Jonathan Taylor Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Pickups (Week 13)

With the injury to Jonathan Taylor, fantasy football managers are left with a 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

Jonathan Taylor suffers thumb injury Sunday, future status in doubt
In Sunday’s two-touchdown performance, Jonathan Taylor suffered a thumb injury that requires further evaluation and puts his status in doubt going forward.

Fantasy Impact

Taylor will be further evaluated before the Colts decide on his status. This will be a situation to monitor. Zack Moss would take over the lead role if Taylor misses time.

Ari Koslow

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Zack Moss (IND): 49% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, @CIN, PIT
• True value: $17
• Desperate need: $27
• Budget-minded: $8
• Analysis: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is dealing with a thumb injury that could potentially cause him to miss time, making Moss a priority addition in leagues where he’s available (particularly for Taylor investors). Moss has enjoyed a renaissance season, thriving in roles ranging from workhorse to backup. With Taylor on injured reserve to start the year and then eased back into action in Week 5, Moss was an early-season monster, averaging 111.3 rushing yards, 18.0 receiving yards and a touchdown per week over a four-game stretch from Week 2 to Week 5. It’s possible we won’t have clarity on the Taylor injury before you have to put in your Tuesday-night FAAB bids, but Moss warrants a robust bid for RB-needy teams based on the possibility he’ll get workhorse duty in one or more games.

Ty Chandler (MIN): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, @LV, @CIN
• True value: $13
• Desperate need: $21
• Budget-minded: $6
• Analysis: Though the Vikings are headed into a bye week, consider it a BUY week on Chandler. The desperate manager might drop him to waivers in leagues where he is currently unavailable. Chandler has looked stellar, especially compared to incumbent starter Alexander Mattison, who has coughed up the football a lot this season and doesn’t have the same juice as the younger Chandler.

Roschon Johnson (CHI): 22% rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, DET, @CLE
• True value: $8
• Desperate need: $15
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: Be careful about adding Johnson this week. Not only are the Bears entering their bye in Week 13, but Johnson also draws tough matchups against Detroit and Cleveland in Weeks 14-15. Naturally, we are still hoping for a second-half boost in workload for the Texas rookie. The concern is that Chicago might not have that in their plans.

Jeff Wilson (MIA): 17% rostered

• Next Opponents: @WAS, TEN, NYJ
• True value: $8
• Desperate need: $15
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: RB depth is paper thin across the league, and that certainly is reflected on our fantasy teams. As long as there is uncertainty with De’Von Achane‘s knee, Wilson will be an important piece in Miami’s backfield. He earned 14 touches, including three receptions, in Week 12, finishing with 73 yards from scrimmage against the Jets. As explosive as the Dolphins have been on offense, you can certainly justify rostering Miami’s No. 3 running back.

Ezekiel Elliott (NE): 40% rostered

• Next Opponents: LAC, @PIT, KC
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $9
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: As desolate as New England’s fantasy production has been, Zeke has still earned enough of an opportunity to be rostered in your league. Rhamondre Stevenson is starting to roll, but don’t overlook the former Cowboy’s contribution to the backfield. Elliott is a flex starter in deeper leagues.

Stash Candidates:

• Rico Dowdle
• Kenneth Gainwell
• Elijah Mitchell
• Tyjae Spears

Rico Dowdle‘s workload has progressed as I expected it to, and a fantasy manager with waning RB depth could conceivably plug him into the starting lineup. At the very least, Dowdle remains a premium handcuff behind Tony Pollard.

Kenneth Gainwell has kept a game-flow-dependent role for most of 2023 and has already vultured some of those sweet D’Andre Swift scoring opportunities. Although not a true handcuff stash, Gainwell would stand to gain value if Swift were to go down.

Mitchell finally saw a little bit of playing time to spell Christian McCaffrey in Week 12, with 7-39-0 rushing against the Seahawks. Mitchell is still nowhere near startable and only carries handcuff value.

Tyjae Spears took a nasty shot in Tennessee’s Week 12 win over the Panthers that left him shaken up, but he was able to continue. Spears only garnered three touches, so we’re still just holding on in case of a Derrick Henry injury.