With the injury to DeVonta Smith, fantasy football managers are left with a void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of DeVonta Smith’s injury and players you can target on your fantasy football waiver wire this week. And here is all of our Week 4 fantasy football waiver wire advice.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements: DeVonta Smith
Injury Outlook
DeVonta Smith suffers concussion Sunday
DeVonta Smith left Sunday’s game early against the Saints due to a concussion.
Fantasy Impact
Smith suffered a hard hit in the final quarter against New Orleans. His status will be worth monitoring this upcoming week, especially with A.J. Brown still banged up.
Ari Koslow
Waiver Wire Replacements to Target
WIDE RECEIVERS
Written by Derek Brown
Jauan Jennings (SF): 31% rostered
- Next Opponents: NE, ARI, @SEA
- True value: $5
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Well, apparently, we were all misinformed. We were told by many (myself included) that it was “Brandon Aiyuk week.” Jennings said loudly, “Excuse me. I’d like a word.” Jennings exploded with a 40% target share, 11 receptions, 175 receiving yards and three scores in the 49ers’ losing effort. Obviously, Jennings won’t put up this type of week-winning stat line every game while Deebo Samuel is out, but he will remain a steady contributor for an offense that injuries have ravaged. As long as Samuel and George Kittle are out, Jennings will be the No. 2 option in this offense. He has plus matchups in each of the next two games against New England and Arizona, which have allowed the 10th-most and 11th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Darnell Mooney (ATL): 26% rostered
- Next Opponents: NO, TB, @CAR
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Mooney has proven over the last two games that last year’s falloff was the outlier. The talent that captivated us in previous seasons is still there. Over the last two weeks, Mooney has averaged 7.5 targets and 77 receiving yards per game as an integral part of Atlanta’s passing attack. He has operated as the No. 2 behind Drake London, essentially pushing Kyle Pitts into a tertiary role. Mooney faces an uphill battle next week against the Saints secondary before some flex-worthy matchups against the Bucs and Panthers.
DeMario Douglas (NE): 7% rostered
- Next Opponents: @SF, MIA, HOU
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Finally, the Patriots turned to arguably their best receiver for help with the aerial attack in Week 3. Douglas swallowed up a 34.6% target share, a 45.9% air-yard share and a 47.4% first-read share with 2.46 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). It was a wonderful performance for a player who proved last year he belongs in this league and as a trusted part of an NFL passing attack. Douglas has two wonderful matchups in the next two weeks that should put him firmly in the flex conversation for fantasy GMs. The 49ers and Dolphins have allowed the second-most and eighth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): 20% rostered
- Next Opponents: DAL, @SEA, CIN
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $6
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Through three games, Robinson has earned single-game target shares of 28.5%, 14.2% and 23.5%. Can anyone spot the outlier in this sample? Yeah, Robinson will be heavily involved weekly as the Giants’ WR2 behind Malik Nabers. In those two high target-share games, Robinson averaged 6.5 receptions and 52.5 receiving yards. These are strong numbers that will go overlooked and disrespected by your league mates. Don’t be the fantasy manager who is blinded by the wretched stink of the Giants’ offense. Robinson looks like a solid weekly flex play moving forward, especially in PPR settings.
Romeo Doubs (GB): 44% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, @LAR, ARI
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Doubs is likely to see a resurgence for Week 4. Jordan Love should be back under center for the Packers, which helps the entire offense and the passing attack. In Week 1, with Love at quarterback for most of the game, Doubs had a 20% target share, 23.1% air-yard share, 29.2% first-read share and 1.67 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Doubs has a tough matchup against Minnesota in Week 4, but his schedule opens up after that with dates against the Rams and Cardinals, who have respectively allowed the seventh-most and 10th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Quentin Johnston (GB): 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: KC, BYE, @DEN
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Johnston keeps doing it. He keeps scoring touchdowns, with three across his last two games. His Week 3 stat line wasn’t nearly as impressive, though. Johnston did lead the Chargers’ wide receivers in snaps while tying for the team lead in routes, but he only managed a 10% target share to go along with his team-leading 44 receiving yards (tied with Ladd McConkey). I understand if you want to stay in the flames with Johnston and ride the lightning, but his production is walking a thin line of unsustainability. Johnston isn’t high on my waiver list this week. His next two matchups against Kansas City and Denver aren’t cakewalks.
Mike Williams (NYJ): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: DEN, @MIN, BUF
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Williams has seen his workload ramp up in recent weeks. Against the Patriots in Week 3, Williams had a 50% route share, 11.4% target share, 19% first-read share and 1.70 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). The arrow is pointing up for Williams, as the Jets’ offense looks like a dangerous beast with Aaron Rodgers flashing vintage form. Williams’ upcoming matchups are horrendous, but if Rodgers really is back, Williams can overcome some of them. The huge stretch of games where he could be a difference maker for your squad is Weeks 9-11, when he faces Houston, Arizona and Indy. All three of those secondaries have big-time questions. Stash him now and enjoy the payoff once bye weeks start getting wild.
Jalen Nailor (MIN): 11% rostered
- Next Opponents: @GB, NYJ, BYE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Nailor continues to produce on limited volume. He has scored in each game of the season while not seeing more than more four targets in any outing. Talent does find a way, though. The Vikings are a dangerous offense, and I didn’t think I would say that by Week 4, but Sam Darnold is playing extremely well. Nailor likely sees a dip in production once Jordan Addison returns, but Addison isn’t a target-hog type of talent. If Nailor continues to produce with his opportunities, he will earn more as the season progresses.
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