A.J. Brown Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacements (Week 3)

With the injury to A.J. Brown, fantasy football managers are left with a void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of A.J. Brown’s injury and players you can target on your fantasy football waiver wire this week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements: A.J. Brown

A.J. Brown Injury Outlook

A.J. Brown (hamstring) expected to miss a couple of weeks
A.J. Brown said he is expected to miss a couple of weeks due to the hamstring injury he suffered Friday.

Fantasy Impact

Brown was sidelined from Monday’s game against the Falcons and it appears he could miss another week or two. DeVonta Smith should continue to be the top target for Jalen Hurts in that span.

Ari Koslow

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

WIDE RECEIVERS

Written by Derek Brown

Jerry Jeudy (CLE): 41% rostered

• Next Opponents: NYG, @LV, @WAS
• True value: $5
• Desperate Need: $8
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Jeudy finished Week 1 as the WR33 in fantasy with a 17.8% target share, a 31.4% air-yard share and a 20% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Among 78 qualifying wide receivers, he ranked 18th in separation and 21st in route win rate. He followed that up with 73 receiving yards (2.08 yards per route run) and a 17.7% target share. Jeudy looks like he could be the WR1 for this offense moving forward as Amari Cooper continues to stack silent games to open the 2024 season. Jeudy’s next three matchups are juicy and should place him in the WR3/flex conversation for fantasy lineups.

Demarcus Robinson (LAR): 42% rostered

• Next Opponents: SF, @CHI, GB
• True value: $5
• Desperate Need: $8
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Robinson could be the Rams’ new WR1 moving forward. Cooper Kupp was spotted in a walking boot after the team’s Week 2 loss to the Cardinals. Kupp didn’t play in the second half. Robinson led the team with 50 receiving yards in Week 2 while playing 92% of the snaps with Matthew Stafford and drawing a 14.8% target share with 1.78 yards per route run (per PFF). Robinson has been quietly amazing on a per-route basis over the last two seasons. In Week 1, among 78 qualifying receivers, Robinson ranked 33rd in separation and 13th in route win rate (per Fantasy Points Data). These numbers check out, as he was also 18th in separation and 42nd in route win rate last year among 125 qualifying receivers. The upcoming matchups aren’t kind to Robinson, but the target volume should be there.

Quentin Johnston (LAC): 7% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, KC, Bye
• True value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Don’t look now, but Johnston is playing well. He crushed expectations in Week 2, leading the Bolts’ receivers in every category. He drew a 30% target share while recording a team-leading 69% route share and two scores. Johnston’s 2.68 yards per route run (per PFF) was quite nice. While he didn’t fill up the box score in Week 1, he was quietly effective. Among 80 qualifying receivers, Johnston was 38th in route win rate (per Fantasy Points Data). With Joshua Palmer banged up and Ladd McConkey experiencing rookie growing pains, Johnston could be the team’s WR1 moving forward. The upcoming matchups aren’t amazing before the team’s bye, so keep your expectations in check, but better days could be ahead for the sophomore wide receiver.

Tyler Johnson (LAR): 11% rostered

• Next Opponents: SF, @CHI, GB
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: In Week 1, after Puka Nacua was injured, Johnson had a 21.7% target share, a 12.3% air-yard share, 3.67 yards per route run (4.4 aDOT), and a 16.7% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Among 78 qualifying receivers in Week 1, Johnson was 53rd in separation and 32nd in route win rate. His Week 2 numbers weren’t nearly as impressive, as Johnson had an 11.1% target share and 20 receiving yards (0.80 yards per route run) as a full-time receiver. Cooper Kupp was sidelined for the second half against the Cardinals and left the stadium in a walking boot, so Johnson could be elevated to the WR2 role for the Rams. This holds some weekly flex appeal, especially in deeper leagues.

Josh Downs (IND): 21% rostered

• Next Opponents: CHI, PIT, @JAX
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Downs was close to returning from an ankle injury and suiting up in Week 2. He wasn’t able to go against the Packers, but he may return in Week 3. Once he is ready to go, Downs should resume his role as the team’s starting slot wide receiver, pushing Adonai Mitchell to the bench. I feel like I need to remind people of Downs’ talent. Last year, before spraining his knee, Downs was the WR36 in fantasy points per game with an 18.9% target share and 2.0 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Downs has decent matchups in the slot over the next two weeks against Chicago and Pittsburgh, who respectively allowed the second-most and 14th-most PPR points per target last year.

Jalen Tolbert (DAL): 2% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, @NYG, @PIT
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Tolbert had the best game of his short career in Week 2, finishing with a 23% target share (six receptions) and 1.95 yards per route run (82 receiving yards). The Cowboys got blown out by the Saints, but Dallas might have found a new playmaker who is ready to step up opposite CeeDee Lamb weekly. Brandin Cooks remains a solid veteran presence for this roster, but he’s clearly on the back nine of his career. While Lamb will draw top coverage weekly from defenses, we could see Tolbert step up. The small-school product made big strides this offseason and was the talk of training camp. It’s nice to see him start producing on the NFL stage.

Alec Pierce (IND): 28% rostered

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

Analysis: Pierce followed up his monster Week 1 performance by running the most routes among the Indy wide receivers, leading the team with 56 receiving yards and tying for the team lead in targets (seven). Pierce has cemented his standing after two standout games as a full-time receiver in this offense. Josh Downs could return for Week 3, but that will send Adonai Mitchell to the bench, with Pierce remaining a starter opposite Michael Pittman. Chicago is a tough matchup for this passing attack, but Pierce should see an elevated role against Pittsburgh as Pittman likely draws shadow coverage from Joey Porter Jr. Jacksonville could be a scoring paradise for this passing attack in Week 5.