With the injury to Garrett Wilson, 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
Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)
Garrett Wilson had missed some time with a knee injury, not playing since October 12th. He suited up in Week 10, but reinjured his knee in an upset win over the Buffalo Bills.
Wilson didn’t catch a pass in the Jets’ win over the Cleveland Browns before exiting. Quarterback Justin Fields only threw for 54 yards on six completions anyway.
Waiver Wire Replacements to Target: Wide Receivers
Written by Derek Brown
Alec Pierce (WR – IND): 42% Rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, @KC, HOU
- True Value: $12
- Desperate Need: $16
- Budget-Minded: $8
Analysis: Well, Alec Pierce did it again. Pierce’s exploits against single-high coverage have been well covered in this article in previous weeks. Last week, Pierce faced a Falcons secondary that utilizes single-high coverage at the highest rate in the NFL, and Pierce soaked up a 26.9% target share and churned out 84 receiving yards and a score. He entered Week 10 with a 27.6% target share, 3.69 yards per route run and a 32.5% first-read share against single-high coverage, per Fantasy Points Data. Pierce should continue to eat in the weeks to come. Looking at the Colts’ remaining schedule, the only defense that doesn’t deploy single-high on 50% of their snaps (or more) is Seattle. Pierce will have plenty of spike weeks to conclude the season that can help tilt fantasy matchups in your favor.
Tez Johnson (WR – TB): 32% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @BUF, @LAR, ARI
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $2
Analysis: In Weeks 6-9, Tez Johnson had an 81.1% route share, a 16.5% target share, 48.7 receiving yards per game, 1.70 yards per route run and a 17.7% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those three games, he had one red-zone target and three deep targets. Against New England in Week 10, Johnson had only an 11.6% target share, but he made his receptions count, with half of them resulting in touchdowns. Johnson finished with four receptions, 42 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Johnson should continue to produce solid weekly Flex value with Chris Godwin still not practicing.
Christian Watson: 32% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYG, MIN, @DET
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: In Weeks 8 and 9, Christian Watson had a 64% route share, a 10.8% target share, a 35.5% air-yard share (23.0-yard average depth of target), 71.5 receiving yards per game, 2.98 yards per route run and a 15.2% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Three of his eight targets in those two games were downfield. He has operated as Green Bay’s field stretcher. This role should be extremely fruitful for fantasy managers over the next seven weeks. Watson gets matchups against the Giants, Vikings, Ravens and the Bears twice. Since Week 5, all of those teams sit inside the top 12 for deep ball completion rate allowed. Watson will have some spike weeks that could win you the week.
Parker Washington (WR – JAX): 41% Rostered
- Next Opponents: LAC, @ARI, @TEN
- True Value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: In Weeks 7 and 9, Parker Washington had a 23.2% target share, a 34.6% air-yard share, 71 receiving yards per game, 1.89 yards per route run and a 25.9% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those contests, Washington had two red-zone targets and five deep targets. Washington followed those games up with a 30.4% target share, three receptions, 33 receiving yards and a score against the Texans. Washington should continue to be a volume-based Flex play moving forward until Brian Thomas Jr. or Travis Hunter is back in action. Jakobi Meyers will impact Washington’s target share moving forward once he is fully integrated into the offense. If all three of those receivers fill out the Jaguars’ starting lineup soon, Washington could find himself on the outside looking in for playing time.
Tyler Lockett (WR – LV): 1% Rostered
- Next Opponents: DAL, CLE, @LAC
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Last week was a nice ramp-up game for Tyler Lockett with his new team. In Week 10, he had a 65.7% route share with a 22.2% target share, 44 receiving yards, 1.91 yards per route run and a 21.1% first-read share. Those are all solid per-route metrics. He immediately hopped Tre Tucker in the Raiders’ target pecking order. He’s a strong out-of-left-field Flex option this week against a Dallas secondary that, since Week 5, has allowed the second-most PPR points per target to slot receivers.
Calvin Austin III (WR – PIT): 12% Rostered
- Next Opponents: CIN, @CHI, BUF
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Calvin Austin hasn’t been a strong fantasy producer all season, but he does have three top-36 finishes in weekly scoring this season among wide receivers (WR16, WR31, WR35). Entering Week 10, he had a 15.5% target share with 37.2 receiving yards per game, 1.53 yards per route run and a 20.5% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Austin should have a strong week against the Bengals if Cincy attacks the Steelers’ passing attack like they did last time these teams met. Austin missed that game with a shoulder injury. DJ Turner followed DK Metcalf on 78.1% of his routes and held him to only two receptions and 45 receiving yards in his coverage. I expect Turner to follow Metcalf again this week. That will leave Austin feasting on Cam Taylor-Britt (66.7% catch rate and 133.9 passer rating allowed) and Dax Hill (77.8% catch rate and 113.3 passer rating allowed) all day.
Malik Washington (WR – MIA): 17% Rostered
- Next Opponents: WSH, BYE, NO
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Since becoming Jaylen Waddle‘s running mate in the Dolphins’ passing attack in Week 5, Malik Washington had a 62.3% route share, a 15% target share, 27.2 receiving yards per game, 1.19 yards per route run and a 16.1% first-read share through Week 9. During that span, he had six red-zone targets and one deep target. On Sunday against Buffalo, Washington had only three targets and nine receiving yards. I know that’s not an inspiring stat line, but this week’s matchup puts Washington back on the Flex radar. Since Week 5, the Commanders have allowed the fourth-most PPR points per target to slot receivers.
Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU): 14% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @TEN, BUF, @IND
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Jayden Higgins is a player I could have easily dropped to stash status, but I want fantasy managers ahead of the curve if Houston stops fooling around with this wide-receiver-by-committee approach. In Week 10, Higgins played 57.3% of the snaps with a 53% route share. He had a 15.9% target share, which he turned into five grabs, 42 receiving yards and a touchdown. Houston keeps playing silly games with its wide receiver usage. Until the Texans stop limiting their players in a rotation, Higgins will remain a volatile and capped fantasy option. He has solid Flex value this week, though. Since Week 5, Tennessee has allowed the second-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.
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