NYJ) for slot wide receivers.

Rondale Moore (ARI): 18% rostered

• Next opponents: @SEA, NO , @MIN
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Moore shook off pregame injury worries to play 91.3% of the snaps in Week 6, with a 97.6% route participation mark. After playing on the perimeter in Week 5, he returned to his customary slot role with A.J. Green back. Moore drew a 19.0% target share, finishing second on the team in receiving yards. Only Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz finished with more targets than Moore. While DeAndre Hopkins‘ return looms on the horizon, Moore can retain value as a solid flex play moving forward. Over the next five weeks (SEA x 2, LAR, MIN), Moore has four mouth-watering matchups for slot receivers that could lead to production spikes.

Jahan Dotson (WAS): 46% rostered

• Next opponents: @CHI, GB, IND
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Yes, Dotson is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. This is one of the reasons he is being mentioned here, as his rostership has fallen below 50% in Yahoo leagues. If not for the injury, Dotson would still be above this watermark. Pick him up now and look to flex him in the upcoming weeks if you’re looking for a possible ceiling play for the flex position. Carson Wentz entered Week 6 third in the NFL in deep passing attempts. Dotson has been a big part of the downfield passing, ranking 12th in aDOT, with 31.8% of his target volume coming on deep heaves. If he can make it back soon, Dotson has beautiful upcoming matchups with GB and IND, who rank 30th and 31st in DVOA against deep passing (per Football Outsiders).

Zay Jones (JAC): 27% rostered

• Next opponents: @IND, NYG, DEN
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: In the four games he’s played, Jones has earned target shares of 17.0%, 28.2%, 13.3% and 21.4%. He’s finished with at least six receptions and 65 receiving yards in half of his games. Despite tough matchups ahead, this type of bankable volume makes Jones a weekly WR3/4 and solid flex play.

Darius Slayton (NYG): 0% rostered

• Next opponents: BAL, @JAC, @SEA
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Yes, Slayton just saw a 25.9% target share and logged 79 receiving yards against a talented Green Bay secondary, but – you knew there was going to be a but – his value in this offense is capped even if he now assumes the top receiver role. New York entered Week 6, fourth in neutral rushing rate and fifth in red zone rushing rate. While the Giants are 4-1, this is a team built around the run. Slayton’s volume and touchdown equity are capped in this offensive scheme. Outside of needing a desperation Week 6 bye week fill-in, Slayton should not be a player you’re spending more than $1 on to get on your roster.