Pat Freiermuth Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Pickups (Week 5)

With the injury to Pat Freiermuth, 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. And here is all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 5.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacement Pickups

Injury Outlook

Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) expected to miss 2-3 weeks

Pat Freiermuth is expected to be out for 2-3 weeks with a hamstring injury.

Fantasy Impact

The tight end suffered his hamstring injury during Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. He wasn’t able to return to the game, and further testing has now revealed that he will miss 2-3 weeks because of it. That’s not bad, especially considering that the team has a bye week in that period. Rookie Darnell Washington will have an opportunity for more work next week against the Ravens in Freiermuth’s absence.

Leo Sells

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Written by Derek Brown

Luke Musgrave (GB): 36% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LV, BYE, @DEN
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Musgrave left Week 4 with a concussion, so toss that game’s stats in the trash. Entering Week 4, among 45 qualifying tight ends, Musgrave ranked 17th in yards per route run and 10th in yards after the catch per reception (per PFF). He has a 15.8% target share and 91% route participation. His three red zone targets rank eighth at the position. Everything about his usage screams top-12 upside tight end for the rest of the season. The only reason Musgrave remains available is because he has yet to have a blowup game. It’s coming. Grab him now.

Logan Thomas (WAS): 6% rostered

• Next Opponents: CHI, @ATL, @NYG
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Thomas returned from a concussion to play 79% of Washington’s offensive snaps while running a route on every Sam Howell pass attempt except one. Thomas only had a 7.3% target share, but he drew a 22.6% target share and a 24.5% air yard share in Week 1. There’s more target volume to be had for Thomas than what he showed in Week 4. Thomas is firmly on the matchup streaming radar, with Week 5-6 matchups against two teams that have given up the 10th-most and fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Cade Otton (TB): 2% rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, DET, ATL
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Otton entered Week 4 with a 12.4% target share and 97% route participation. He is worthy of a pickup now to get ahead of the TE-streaming curve. In Weeks 6 and 7, he faces two defenses that have allowed the fifth- and fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Otton could put up back-to-back TE1-worthy stat lines.