Ricky Pearsall Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacements

With the injury to Ricky Pearsall, fantasy football managers are left with a potential void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your fantasy football waiver wire this week. And check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 5.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Injury Outlook

Ricky Pearsall suffers knee injury
49ers WR Ricky Pearsall stated that he felt some pain and instability in his knee in Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.

Fantasy Impact

Pearsall returned later in the game for one play but was shut down for the remainder of the game. His status will be worth monitoring as the 49ers take on the Rams on Thursday. He finished the day with receptions on 4-of-5 targets for 46 yards.
– Jesse Garcia

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target: Wide Receivers

Written by Derek Brown

Elic Ayomanor (WR – TEN): 31% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @ARI, @LV, NE
• True Value: $6
• Desperate Need: $10
• Budget-Minded: $4

Analysis: In Weeks 2-3, Elic Ayomanor was the WR24 and WR27 in PPR scoring. He entered Week 4 with a 15.5% target share, a 24.6% air-yard share, a 15.6% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data), 47 receiving yards per game and 1.74 yards per route run. He had two scores and two end-zone targets. In Week 4, Ayomanor led the Titans with a 26.9% target share and a modest 44 receiving yards. He is stepping up at the team’s No. 1 WR, as Calvin Ridley looks cooked. I’m not rushing to plug Ayomanor into a Flex spot against the Cardinals this week, but he has three nice matchups after that against Las Vegas, New England and Indianapolis that should land him in strong Flex territory.

Troy Franklin (WR – DEN): 32% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @PHI, @NYJ, NYG
• True Value: $6
• Desperate Need: $10
• Budget-Minded: $4

Analysis: Well, it’s about damn time, Sean Payton. Troy Franklin is a full-time player in the Denver offense. Franklin has a 73.8% route share, a 20% target share, a 26.8% air-yard share, 1.78 yards per route run (47 receiving yards per game) and a 22.7% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. I don’t want to toss Franklin into a Flex spot this week against the Eagles, but after that, he has juicy matchups coming up against the Jets, Giants and Cowboys that all could put him in the WR3/Flex category.

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR): 9% Rostered

• Next Opponents: MIA, DAL, @NYJ
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Jalen Coker inches closer to returning to the lineup after beginning the season on IR. Now is the time to pick him up. Coker has a clear path to the No. 2 WR spot in a Carolina passing attack that desperately needs his presence. Xavier Legette is injured and, even when healthy, ineffective. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is also on the shelf. Carolina is hurting for pass-catchers in an offense that ranks third in neutral passing rate. Just as a PSA regarding Coker’s talent: In the six games last season in which he played at least 68% of the snaps and Bryce Young was the starting quarterback, Coker had an 18.3% target share, 55.7 receiving yards per game, 1.89 yards per route run and a 23.8% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. He averaged 11.4 PPR points per game with three top-36 weekly fantasy finishes (WR17, WR12, WR28). Coker could provide a boost to your fantasy squad just as the bye weeks are arriving.

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR – NYG): 49% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, PHI, @DEN
• True Value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: Entering Week 4, Wan’Dale Robinson had two red-zone targets this season. He had a 20% target share, averaging 74.3 receiving yards per game (2.28 yards per route run), with a 29.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Robinson had a quiet Week 4, with three grabs and 14 receiving yards against the Chargers, as Jaxson Dart only attempted 20 passes, but Robinson had a 25% target share and dropped a touchdown. Robinson should continue to provide viable Flex value moving forward, with the Giants’ passing volume flowing to Robinson and Darius Slayton now that Malik Nabers is likely done for the year with a torn ACL.

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG): 2% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @NO, PHI, @DEN
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: With Malik Nabers likely done for the year with a torn ACL, Darius Slayton will have an elevated role in the Giants’ passing attack. He has a nice matchup this week against the Saints and could provide Flex value, but I’m not rushing to play him in the three games after that against the Eagles (twice) and the Broncos. Slayton entered Week 4 with a 6.4% target share, 0.81 yards per route run, and a 9.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. The schedule really opens up for Slayton after Week 9, though, so if you need a wide receiver and have a deeper bench, pick him up.

Marquise Brown (WR – KC): 44% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, DET, LV
• True Value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: In Weeks 2-3, Marquise Brown had a 16.7% target share and 21.3% first-read share, and he averaged 36 receiving yards and 1.20 yards per route run, per Fantasy Points Data. He leads the Chiefs with three red-zone targets. In Week 4, Brown finished with three receptions, 38 receiving yards and a score that saved his fantasy day. His underlying usage was frightening, though, as he had a 13.5% target share and played only 52% of the snaps with a 59.5% route share, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Brown is a volatile player moving forward, as his usage could be all over the map weekly with Xavier Worthy back in the lineup. He’s a pinch-your-nose-and-pray Flex option now.