David Montgomery Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Pickups (Week 7)

With the injury to David Montgomery, 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.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacement Pickups

Injury Outlook

David Montgomery (ribs) out ‘a little bit’ with cartilage issue

Lions RB David Montgomery is dealing with a cartilage issue in his ribs and will be out for ‘a little bit’, according to HC Dan Campbell.

Fantasy Impact

HC Dan Campbell told reporters on Monday that Montgomery will be out for ‘a little bit’ because of a cartilage issue in his ribs. He suffered the injury in Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers, and now it sounds like he may have to miss Week 7’s game against the Ravens as a result. Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) is reportedly trending in the right direction for the game, so both he and Craig Reynolds could get a lot of work if the veteran is unable to play on Sunday.

Leo Sells

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Ezekiel Elliott (NE): 43% rostered

• Next Opponents: BUF, @MIA, WSH
• True value: $16
• Desperate need: $26
• Budget-minded: $8

Analysis: Rhamondre Stevenson hasn’t looked right all season. Elliott has a lot of mileage but looked very good against the Raiders in Week 6. Zeke scored a touchdown and had a 74-yard jaunt called back on a penalty. It’s hard to believe, but Zeke is currently the best offensive player in New England.

Kareem Hunt (CLE): 36% rostered

• Next Opponents: @IND, @SEA, ARI
• True value: $12
• Desperate need: $20
• Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: I guess Hunt isn’t washed quite yet. In a really effective tandem with Jerome Ford, it was Hunt who found the end zone in Cleveland’s upset win over San Francisco. Even a 50/50 split in this backfield is more than worthy of a roster spot.

Justice Hill (BAL): 42% rostered

• Next Opponents: DET, @ARI, SEA
• True value: $11
• Desperate need: $19
• Budget-minded: $5

Analysis: Three of Hill’s 11 touches in Week 6 were receptions where he could show off his wheels in space. He is the only Ravens RB with that trait. Don’t be scared away by modest production in a brutal matchup with the Titans. Hill has perhaps the most upside of any ballcarrier still on the wire.

Elijah Mitchell (SF): 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: @MIN, CIN, BYE
• True value: $8
• Desperate need: $13
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: It remains to be seen whether Christian McCaffrey will miss any further action with his oblique injury. We’re also no closer to determining who will get the heavier workload if CMC misses time. Jordan Mason is a special teams ace who has filled in for Elijah Mitchell recently, but both were active in Week 6. Mason scored a touchdown but was behind Mitchell on the depth chart to start the season. Mitchell is my preference on waivers.

Craig Reynolds (DET): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: @BAL, LV, BYE
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $13
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The only reason to add Reynolds is the unique opportunity for low-efficiency volume to maybe luck into a touchdown or two. Jahmyr Gibbs was out again in Week 6, then David Montgomery was knocked out of the game, thrusting Reynolds into 12 touches. He totaled 43 yards. Injury and bye week desperation is going to be very real in Week 7, so I won’t judge. Don’t expect much and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Salvon Ahmed (MIA): 21% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PHI, NE, @KC
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Ahmed had 6-23-1 rushing and 3-11-0 receiving against the Panthers on Sunday while splitting backup duties with Chris Brooks, who was carted off with an injury. Ahmed might be No. 3 on the Miami depth chart if Jeff Wilson returns this week, but he at least has a foothold in the NFL’s most explosive offense. A modest bid could eventually pay big dividends if things break right.

Stash Candidates:

• Zach Charbonnet
• Rico Dowdle
• Kendre Miller
• Tyjae Spears
• Jamaal Williams

Zach Charbonnet is very quietly seeing increased playing time and touches for the Seahawks, who are handling their talented rookie with white gloves and bubble wrap. Seattle loves featuring its RBs, and I foresee a formidable one-two punch developing with Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker.

Rico Dowdle is a well-rounded back who just happens to rotate in behind a running back with no history of handling a bell-cow workload. Tony Pollard is an RB1 if he holds up. If he doesn’t, there might not be a hotter future waiver ticket than Dowdle.

Between Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams, I prefer the rookie, who’s more likely to see a growing role behind Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. Willams is likely to return on a pitch count in Week 7, leaving the window open for the former TCU standout to earn valuable reps.

Tennessee enters the bye coming off a loss to the Ravens in which they barely used explosive rookie Tyjae Spears. The regret surely sunk in when Spears weaved through half of the Baltimore defense for a 48-yard reception late in the fourth quarter. He will be a key part of the offense going forward. Stash now for cheap.