Dak Prescott Injury: Waiver Wire Replacements to Target (2022 Fantasy Football)

With the injury to Dak Prescott, 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.

• Week 2 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice

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Dak Prescott Injury Outlook

Dak Prescott (thumb) expected to miss 6-8 weeks

Dak Prescott is scheduled to have surgery on his right thumb Monday and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. (Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: While the projection is 6-8 weeks for now, a clearer timetable will likely come once the surgery is complete and the recovery process begins. This timetable will keep Prescott out until late October or Mid November, so fantasy managers need to plan accordingly at the QB position. Cooper Rush came into the game Sunday and will likely take over until Dak is back.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Jameis Winston (NO): 46% rostered

• Next opponents: TB, @CAR, MIN
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Last week’s top QB waiver priority remains at the top after a strong Week 1 performance and comeback win. Winston has been a picture of efficiency in his time with the Saints, slowly but surely erasing his reputation as a turnover-prone signal caller. I was very inspired by his resolve on Sunday and his confidence in targeting Michael Thomas on both of his TD passes. He also targeted Jarvis Landry nine times and TE Juwan Johnson five times. A tough upcoming schedule should prompt more attention to Alvin Kamara and hopefully rookie Chris Olave, who scored a two-point conversion against the Falcons. The Saints can win a lot of games with Winston playing this well.

Carson Wentz (WSH): 12% rostered

• Next opponents: @DET, PHI, @DAL
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: On one hand, Wentz was a QB1 in Week1 with 313 passing yards and four TDs. On the other hand, he also threw two interceptions and nearly lost to the Jaguars. The Commanders aren’t short on receiving weapons, which bodes well for Wentz. He unlocked Curtis Samuel with 11 targets, dropped a dime to Terry McLaurin for a long TD and found first-round rookie Jahan Dotson for two scores. Antonio Gibson was also readily open for Wentz out of the backfield. For all his warts, Wentz can easily earn the favor of fantasy managers by simply dispersing the ball to his talented receivers. His next two opponents both gave up 35-plus points (to each other) in Week 1 and are defenses to attack if you’re streaming QBs.

Marcus Mariota (ATL): 9% rostered

• Next Opponents: @LAR, @SEA, CLE
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: It was the former Oregon Duck who produced the second-most QB rushing yards in Week 1, behind Jalen Hurts. A mere 40 yards rushing is equivalent to an extra passing TD in fantasy football, but Mariota had 72 vs. the tough Saints defense on Sunday. He was not impressive at all in the passing game, with a mere 215 yards through the air. He will certainly be expected to do better than only complete two of seven passes to his best receiver, Kyle Pitts, going forward. Rookie Drake London looked every bit as good as his first-round draft capital. It might not be wise to stream Mariota against the Rams in Week 2, but 19.8 fantasy points against a strong New Orleans team with only one TD is nothing to sniff at.

Matt Ryan (IND): 43% rostered

• Next opponents: @JAX, KC, TEN
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $5
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The game tape for the Colts will not be pretty after barely salvaging a tie with the lowly Houston Texans. Matt Ryan spent the first three quarters of the game scuffling to move the ball down the field. He still ended up with 352 passing yards and a single touchdown to his WR1, Michael Pittman. Ryan is merely a Week 2 streaming option vs. the Jaguars, who allowed an obscene amount of passing yards to Carson Wentz on Sunday. Even then, the Colts don’t figure to be in another negative game script. Ryan’s passing upside will be capped if the Colts bounce back and handle Jacksonville.