Nico Collins Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacement Pickups (Week 15)

With the injury to Nico Collins, 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. And here’s our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 15.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacement Pickups

Injury Outlook

Nico Collins (calf) ruled out for remainder of game vs. Jets
Houston Texans WR Nico Collins, who went down early in the Week 14 matchup with the New York Jets due to a calf injury, has been ruled out for the second half.

Fantasy Impact

Collins will end his day with just one catch for 13 yards, a tough blow for a Texans team already facing an uphill battle with rookie WR Tank Dell out for the year. Collins has broken out this season with 60 catches for 1,004 yards through 14 weeks of the season – just the fourth 1,000-yard receiver in Texans history. His situation should remain monitored in case he misses additional time. WRs Noah Brown, Robert Woods, John Metchie III, and Xavier Hutchinson are next up in Houston.

Jordan Epp – Jepp Sports

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Odell Beckham Jr. (BAL): 41% rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, @SF, MIA
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Beckham Jr. was clutch for fantasy managers last week with a 23.2% target share, 97 receiving yards and a score. He played 54% of the Ravens’ offensive snaps, his highest snap count since Week 8. Beckham is getting healthy and shining during crunch-time. Against Jacksonville in Week 15, he could be the flex/WR3 play who helps put your team over the top. Since Week 8, the Jaguars have allowed the most PPR points per target and the 10th-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Noah Brown (HOU): 49% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TEN, CLE, TEN
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Brown has not resembled the same player we fell in love with in Weeks 9-10 since his return from injury. Over the last two weeks, he has only drawn a 12.5% target share and has had zero receptions. The recommended bids here reflect the idea that we are buying into a C.J. Stroud-led offense for Week 15, but that might not be the case. Stroud left last week’s game with a head injury. We’ll have to monitor reports this week to see if Stroud will play or if we must endure the Davis Mills show in Week 15. Even Mills could deliver catchable targets to Brown, at least at a sufficient enough level for him to cook the Titans’ secondary. Brown could return WR3/flex value in Week 15. Since Week 8, Tennessee has given up the second-most receiving yards per game and the fourth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers. Brown also has a date with Tennessee in Week 17.

Curtis Samuel (WAS): 35% rostered

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

Analysis: If you are plucking Samuel from the waiver wire, it’s with an eye toward flexing him this week. His remaining matchups after Week 15 are not pretty. Since Week 12, Samuels has logged a 25.4% target share and a 23.9% first-read share while churning out 3.17 yards per route run and 82.5 receiving yards per game. With Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson dealing with the Rams’ talented outside corners, Samuel should lead the team in receiving again in Week 15. Since Week 8, Los Angeles has ranked 15th in PPR points per target allowed to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Dontayvion Wicks (GB): 4% rostered

• Next Opponents: TB, @CAR, @MIN
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Wicks is a receiver pickup who’s probably just for deep leagues or for rosters dealing with injuries in Week 15. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be extremely productive and help you take home a W. Wicks’ per-route metrics have been strong this season, with a 22% target per route run rate and 2.28 yards per route run. Wicks should assume Christian Watson‘s role in the Packers’ passing offense, with heavy usage against single-high looks. Wicks should destroy Tampa Bay’s secondary in Week 15. Since Week 8, Tampa Bay has utilized single-high at the eighth-highest rate (61.5%) while also allowing the 10th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Zay Jones (JAX): 29% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, @TB, CAR
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Volume is king in fantasy, and Jones has been seeing a ton of it. Over the last two games, without Christian Kirk in the lineup, Jones has soaked up a 27.8% target share. His Week 15 matchup is brutal with Baltimore coming to town, but Jones should still see plenty of targets to outkick efficiency concerns. The big reason to pick up Jones this week is with an eye toward Week 16, when the Jaguars face off against the Buccaneers. Since Week 8, Tampa Bay has allowed the 10th-most PPR points per target and the third-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Jalin Hyatt (NYG): 7% rostered

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

Analysis: Hyatt makes this week’s waiver wire article as a pickup with an eye toward Week 16. The rookie’s usage has been inconsistent, but we know that he is the field stretcher for the Giants. Hyatt’s average depth of target is 24.1 yards. Hyatt could have himself a day against the Eagles in Week 16. Since Week 8, Philadelphia has allowed the eighth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers and the 10th-highest adjusted completion rate to deep passing (per Fantasy Points Data). Hyatt will be a strong flex dice roll in Week 16.