Daniel Jones Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

With the injury to Daniel Jones, 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 are all of our fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 15.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Injury Outlook

Daniel Jones (QB – IND)

Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles injury in the Colts’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to head coach Shane Steichen, it’s “not looking good” and “could be season-ending.” This is an absolute gut punch for the Colts, who started their season 7-1. While they’ve now lost four of their last five, they had Jones under center despite a fracture in his left fibula.

Heading into Week 13, Jones was the QB7 in fantasy football with 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes, seven interceptions and five rushing touchdowns. His previous career highs were 3,205 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes, and he still had four games in addition to Week 14 to add to his resume.

If Anthony Richardson is unable to return from injured reserve (IR), it’ll likely be rookie signal-caller Riley Leonard the rest of the way.

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Quarterbacks

Written by Ellis Bryn Johnson

Justin Fields (QB – NYJ): 28% Rostered

Next Opponents: @JAX, @NO, NE
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $8
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Just when it seemed as if the Jets had something going with quarterback Tyrod Taylor, a groin injury forced him from Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. Taylor gave life to the Jets’ offense, giving young wideouts John Metchie and Adonai Mitchell a chance to make plays. If Taylor isn’t able to play in Week 15, Justin Fields would most likely start for the Jets, even though it was Brady Cook who relieved Taylor on Sunday. Fields was a Week 14 scratch due to knee soreness, so you’ll have to monitor his status this week if you’re interested in streaming him. The last time we saw Fields, he finished as the QB5 in Week 11. The equation is simple: In positive matchups, Fields has the athletic ability to come through for fantasy. Thankfully, this week delivers a great matchup against the Jaguars, who have a pass-funnel defense. While the Jags are stingy to opposing running backs, they have been tormented through the air. Although he has struggled as a passer this season, even Fields might be able to give Mitchell and Metchie some opportunities. Fields has QB1 upside for Week 15.

Marcus Mariota (QB – WSH): 8% Rostered

Next Opponents: @NYG, PHI, DAL
True Value: $5
Desperate Need: $8
Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: The Commanders welcomed back their star sophomore signal-caller from an elbow injury in Week 14, but Jayden Daniels didn’t make it through the game. After throwing an interception in the third quarter of the Commanders’ 31-0 loss to the Vikings, Daniels injured his left elbow while trying to make a tackle. Backup Marcus Mariota stepped in with the game already out of hand and finished with two completions for 30 yards and an interception. But in each of Mariota’s three previous starts, he finished as a top-13 fantasy quarterback. If Daniels misses Week 15 — and it seems reasonable to think the Commanders will be more conservative with his return this time around — Mariota will be a very solid streaming option against the Giants. The Giants are allowing the second-most fantasy points and the most rushing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks.

J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN): 30% Rostered

Next Opponents: @DAL, @NYG, DET
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: Sometimes it’s obvious when the real NFL doesn’t align with fantasy. A great example of that is when J.J. McCarthy and Justin Fields are decent waiver wire pickups. In a dominant 31-0 win against the Commanders in Week 14, McCarthy came through with three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. After the disastrous Max Brosmer experiment in Week 13 while McCarthy recovered from a concussion, it was surprisingly refreshing to see McCarthy back under center for the Vikings. In Week 15, he has another plus-matchup against an exploitable Dallas defense. The Cowboys also have a high-flying offense, so McCarthy will need to try to keep up, which is great for fantasy (but also a little terrifying). It’s hard to trust McCarthy, but his six rush attempts in Week 14 and the projected shootout game script should make him a decent streaming option in Week 15.

C.J. Stroud (QB – HOU): 42% Rostered

Next Opponents: ARI, LV, @LAC
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: After lighting the league on fire as a rookie, C.J. Stroud has taken a step back, at least for fantasy purposes. Still, he remains a competent game manager for a defensive juggernaut of a team, providing a decent fantasy floor despite a limited ceiling. In Week 15, Stroud takes on the Cardinals, who have played better defense than most people expected for much of the season. The Cardinals entered Week 14 having allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to the quarterback position, but Matthew Stafford shredded them for 281 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. With a dominant receiver in Nico Collins, Stroud may be able to come through for fantasy. On the other hand, the Texans’ defense will be a tall order for Jacoby Brissett, so the Texans may be able to lean on their defense and running game, limiting Stroud’s ceiling.