Christian Watson Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Pickups (Week 10)

With the injury to Christian Watson, 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

Christian Watson catches only one pass in win
Christian Watson caught one of two targets for 37 yards in the Packers’ 20-3 win over the Rams on Sunday. He left the game late to be evaluated for a concussion in addition to chest and back injuries.

Fantasy Impact

The talented second-year wideout was banged up in the final stages of the game, and his status is worth monitoring in the coming days in regards to next week’s availability against Pittsburgh. If he plays, he can be started in fantasy due to his big play ability, just know he is much more boom-or-bust than he was last season with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

Garrett Ball

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Tank Dell (HOU): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CIN, ARI, JAX
• True value: $9
• Desperate need: $14
• Budget-minded: $6

Analysis: Dell crushed souls in Week 9. He tied for the team lead with a 26.1% target share. Entering Week 9, among 123 qualifying wide receivers, Dell ranked 30th in receiving grade and 22nd in yards per route run (per PFF). All of the size concerns and breakout age worries should be a thing of the past. Dell is a baller extraordinaire. Per ESPN analytics, Dell is fourth in open rate behind only Brandon Aiyuk, Keenan Allen and Garrett Wilson. I’m worried about his output against the Bengals’ strong secondary in Week 10, but then he has three cakewalk matchups against Arizona, Jacksonville, and Denver. Dell can be a stretch-run difference maker.

Demario Douglas (NE): 35% rostered

• Next Opponents: IND, BYE, @NYG
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: Douglas looks like the Patriots’ leading receiver moving forward. He tied for the team lead in targets in Week 9 (seven) while leading New England in receiving yards (55). Entering Week 9, among 123 qualifying wide receivers, Douglas was 28th in receiving grade and 29th in yards per route run (per PFF). The electric slot standout from Liberty has a 15.6% target share over the last three weeks. After his Week 11 bye, Douglas’s schedule opens up with matchups in Week 13 & 14 against the Chargers and Steelers, who have allowed the fifth-most and 11th-most receiving yards, respectively, to slot wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Quentin Johnston (LAC): 32% rostered

• Next Opponents: DET, @GB, BAL
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Josh Palmer has been placed on the injured reserve. The Chargers have no choice now but to finally lean on their talented first-round draft choice. Last week, with Palmer ailing, Johnston had a 63% route run rate, a 15% target share, a 27.2% air-yard share, 1.92 yards per route run and a 15.4% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Catching passes from Justin Herbert is always a plus. We’ll see if Johnston can take advantage of the opportunity, but the talent is there for him to explode down the stretch.

Zay Jones (JAX): 19% rostered

• Next Opponents: SF, TEN, @HOU
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Jones has been plagued by a knee issue for most of the season. In his one fully healthy game, he finished as the WR18 for the week with 55 receiving yards and a score. Even in Jones’ limited duty, Trevor Lawrence has continued to prove that Jones is his main squeeze in the red zone. Jones has at least two red zone targets in each game he has played this season. If he can get healthy, look for Jones to take advantage of a soft upcoming schedule, with Tennessee and Houston on the docket in two of the next three weeks.

Khalil Shakir (BUF): 6% rostered

• Next Opponents: DEN, NYJ, @PHI
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Shakir has taken over as the Bills’ starting slot receiver. When Shakir has been given opportunities, he has flashed, and we could continue to see that in the coming weeks. He has plus matchups in Weeks 10, 15 & 16 against secondaries that all rank inside the top ten in PPR points per target allowed to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Shakir is a plug-and-play flex play in those weeks.

Jameson Williams (DET): 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAC, CHI, GB
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Williams could ascend to a full-time role coming out of the bye. While he has played a part-time role since his return from suspension, his 25% target per route run rate and 15.1 average depth of target (per Fantasy Points Data) are intriguing. That downfield prowess could be on display this week against the Chargers, who have allowed the sixth-most deep passing yards and the fifth-highest depth-adjusted completion rate (per Fantasy Points Data).

Josh Reynolds (DET): 28% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAC, CHI, GB
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Entering Week 9, among 123 qualifying wide receivers, Reynolds ranked 33rd in receiving grade and 43rd in yards per route run (per PFF). Reynolds has posted three top-36 WR weeks this season. With plus matchups against the Chargers, Bears and Packers incoming, Reynolds could add to his WR3 or better finish total.

Noah Brown (HOU): 2% rostered

• Next Opponents: @CIN, ARI, JAX
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Brown has had a 16.7% target share over the last two weeks, including his Week 9 blowup against Tampa Bay. Brown body-bagged the Buccaneers’ secondary, hanging 153 receiving yards on them. Investing in the pass catchers tied to the golden arm of C.J. Stroud is wise, but Brown’s time in the starting lineup might be limited. Robert Woods has been sidelined with a foot injury. Once he returns, Brown is likely heading back to the bench, but Woods could miss at least another week. If you’re looking for a decent flex play in Week 10, Brown fits the bill.

Stash Candidates:

• Curtis Samuel
• Cedric Tillman

Curtis Samuel has been dealing with a toe issue that forced him to miss Week 9. It’s time to consider stashing him before he returns to the lineup. His stretch-run matchups are the chef’s kiss for slot receivers. In Weeks 12, 13 & 15, he faces three secondaries (Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams) that all rank inside the top 13 in PPR points per target (fifth, 11th, 13th) allowed to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

The Browns have needed a competent WR2 to step up. Elijah Moore has not been up to the task. Cedric Tillman could be that guy. If Deshaun Watson can regain any semblance of his former passing prowess, Tillman could take advantage of some juicy upcoming matchups against the Steelers, Broncos, Rams, Jaguars, Bears and Texans.