Football is a violent, unpredictable sport where anything can happen. Injuries can derail a player’s season and dash any hopes you may have had for your fantasy football squad. The best way to protect yourself is always to have a plan B. That can be through acquiring your rostered players’ “handcuff” or backup or having deep stashes on your bench in an emergency.
Many fantasy football managers find themselves limping into Week 2 after a slew of injuries in Week 1. Here are three WRs and two TEs that could help insulate you from injury disasters in the coming weeks that won’t break the bank to acquire on your waiver wire:
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WR & TE Handcuffs & Stashes (Week 2)
Tutu Atwell (WR – LAR)
With WR Cooper Kupp landing on IR ahead of Week 1, the hype for rookie WR Puka Nacua in Los Angeles reached a fever pitch. While Nacua (PPR WR9) did not disappoint in the team’s 30-13 upset of the Seattle Seahawks, third-year WR Tutu Atwell also impressed. In Kupp’s absence, Atwell finished the week as the PPR WR15.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford targeted Atwell 8 times on Sunday, the second most looks of his career. He snagged six of those targets for 119 eight yards and racked up 17.9 fantasy points. With Kupp out until at least Week 5, this is Atwell’s chance to cement himself in the Rams offense. Should Kupp miss more time, Atwell could be a consistent WR3 play nearly every week.
Terrace Marshall (WR – CAR)
No one was excited about anything in the Carolina Panthers offense outside of Bryce Young this season, and for good reason. The Panther’s roster is a who’s who of aging veterans with diminishing fantasy value and forgotten prospects from days of yore. However, another third-year receiver, Terrace Marshall, showed there might be some value as a deep bench stash moving forward.
His performance didn’t raise eyebrows this weekend, but he saw usage with six targets and logged a 90 percent snap share. While he benefited from the absence of WR DJ Chark, Marshall will likely continue to have a role. His six targets were second on the team behind TE Hayden Hurst, and his 11.5 yards per catch led the team. To be clear, this isn’t a home run roster addition. However, Marshall is one game or an injury above him on the depth chart away from being a diamond in the rough.
Deonte Harty (WR – BUF)
If you’re first thought at reading Deonte Harty is, “Who?” you’re not alone. Harty, the veteran WR in his first season in Buffalo, barely made the roster and wasn’t even a lock to be active this past Monday against the New York Jets. However, not only was he active, but he saw four targets, which was tied for third on the team.
The Monday night opener against New York shows Harty seemingly passed WR Khalil Shakir on the depth chart. Shakir was on the field for 10% of the team’s offensive snaps, while Harty saw a 22% snap share. It is true that despite the apparent status upgrade, he still will be competing for targets with some elite talent. However, if Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Dalton Kincaid or Dawson Knox miss any time, Harty could be a sneaky flex play to save your week.
Josh Oliver (TE – MIN)
Do you need more proof that the TE position is as thin as a piece of floss in fantasy football? Well, here it is. Vikings TE Josh Oliver, the assumed backup to TJ Hockenson, finished Week 1 as the PPR TE23 with 6.2 fantasy points. Why does that matter? The TE12, Arizona’s Zach Ertz, logged 8.1 fantasy points.
As you can see, the bar for startable TEs is low. Hockenson is one of the few elite options, finishing Week 1 as the PPR TE3 with 11.5 fantasy points. Minnesota showed they’ll continue to be a pass-heavy attack, throwing it 44 times versus 17 rushing attempts in an embarrassing loss this past Sunday. Oliver, considered an exceptional blocker, will continue to see snaps and can also expect to see targets.
While he won’t always be a solid option, in matchups where two tight end sets make sense, or in case Hockenson gets injured, you will want this free TE on your fantasy football roster.
Durham Smythe (TE – MIA)
Even thinking about rostering a Miami Dolphins TE ahead of Week 1 would have been stomach-turning to most fantasy football managers. However, as we know, things change quickly in the NFL, as is the case with Dolphins TE Durham Smythe. Surprisingly, Smythe was second on the team in targets (seven) this past Sunday behind WR Tyreek Hill.
We may never know why Smythe out-targeted WR Jaylen Waddle against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it doesn’t matter. Miami has a limited supply of pass-catching options behind Hill and Waddle, and Smythe showed he can be a reliable No. 3 option. Not only was he used underneath and on intermediate routes, but he was also dispatched on deeper field stretching routes, though he wasn’t targeted.
There is potential for Smythe to insert himself into a consistent role in the Miami offense. In a barren land of TEs, he is likely your best inexpensive sleeper option on the waiver wire as we truck toward Week 2.
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Nate Polvogt is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Nate, check out his archive and follow him @NatePolvogt.
