Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.

Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Derek Carr (QB – NO) vs. Indianapolis Colts: 20.2% Rostered

Unfortunately, the Saints have a 3-4 record, and their offense has had issues this year. However, Carr has been a solid streaming option for fantasy players. Despite playing through a shoulder injury to his throwing arm, the veteran has averaged 279 passing yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 16.5 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks. Furthermore, he has at least 300 passing yards in nearly half the games this season, including two straight. More importantly, Carr has an appealing matchup against a struggling Colts defense.

Indianapolis got a lucky break in Week 7 against the Browns. Deshaun Watson left the game after only five pass attempts because of an injury, leaving PJ Walker to come off the bench without meaningful preparation. Therefore, it’s no surprise he struggled. However, Indianapolis has struggled to slow down quarterbacks this year. Over the first six weeks, the Colts had surrendered 18 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the eighth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they gave up two passing touchdowns or at least 260 passing yards in all but one contest.

Devin Singletary (RB – HOU) vs. Carolina Panthers: 31.8% Rostered

The Texans are coming off the bye week, but we saw a near split in the backfield during the Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Dameon Pierce had only one more rushing attempt than Singletary (13-12) but had 24 fewer rushing yards (34-58). Furthermore, the veteran had a better yards before contact (2.0-0.23) and after contact (2.83-2.38) per rushing attempt average than the second-year player (per Fantasy Points Data). More importantly, Singletary played a season-high 54% of the snaps in Week 6 compared to a season-low 33% for Pierce.

While the Houston backfield might become a more even split or Singletary taking over as the starter, both running backs have fantasy appeal this week. The Panthers have arguably the worst run defense in the league. They have surrendered 31.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Carolina has given up a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns to running backs, allowing two or more in all but one game this season. Both Texans running backs are top-32 options against the Panthers.

With Singletary being rostered in nearly 35% of leagues, he might not be available in your league. Therefore, Kenneth Gainwell (21.4% rostered) is a solid backup option. D’Andre Swift remains the No. 1 running back in Philadelphia. However, Gainwell had eight rushing attempts last week, his highest total since Week 3. Furthermore, he scored his first touchdown this year. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders have surrendered 97.6 rushing yards per game to running backs over the past five weeks. Hopefully, the game becomes a blowout, and Gainwell can get a garbage-time touchdown for the second consecutive game.

Royce Freeman (RB – LAR) vs. Dallas Cowboys: 17.2% Rostered

Last week, Darrell Henderson Jr. was the highest-scoring Rams running back, totaling 13.1 half-point PPR fantasy points. He is the team’s No. 1 running back, with Kyren Williams injured. However, Henderson did split the backfield work with Freeman in Week 7. Henderson had more rushing attempts than Freeman (18-12) but had fewer yards (61-66). Furthermore, Henderson lucked out and found the end zone. Without the rushing touchdown, he would have scored 7.1 fantasy points compared to 6.6 for Freeman. More importantly, Freeman was the more effective running back.

According to Fantasy Points Data, Freeman had a higher explosive run rate (8.3% vs. 5.6%) and missed tackle forced per rushing attempt (0.33 vs. 0.28) than Henderson. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ run defense has been hit or miss lately. Over the past four weeks, they have surrendered 82.8 rushing yards and 19.3 fantasy points per game to running backs. Dallas has given up three rushing touchdowns to running backs in those four games. Hopefully, fantasy players have better options, but Freeman is a solid, safe-floor last-minute replacement option.

Kendrick Bourne (WR – NE) vs. Miami Dolphins: 34.5% Rostered

Bourne started the season on fire, catching six passes for 64 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 21.4 half-point PPR fantasy points in Week 1. While his production tailed off after opening weekend, the veteran has played well recently. Over the past two weeks, Bourne is the WR12, averaging eight receptions on nine targets for 76 receiving yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 13.8 fantasy points per game, scoring 13 or more in both contests. While the return of JuJu Smith-Schuster will impact his production, the veteran should remain the No. 1 wide receiver on the Patriots.

Depending on who you believe, Jalen Ramsey could make his season debut this weekend. However, the star cornerback will likely be on a snap count if he plays against the division rivals. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have surrendered 31.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the ninth-most in the NFL. They have given up 35.4 fantasy per game and seven receiving touchdowns to wide receivers over the past five weeks. Hopefully, Bourne can keep up his recent production in a critical AFC East divisional matchup.

With Bourne being rostered in nearly 35% of leagues, he might not be available in your league. Therefore, Brandon Powell (5.1% rostered) is a solid backup option. While Jordan Addison is the No. 1 wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings with Justin Jefferson out, Powell has been productive. Over the past three weeks, the veteran receiver has averaged five targets and 6.5 fantasy points per game, scoring 7.2 or more twice. Meanwhile, the Vikings face a Green Bay Packers defense that has given up a receiving touchdown to wide receivers in all but one game this season.

Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO) vs. Indianapolis Colts: 18.3% Rostered

While Chris Olave and Michael Thomas are the starting wide receivers in New Orleans, Shaheed has quietly had an impressive year. The second-year player is the WR37, averaging 8.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. By comparison, Thomas is the WR41, averaging 8.6 fantasy points per game this season. More importantly, Shaheed has seen an increase in targets lately. He has earned six or more targets in three of the past four games. The second-year receiver has averaged 11 fantasy points per game this year in the four contests he got more than four targets.

Meanwhile, the Colts have surrendered 27.7 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, around the league average. However, they’ve had two easy matchups over the past three weeks, facing the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 and the Cleveland Browns without Deshaun Watson in Week 7. Over the first four games this year, Indianapolis gave up 195.8 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 35.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. If he gets six or more targets for the third consecutive game, Shaheed will have a startable fantasy performance.

Michael Mayer (TE – LV) vs. Detroit Lions: 6.7% Rostered

Over the first five weeks this season, Mayer was the TE55, averaging only 1.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The rookie had only five targets over the first five weeks, seeing three in the Week 5 win over the Green Bay Packers. However, he had a breakout performance in Week 6 against the New England Patriots, totaling five receptions on six targets for 75 receiving yards and 10 fantasy points. More importantly, the former Notre Dame star ran 22 routes and had a 27% target per route run rate, both career highs (per Fantasy Points Data).

Unfortunately, Mayer had only 2.3 fantasy points last week with Brian Hoyer under center. Thankfully, Jimmy Garoppolo is on track to play Monday night. Yet, the rookie had an 18% target per route run rate, finishing third on the Raiders among qualifying players behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers in Week 7. Meanwhile, the Lions have surrendered the second-most fantasy points per game (12.7) and touchdowns (four) to tight ends this season. Mayer is prime to have a bounce-back performance on national television.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.