With the injury to Bryce Young, 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 also be sure to check out all of our full fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements
Injury Outlook
#Panthers QB Bryce Young suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday, an MRI revealed, and he is expected to miss this week’s game against the #Bills, per sources.
Andy Dalton is now in line to start against Buffalo, and quite possibly beyond. pic.twitter.com/hHFmT7MWfP
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 20, 2025
Waiver Wire Replacements to Target: Quarterbacks
Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson
Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG): 41% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @PHI, SF, @CHI
- True Value: $12
- Desperate Need: $21
- Budget-Minded: $7
Analysis: Here we thought Tommy DeVito was the only Giants quarterback to serve up saucy starts. It turns out Jaxson Dart has stolen the recipe and opened a chain of great performances. The Giants have something special going on. Despite not being able to hang onto the 19-0 lead they took into the fourth quarter, the Giants played valiantly Sunday in Denver, and Dart gave it his all. It’s hard to blame the quarterback when your defense allows 33 points in the fourth quarter. Dart has now proven he is matchup-proof. He had a season-low 11 rushing yards against the Broncos (with one touchdown run), but passed for 283 yards and three scores on the way to a top-five fantasy finish. It’s daunting to see the Eagles and 49ers coming up on the Giants’ schedule, but stay in the flames with the hottest young quarterback in the league.
Sam Darnold (QB – SEA): 47% Rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, @WAS, ARI
- True Value: $5
- Desperate Need: $8
- Budget-Minded: $3
Analysis: Forget everything you think you know about Sam Darnold, and start believing that he is playing at an elite level. The Seattle offense has been clicking all season, and Darnold seems to get more comfortable each week. From Week 3 to Week 6, Darnold was a top-10 fantasy quarterback three times. To have that kind of production widely available on waiver wires is wild. After a Week 8 bye, Darnold will get a Week 9 matchup against a Washington defense that just gave up 264 passing yards and three touchdown passes to Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. Keep an eye on the waiver wire for someone who could be your starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
Joe Flacco (QB – CIN): 11% Rostered
- Next Opponents: NYJ, CHI, BYE
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Joe Flacco has done it again. For a third consecutive year, Flacco has stepped onto a new team and breathed life into a fantasy offense. We could discuss the Steelers’ defense looking atrocious last Thursday, but let’s focus on how Flacco distributed the ball. Peppering Ja’Marr Chase with 23 targets is a recipe for success. Being able to throw 33 passes toward Chase and Tee Higgins (for 257 yards) is a quarterback’s dream. That’s the sort of situation Flacco is in, which makes him a viable fantasy option most weeks. The Jets and the Bears are on deck, and neither team should scare fantasy managers. With the Bengals’ defense allowing nearly 400 offensive yards per game, Flacco will be forced into passing game scripts regardless of opponent.
Aaron Rodgers (QB – PIT): 27% Rostered
- Next Opponents: GB, IND, @LAC
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Maybe Tom Brady actually did discover the Fountain of Youth. If so, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco have clearly followed Brady’s tracks. Rodgers is dealing for a well-structured Steelers’ offense and has led the team to a 4-2 record. On the other side of the ball, despite having superstar names such as T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey and Cameron Heyward on defense, this is the worst Steelers defense in years. People are calling it the “Shower Curtain.” The Pittsburgh defense is allowing the fourth-most yards per game to opponents. As a result, the Steelers will be forced to pass more than they would like. Don’t be afraid that DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren are the only notable receiving weapons on the team. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has an affinity for the tight end position and will always find a way to get multiple tight ends open. With three of the league’s top offenses coming up on the schedule, Rodgers will need to turn back the clock and air it out to keep the Steelers in games.
Michael Penix Jr. (QB – ATL): 23% Rostered
- Next Opponents: MIA, @NE, @IND
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $3
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: If the last two Falcons’ primetime games have taught us anything, it’s that this team is legit. The Falcons’ defense has been playing at an elite level, allowing a league-low 155.3 passing yards per game. On the other side of the ball, we have one of the league’s best receivers and running backs, plus a strong offensive line. Considering that Michael Penix Jr. has only started nine NFL games, his poise in big moments has been impressive. Last week, we saw that he isn’t afraid to use his legs in the right moments, and he can stabilize the team’s run-first approach. Penix does not possess a high ceiling for fantasy, but his floor is sturdy in large part because of the weapons around him.
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