Davante Adams Injury: Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups

With the injury to Davante Adams, 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.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Injury Replacements

Injury Outlook

Davante Adams (hamstring) status for Thursday in doubt
Davante Adams (hamstring) is in doubt for Thursday’s game against the Seahawks. HC Sean McVay noted that his hamstring injury “didn’t look good”. He caught four of nine targets for 71 yards before exiting the Rams’ 41-34 win over the Lions.

Fantasy Impact

Adams’ injury certainly puts a dampener on the Rams’ explosive offense, but they still have a lot of talent available. If Adams misses time, which seems likely at this point, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell will likely take on some extra work.

Garrett Ball

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

Wide Receivers

Written by Derek Brown

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG): 41% Rostered

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

Analysis: In Weeks 5-14, Darius Slayton had a 13.9% target share with 45.3 receiving yards per game, 1.80 yards per route run, a 14.5-yard average depth of target (aDOT) and a 17.5% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those six games, he had one red-zone target, eight deep targets and three top-36 finishes in weekly scoring (WR34, WR27, WR19). On Sunday against the Commanders, Slayton had a 27.7% target share that he turned into only 53 receiving yards, but if he didn’t have stone hands, it would have been a better day. Slayton dropped one touchdown and another potential big gain. Slayton doesn’t have a fearsome secondary left on his schedule for the rest of the season. He should continue to provide WR3 production with WR2 upside when he and Jaxson Dart connect on big plays.

Jayden Reed (WR – GB): 41% Rostered

Next Opponents: @CHI, BAL, @MIN
True Value: $2
Desperate Need: $4
Budget-Minded: $1

Analysis: In Week 14, Jayden Reed returned from a broken collarbone and had a 65.4% route share, a 16% target share, 31 receiving yards, 1.82 yards per route run and a 25% first-read share (tied for the team lead), per Fantasy Points Data. Reed didn’t have a red-zone target or a deep target. In Week 15, Reed had a 71.6% snap share, a 67.3% route share, a 15% target share and he tied for the team lead in receiving yards with 55. The Packers could lean on him more for the rest of the season if Christian Watson‘s chest injury forces him to miss a few games. Reed is a decent PPR Flex option who could easily flirt with WR2/WR3 production for the rest of the season.

Luther Burden III (WR – CHI): 17% Rostered

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

Analysis: In Weeks 12-14, Luther Burden III had a 54.7% route share with a 16% target share, 48.7 receiving yards per game, 2.28 yards per route run and a 23.6% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those three games, Burden had weekly scoring finishes of WR36, WR44 and WR25. With Rome Odunze a last-minute inactive, Burden led the Bears with a 25% target share, six receptions and 84 receiving yards. Burden did this while only playing 39% of the snaps with a 50% route share, per PFF. Burden seems locked into a part-time role for the rest of the season with how much 12 and 21 personnel the Bears want to utilize. It won’t matter, though, if Burden continues to see volume like this. Burden is a solid Flex play for the rest of the season.

Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU): 43% Rostered

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

Analysis: In Weeks 10-14, Jayden Higgins was the WR27 in fantasy points per game with an 18.1% target share, 46.8 receiving yards per game, 2.11 yards per route run and a 21.6% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those five games, Higgins had four red-zone targets and six deep targets. In Week 15, he had a quiet game with only one target, one reception and four scoreless receiving yards against the Cardinals. That’s not what you wanted to see if you flexed him last week, but it happens. Higgins should bounce back this week against a Raiders secondary that has allowed the ninth-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers since Week 10.

Devaughn Vele (WR – NO): 14% Rostered

Next Opponents: NYJ, @TEN, @ATL
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: In Weeks 10-14, Devaughn Vele had a 17.6% target share with 46.3 receiving yards per game, 1.35 yards per route run and a 17.9% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In those four games, Vele had two red-zone targets and five deep targets. During that span, Vele had one WR1 weekly finish (WR7) but has been outside of the top 45 in weekly receiver scoring in the other three games. On Sunday versus the Panthers, Vele had an 18.7% target share with a solid Flex stat line of five receptions and 69 scoreless receiving yards. In PPR leagues, you’ll take that stat line from Vele. He should continue to be a solid Flex play for the rest of the season with plus-matchups each week. Since Week 10, the Jets have ranked 16th in PPR points per target allowed to perimeter wide receivers, while the Titans and Falcons, respectively, have allowed the third-most and second-most PPR points per target to that position.

Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE): 29% Rostered

Next Opponents: @BAL, @NYJ, MIA
True Value: $1
Desperate Need: $2
Budget-Minded: $0

Analysis: Kayshon Boutte has been a risky Flex option with a high ceiling, with five top-24 weekly finishes this season. That has been because of his downfield role and touchdown-scoring prowess. Boutte entered Week 15 with 10 deep targets and six touchdowns despite seeing only two red-zone targets this season. That upside didn’t hit in Week 15, as Boutte had only one target that he secured for 30 yards, but it could land in Week 16. Baltimore has allowed the 10th-highest deep ball completion rate and the seventh-most deep passing yards per game, per Fantasy Points Data.