CeeDee Lamb Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Replacements

With the injury to CeeDee Lamb, 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 fantasy football waiver wire this week. And here is all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 6.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Injury Outlook

CeeDee Lamb (ankle) ruled out for Sunday
CeeDee Lamb (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Fantasy Impact

Lamb has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. This wasn’t unexpected, as he is still recovering from a high-ankle sprain and could be out for another game beyond this one because of it. Look for George Pickens and Jake Ferguson to continue to benefit from his absence until he’s back in the lineup for Dallas.

Leo Sells

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Troy Franklin (WR – DEN)

Troy Franklin has two top-36 wide receiver finishes this season (WR7, WR36). He entered Week 5 with a 72.8% route share, a 19.7% target share, a 30.6% air-yard share, 1.78 yards per route run (49 receiving yards per game) and a 21.3% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Franklin walked away from Week 5 with a strong 79% route share, but he only had a 12.8% target share and 35 receiving yards, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Franklin should provide solid Flex value this week against a Jets secondary that, aside from cornerback Sauce Gardner, scares no one. Franklin follows that up with plus matchups against the Giants and Cowboys, who entered Week 5 having given up the most and fifth-most fantasy points per game to perimeter wide receivers, respectively.

Kendrick Bourne (WR – SF)

The 49ers have been obliterated by injuries this season. They won’t have George Kittle for the fifth consecutive game on Sunday. Furthermore, Ricky Pearsall likely won’t play after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday. While Jauan Jennings is trending towards playing after being a limited participant in Thursday’s practice, Bourne is an appealing flex option in Week 6. Last week, the veteran was the star of San Francisco’s offense, totaling 10 receptions on 11 targets for 142 receiving yards and 24.2 PPR fantasy points, leading the team in every category.

Fantasy players shouldn’t expect another 20-point performance from Bourne this week, especially if Jennings plays. However, the veteran has a fantasy-friendly matchup against the Buccaneers. Tampa has surrendered 31.2 fantasy points per game to two wide receivers this year, slightly above the league average. Yet, they have allowed at least two receiving touchdowns and 41.1 fantasy points to wide receivers in two of their past three games. Last week, the Buccaneers gave up 18 receptions for 266 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 56.6 fantasy points to the Seattle Seahawks’ wide receiver corps.

Tyquan Thornton (WR – KC)

Thornton has quietly been the best pass catcher on the Chiefs this season. He is the team’s highest-scoring fantasy wide receiver, ranking as the WR26 for the year, averaging 11.6 PPR fantasy points per game. While the former Baylor star has had five or fewer targets in all but one game, Thornton doesn’t need significant touches to make an impact because of his big-play abilities. He has scored 12 or more fantasy points in three of the past four weeks, including in Week 5, thanks to a 34-yard reception.

While the veteran’s fantasy value will take a hit when Rashee Rice returns from his suspension next week, Thornton is a solid upside flex option against the Lions. Detroit has surrendered 35.6 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the seventh-most in the NFL. Last week, they gave up 14 receptions for 214 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 53.4 fantasy points to the Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver corps, all season-highs. Furthermore, Lions will likely be without multiple starters in the secondary because of injury, including their top two cornerbacks.