Brandon Aiyuk Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacements (Week 8)

With the injury to Brandon Aiyuk, fantasy football managers are left with a void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of Brandon Aiyuk’s injury and players you can target on your fantasy football waiver wire this week. And also be sure to check out our full fantasy football waiver wire advice article for Week 8.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Brandon Aiyuk Injury Outlook

Brandon Aiyuk: 49ers worried about ACL
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said they are worried that Brandon Aiyuk injured his ACL.

Fantasy Impact

Aiyuk will undergo an MRI to confirm the results. His knee appeared to get hit when he was tackled before he had to be carted back to to the locker room during Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. There should be more information on his status on Monday.

Ari Koslow

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

WIDE RECEIVERS

Written by Derek Brown

Jauan Jennings (SF): 29% rostered

• Next Opponents: DAL, BYE, @TB
• True value: $14
• Desperate Need: $25
• Budget-minded: $8

Analysis: Jennings is dealing with a hip injury and didn’t practice at all last week, but he should walk into a big role once he returns to the lineup now that Brandon Aiyuk is most likely out for the season with what is believed to be a torn ACL. Jennings has three games this season with more than 60 receiving yards and two top-36 weekly WR finishes. Jennings has drawn an 18.9% target share and a 23.1% first-read share, with 2.91 yards per route run and five end-zone targets (per Fantasy Points Data). Jennings could be a weekly WR3/flex play moving forward.

Keon Coleman (BUF): 32% rostered

• Next Opponents: @SEA, MIA, @IND
• True value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Coleman tied for the team lead in target share in Week 7 (21.2%) while leading the way with four receptions and 125 receiving yards. We’ll see if Amari Cooper‘s arrival continues to help or eventually hurts Coleman’s numbers for the rest of the season, but this was an encouraging first step. Coleman has wonderful matchups in two of his next three games against Seattle and Indy. Seattle has allowed the eighth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Indy has given up the seventh-most receiving yards per game to outside wide receivers.

Ricky Pearsall (SF): 13% rostered

• Next Opponents: DAL, BYE, @TB
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: In his first NFL regular-season action, Pearsall was pressed into action. Deebo Samuel was dealing with an unannounced illness and left the game after the first quarter. Brandon Aiyuk was lost for the season with a horrific knee injury. Pearsall led the San Francisco wide receivers in snaps while drawing a 16.1% target share and finishing with 21 receiving yards. Brighter days are ahead for Pearsall. The team will need him and Jauan Jennings to step up for the rest of the season without Aiyuk. Investing in a first-round NFL Draft pick tied to one of the league’s best playcallers, who now has a need for pass game weapons? OK, sign me up.

Cedric Tillman (CLE): 0% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, LAC, BYE
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Tillman exploded onto the fantasy scene this past week with a 23% target share, eight receptions and a team-leading 81 receiving yards. Someone has to step up consistently opposite David Njoku in this passing attack moving forward, right? That’s the hope with adding Tillman. The Cleveland passing game has been putrid for most of the season, with Jerry Jeudy and Amari Cooper leading the way. With a changing of the guard under center with Deshaun Watson out with an Achilles injury, Tillman could lead the charge if Cleveland also decides to flip the hierarchy of targets behind TE David Njoku. Tillman could build upon his Week 7 success with a Week 8 matchup against a Baltimore secondary that has allowed the 12th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Jerry Jeudy (CLE): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, LAC, BYE
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Entering Week 7, Jeudy was the WR59 in fantasy points per game, with three weeks as a WR3 (WR33, WR27, WR31) in weekly fantasy scoring. Last week’s 9.,6% target share, one reception and 18 receiving yards won’t help his season-long stats. Jeudy is a player to consider adding in deeper leagues. Will it make you fist pump once waivers are finalized for Week 8? Probably not, but there’s possible upside here if Jameis Winston or Dorian Thompson-Robinson can inject life into this passing game and offense. Jeudy and David Njoku should be the main cogs of the passing game most weeks.

Troy Franklin (DEN): 1% rostered

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

Analysis: Last week might have been a stepping-stone game for Franklin. He had a 63.6% route share, a 23.1% target share and 2.38 yards per route run as a starter for Denver. The talented rookie fell in the NFL Draft, and it has been a slow burn this season for him to rise up the depth chart. Franklin’s next two matchups are quite wonderful. If he can take advantage of them, don’t be surprised if he is pushing Courtland Sutton for the team lead in targets down the stretch. Carolina has allowed the most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers. Baltimore has given up the third-most receiving yards per game to outside receivers.

Romeo Doubs (GB): 44% rostered

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

Analysis: Well, it seems as if the squeaky wheel has been getting the grease. Since Doubs’ return from his one-game hiatus, he’s had 49 receiving yards and two scores in one outing and eight grabs for 94 yards in the Packers’ win over the Texans on Sunday. Some of this is simply related to coverage matchups. Doubs has been one of the team’s go-to players against single high. His next two matchups aren’t as kind. Across their last four games, Jacksonville and Detroit have utilized two high on 53.3% and 54.1%, respectively, of their defensive snaps (per Fantasy Points Data). Against two high, Doubs ranks fifth on the team in target per route run rate (19%) and has only 1.35 yards per route run. Don’t chase the last two weeks with heavy bids for Doubs. You’ll probably be disappointed if you do.

Jalen Tolbert (DAL): 20% rostered

• Next Opponents: @SF, @ATL, PHI
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Tolbert is the WR40 in fantasy points per game this season, with three WR3 or higher finishes (WR24, WR34, WR12). He has a 14.7% target share while ranking 22nd among wide receivers in deep targets. In the Cowboys’ pass-first offense, Tolbert is in the weekly mix for flex consideration until the injured Brandin Cooks returns to the lineup.