The Coronavirus has forced sports to adopt unique measures to produce a playing season. Because a positive test could sideline a player for at least three weeks and there’s no way of projecting how many positive cases there will be during the NFL season, Footballguys wants to give you resources that will help you weather the potential loss of players.
As the author of the most comprehensive scouting analysis of skill players since 2006, I’m one of those resources—especially for players at the bottom of depth charts, signed to practice squads and training at home with dreams of that phone call from an NFL team.
Each week, I’ll walk you through the shortlist of players who will get their shot to contribute as replacements to starters who tested positive for the Coronavirus. We’ll examine three types of replacements:
- Players who get immediate playing time.
- Preemptive additions from your league’s waiver wire.
- Options worth monitoring in case the established backup eventually misses time.
If you don’t think street free agents won’t factor, Raheem Mostert is on line one waiting for you to pick up, and he has a long list of players before him who would like to make an appointment to set you straight.
Week 1-3 Review and Changes
Here my brief thoughts and recommendations for previous players as we move forward. These are not in order of preference. If there's an asterisk (*), they've moved down a tier. If they have a number symbol (#) they have moved up:
Add Now
- Robert Tonyan Jr: If Tonyan is somehow still available after last week's hat trick, get this Allen Lazard substitute as a high-end, short-term value.
- Brett Rypien: The Broncos' third-stringer had an up-and-down box score output but showed enough to consider him a potential emergency value.
- Tim Patrick: Patrick will play the Courtland Sutton role in this offense, which means a steady diet of vertical sideline shots 20-30 yards downfield that complement his talents.
- #Olamide Zaccheaus: With Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones still limited, Zaccheaus will continue to see significant playing time, and he's the most versatile option of the remaining healthy receivers on the Falcons' depth chart.
- Devonta Freeman: Despite limited touches, Freeman showed more juice that I think people realize. He's desperation add who will split touches but still has a shot to earn a lead role.
- James Robinson: Now an established starter in 2020, Robinson shouldn't be a free agent in any format.
- Jordan Wilkins: Still, the No.2 "two-down runner" in this rotation behind Jonathan Taylor, he's worth paring with Taylor if you have the luxury.
- Hakeem Butler: There's media speculation that he could earn playing time this week. If so, he'll be harder to obtain if he has a promising weekend.
- #Gabriel Davis: Davis is a productive player when considering his role in the Bills' offense and will do a lot more if John Brown or Stefon Diggs get hurt.
Monitor
- *Darwin Thompson: The Chiefs' reserve lost a fumble on Monday night and Darrel Williams was healthy enough to play. Thompson still has potential value but not an option you need to add.
- JaMycal Hasty: With Jerick McKinnon playing well and Jeff Wilson healthy, Hasty will need an injury to earn a preemptive selection.
- Reggie Bonnafon: Mike Davis performed to expectation and the Panthers added Trent Cannon to the active roster, a speedster who could eventually challenge Bonnafon.
- *Quintez Cephus: With Kenny Golladay back, Cephus is a contributor with potential for greater value if injuries strike again.
- *Mike Thomas: Auden Tate's squeaky wheel got not grease and John Ross has been a healthy scratch. This is important for Thomas because the Bengals rolled with draft capital and gave Tee Higgins a heavier dose of playing time. However, Thomas is still earning reps and if A.J. Green or Tyler Boyd gets hurt, he could get thrust into a starting role.
- Lamical Perine: He's still a limited participant in practices and splitting reserve reps with Kalen Ballage.
- Jake Kumerow: Still learning the Bills offense after the Packers cut him, he'll remain on the practice squad. Continue monitoring Kumerow and expect him to be elevated to the active roster within the next 3-5 weeks.
- *WR Justin Watson: Despite the widespread ailments to the receiving corps, Watson has been a non-factor.
- *Jordan Reed: Two touchdowns and a primary role in the passing game got him the quick add but an MCL injury and IR earns him the quicker hook.
- *Josh Adams: Adams is no longer a part of New York's rotation.
- *K.J. Hill: Jalen Guyton started in three-receiver sets and earned 1 target in 47 snaps for a 16-yard catch in Week 1 and caught a touchdown in Week 2. Hill has seen the field in Week 3 but dropped a pair of passes.
- *J.J. Taylor: Damien Harris' 100-yard effort, Rex Burkhead's hat-trick the week prior, and Jame White's imminent return make it obvious that Tylro is not worth considering at this time.
Let's look at this week's recommendations.
Add Now: Travis Fulgham and D'Ernest Johnson
The Skinny on Fulgham: A former starter at Old Dominion, the Lions drafted Fulgham in the sixth round. I gave him a Rotational Starter grade in the RSP as my No.18 receiver in the 2019 publication. He's a physical player with sticky hands with a style similar to Michael Crabtree but with the overall talent of a career backup. He can earn separation early because of his strength and acceleration, which helps him earn an enviable position on deep routes despite lacking a top gear. It also helps him with underneath routes.
Recommendation: Fulgham ran by a 49ers defender in off-man coverage on Sunday for a 42-yard touchdown catch. He also earned a 15-yard reception on a sideline hook route. Neither were notable efforts on Fulgham's part but it was notable that the Eagles used him as the receiver to single-up to one side of the field with the aim of drawing man-to-man coverage. That's enough to give him potential value if desperate enough for a speculative play due to any late-week setbacks to another player's health.
The Skinny on Johnson: A downhill runner with high knees and low pads with north-south skills, Johnson often splits defenders and maximizes gains with his aggressive finishes. He's a decisive gap runner who can bounce of glancing shots from weakside linebackers and safeties when he has the momentum. He has enough agility to work to the next gap over when he presses the line of scrimmage on zone runs. He lacks great perimeter speed, which means if he earns more than 20-25 yards on a run, he's getting a lot of help from his wide receivers. At the University of South Florida, Johnson used to lose his balance due to unrefined footwork that would get tangled as he tried to move laterally. He's a physical blocker who also sets good angles in pass protection.
Recommendation: Johnson will benefit from an excellent Cleveland Browns run unit that will help a competent NFL talent earn fantasy production. Johnson has shown signs of being a competent NFL talent, even if he's not a starter talent or even a first-tier reserve talent. He's worth adding now because with Nick Chubb out at least six weeks and Kareem Hunt playing through a groin injury, Johnson will earn playing time and get called into significant action of Hunt has a setback.
Preemptive: Albert Okwuegbunam and Tyler Johnson
The Skinny on Okwuegbunam: Drew Lock's go-to red-zone option a Missouri earned Denver's selection in the 2020 NFL Draft at Lock's behest, despite the Broncos taking Noah Fant in the first round. A lot of draft analysts lost enthusiasm for Okwuegbunam during the 2019 season after they considered him one of the top tight end prospects entering the year. A big, top-heavy athlete, Okwuegbunam has sub-4.5-second, speed, and excellent skills as a rebounder.
However, draftniks didn't like his awkward-looking movement as a route runner and feared that he might struggle to run a full and productive route tree. Personally, I thought despite his awkward-looking movement at times, he was a savvy route runner and pass catcher, especially in contested situations. In contrast, Fant is a physical specimen who is an awkward route runner and pass catcher in contested situations.
Recommendation: Okwuegbunam had a promising camp before an injury set him back. With Fant suffering an ankle injury that could keep him out for multiple weeks, Okwuegbunam could get elevated from the practice squad and see playing time as Nick Vannett's reserve. Vannett is a good blocker and competent zone receiver but not worth adding to a roster. Okwuegbunam has the physicality and speed to deliver far more upside if he acclimates fast, which is why it's not a bad idea to monitor his status this weekend. If activated, you could benefit to add him before Sunday kickoff as a luxury pick, watch the game, and see if he's worth keeping into the following week.
The Skinny on Johnson: A tall, physical, and slow receiver from Minnesota, Johnson struggled in training camp because according to Bruce Arians, he had to get into NFL shape and every day during the first two weeks of camp was a series of 'wow' moments for Johnson, who was discovering the vast uptick between Big Ten and NFL football. Johnson didn't stand out in camp but the Buccaneers appreciated his work ethic and liked the promise of his tape enough to keep him on the active roster. Johnson has good release skills and excellent ability in contested situations. On Thursday night, he led Buccaneers receivers in receiving yards, looking comfortable in a limited role as a middle of the field receiver targeted in the short and intermediate ranges.
Recommendation: Johnson is nothing more than a short-term option. I hesitated to place him on the list but when a player proves the game isn't too big for him when producing during his debut and his quarterback is Tom Brady, it's worth giving him an add if you're desperate for a player who might give you 1-2 weeks of value.
Monitor: Isaiah Wright
The Skinny on Wright: A UDFA from Temple, Wright has earned playing time due to a Steven Sims Jr injury. He was an All-American return specialist in addition to starring as a receiver. I didn't study Wright before the draft, but after watching the All-22 of his performances for Washington this year, he's earning 4-6 targets per game as a check-down receiver in the open flats or crossing routes over the middle. Washington wants to capitalize on his open-field skills in space.
Recommendation: Wright has the look of a high-floor, low-ceiling option relative to these desperation plays I'm recommending. However, if you're in a PPR league and you'd be happy with 7-10 points from your third or fourth wide receiver, he could be an easy addition who shores up a hole for you late in the weekend.