Amari Cooper Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Pickups (Week 14)

With the injury to Amari Cooper, 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. Here’s our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 14.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacement Pickups

Injury Outlook

Amari Cooper ruled out with head injury
Amari Cooper has been ruled out for the rest of Cleveland’s Week 13 game against Los Angeles with a head injury.

Fantasy Impact

The injury was initially thought to be related to his ribs. Cooper had three receptions for 34 yards before exiting. Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, and David Bell will be the top three wideouts going forward.

Kelly Kirby

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Demario Douglas (NE): 26% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, KC, @DEN
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Douglas missed Week 13 due to a concussion. He should be back in Week 14. Douglas has finished as a WR3 or better in four of his last five games (WR29, WR27, WR23, WR35). Since assuming a starting role in Week 7, he has had a 22.4% target share, 1.96 yards per route run and a 27.8% first-read share as the unquestioned WR1 in the Patriots’ offense. He should flirt with WR2/3 production over the next two weeks. The Steelers and Chiefs have been plus matchups for slot receivers since Week 7, allowing the second-most and the eighth-most PPR points per target, respectively.

Noah Brown (HOU): 40% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NYJ, @TEN, CLE
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Brown finally returned to the Texans’ lineup in Week 13 after dealing with a knee injury for the previous two weeks. He was immediately reinstalled as a full-time starter, as Robert Woods and John Metchie split snaps. With the unfortunate season-ending injury to Tank Dell, Brown should be Nico Collins‘ running mate for the rest of the season. In Weeks 8-10, Brown had a 17.1% target share, a 23.4% air-yard share, 4.55 yards per route run and a 16.7% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data), as he averaged 127.3 receiving yards per game over that stretch. Any receiver tied to C.J. Stroud warrants flex consideration, but Brown could develop into a weekly WR3 with his standing in the target tree now elevated.

Rashid Shaheed (NO): 43% rostered

• Next Opponents: CAR, NYG, @LAR
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Shaheed missed Week 13 with a quad issue. While his return remains up in the air, Shaheed has the talent to pop off once he’s back. Among 100 qualifying wide receivers, he ranks 48th in yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). He has three games this season as a WR1 (WR12, WR12, WR8). With Michael Thomas still sidelined, Shaheed should compete with Alvin Kamara for the second spot in the target pecking order behind Chris Olave. Shaheed has plus matchups in Week 15-16 against the Giants and Rams. The Giants have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Since Week 7, the Rams have given up the sixth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Khalil Shakir (BUF): 12% rostered

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

Analysis: Since Week 8, Shakir has had an 11.2% target share and 2.29 yards per route run, but he has only seen a 6.8% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data), which accounts for his volatility. He’s a talented young receiver in one of the league’s best offenses, but he has been the fourth or fifth option in the target pecking order. Hopefully, that changes coming out of the bye, but there’s no guarantee that it will. Over his last five starts, Shakir has had two games with at least 92 receiving yards. His next three matchups are all intriguing spots to consider flexing him. Since Week 7, the Chiefs and Chargers have allowed the second-most and 10th-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Jourdan Lewis is the easiest corner to pick on in the Dallas secondary.

Elijah Moore (CLE): 43% rostered

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

Analysis: Moore was a target hog in Week 13. With Amari Cooper leaving the game with a concussion, Moore took over as the team’s top wide receiver with a 27.2% target share and 83 receiving yards. We’ll see if Cooper is available in Week 14. If not, Moore will be the de facto WR1, facing a Jacksonville secondary that since Week 7 has allowed the 13th-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Curtis Samuel (WAS): 38% rostered

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

Analysis: Samuel has been on fire the last two weeks, with 100 receiving yards vs. Dallas and 65 receiving yards vs. Miami. Samuel could have had an even bigger day in Week 13, but he was pushed out of bounds at the 1-yard line on one of his receptions. The Commanders will continue to be a pass-first offense the rest of the season, as their ground game and defense have struggled with consistency all year. Samuel warrants flex consideration in Week 15 against a Rams secondary that since Week 7 has allowed the fourth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Jonathan Mingo (CAR): 6% rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, ATL, GB
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Mingo has displayed an interestingly high floor over the last six games, with at least four grabs and 60 receiving yards in three of those contests. Toss a touchdown on top of any of those games and Mingo would have snuck into the top 24-36 conversation for weekly wide receiver scoring. With Adam Thielen turning into a ghost in the Carolina offense, Mingo has stepped up. If he continues to ascend, he could make some noise in the fantasy playoffs.

Jalin Hyatt (NYG): 4% rostered

• Next Opponents: GB, @NO, @PHI
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Hyatt is a deep-league pickup. While the weekly floor remains basement-level, Hyatt has sporadically flashed some upside this season, with 75 or more receiving yards in three games. He could offer some flex appeal in Week 16 against a Philly secondary that since Week 7 has given up the 12th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Stash Candidates:

• Josh Palmer

The Chargers continue to struggle to put up points. Quentin Johnston has not been the answer at WR2. Once Palmer is fully healthy, he will immediately reprise his role as Keenan Allen‘s running mate, which makes him a WR3 with weekly WR2 upside. Palmer could be a difference-making pickup for your fantasy team for the playoffs.