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.
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
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.
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.
You can sum up the 2023 NFL season by looking at the current starting quarterbacks. Flacco started the year on his couch, joined the practice squad a few weeks ago, and now is a legitimate streaming option in the second round of the fantasy football playoffs. The veteran quarterback has averaged 313 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns, and 17.8 fantasy points per game, totaling 16.2 or more in every contest. Last week, he had 374 passing yards and 16.9 fantasy points against an impressive Chicago Bears defense.
Furthermore, Flacco would have had over 20 fantasy points for the second consecutive game if not for three interceptions. Meanwhile, he has an appealing fantasy matchup in Week 16. The Texans have been one of the worst teams at slowing down quarterbacks this year, surrendering 17.6 fantasy points per game. They have given up 19.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past seven weeks, allowing 19 or more in 71.4% of those contests. Flacco should have a solid performance in this critical matchup between two possible playoff teams.
The Bears backfield has been a fantasy football landmine this year. Outside of the few weeks that the team didn’t have Khalil Herbert, fantasy players have struggled to trust anyone in the backfield. However, Johnson is a sneaky last-minute replacement option. The rookie scored eight or more half-point PPR fantasy points in two of the past three contests, with the one exception coming against a talented Detroit Lions run defense. Furthermore, he has led the team in snaps in two of the past three games, including last week.
Johnson is the team’s passing game running back. He leads the backfield in route participation (29%), target share (9.1%), and target per route run rate (26%) this season (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Cardinals have arguably the worst run defense in the league. They have surrendered the most fantasy points per game (26.7) and receiving touchdowns (eight) to running backs. Last week, Arizona gave up 21.7 fantasy points to Christian McCaffrey in the passing game alone. Expect Johnson to take advantage of a struggling defense on the ground and in the air.
While Joe Mixon remains the lead running back, Brown has earned a role lately. The rookie had only two rushing attempts and three receptions over the first 12 weeks but has averaged eight rushing attempts and two receptions per game over the past three weeks. He has averaged 10.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, scoring 6.1 or more in every contest. More importantly, Brown has three receptions in back-to-back games, joining Mixon and Ja’Marr Chase as the only other Bengals to accomplish that feat.
Unfortunately, Chase won’t play Saturday, leaving Jake Browning without his best weapon. Therefore, expect Cincinnati to lean on their 1-2 punch at running back. Meanwhile, the Steelers have surrendered 122.7 rushing yards and 26.4 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past three weeks. Furthermore, they have given up the fourth-most receptions (13), fifth-most receiving yards (119), and the most receiving touchdowns (two) to running backs over their past two games. Pittsburgh is starting Mason Rudolph this week. Therefore, expect the Bengals to have a massive advantage in time of possession.
Yes, the Giants’ passing attack is far from sexy. However, Robinson has been Tommy DeVito‘s favorite weapon, averaging 7.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past four contests. Since the rookie quarterback took over as the starter in Week 10, the former Kentucky star leads the team in route participation rate (74.4%) and target share (16.1%) while ranking second in receiving yards market share (21.1%) and first-read target share (21.5%) per Fantasy Points Data. Last week, Robinson didn’t see a decline in his route participation rate (87.2%) with Darren Waller back in the lineup.
More importantly, the Eagles have had no answers for wide receivers, surrendering the most fantasy points per game (38.7) this year. They have given up the most receptions (15.5), targets (25.1), and receiving touchdowns (1.7) per game to wide receivers while ranking third in receiving yards (190.1). Opposing teams have targeted the Eagles in the slot at the second-highest rate (36.1) this season (per Fantasy Points Data). The Giants are near-two-touchdown underdogs in this game, suggesting plenty of garbage time opportunities for Robinson to wrack up fantasy points.
Jacksonville’s passing attack was on fire a few weeks ago. The team lost Christian Kirk for the rest of the regular season in Week 13. Unfortunately, Zay Jones (hamstring) could miss Sunday’s matchup against the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Calvin Ridley has been inconsistent all season. Thankfully, Washington has played well since taking over for Kirk in the slot. The rookie is the WR33 over the past three weeks, averaging five targets and 8.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
Despite ranking fourth in route participation (58%) and sixth in target per route run rate (16%) over the past three weeks, Washington ranks third in fantasy points per route run (0.31) among Jaguars with at least 10 routes (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have surrendered 31.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-most in the NFL. Washington will run most of his routes against Christian Izien, who has surrendered an 82% catch rate and 10.5 yards per reception this season (per PFF). The rookie receiver has flex appeal regardless of who starts at quarterback.
Cade Otton (TE – TB) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (24.2% Rostered)
Otton has had a solid year. He is the TE16, averaging 6.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, the second-year tight end hasn’t been consistent every week for fantasy players. However, he has been productive when given enough targets. The young tight end has averaged 8.9 fantasy points per game in the eight contests with four or more targets in 2023. More importantly, Otton is third on the team in end zone targets (six) and first-round target share (11.7%) per Fantasy Points Data.
Meanwhile, the second-year tight end has an appealing fantasy matchup on Sunday. The Jaguars have surrendered 11.7 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the fourth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve had no answers for opposing tight ends lately. Over the past two weeks, tight ends have had 13 receptions for 179 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 42.4 fantasy points against Jacksonville, totaling 17.5 or more in both contests. Otton could score double-digit fantasy points in this game without finding the end zone.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
