The Replacements: Week 6

Photo: USA Today Sports

The Coronavirus recently forced sports to adopt unique measures to produce a playing season. While there's still potential for a positive test to sideline a player for at least three weeks, and there’s no way of projecting how many positive cases occur during the NFL season, there are also compelling factors beyond illness that create a demand for this feature: Late-week injuries, suspensions, and coaching decisions with personnel.

We developed this feature 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 for players falling victim to unexpected late-week events. This feature is also a great list for preemptive selections, a method of free agent shopping that's successful for a lot of fantasy GMs who reserve their funds for one costly addition and to stream defenses and kickers.

I won't be updating this piece over the weekend, but you'll get the goods on players worth consideration, and based on the past last two years, this column offered a lot of quality short-term and long-term options — many of them as preemptive picks:

• Khalil Herbert
• Craig Reynolds
• Boston Scott
• Josh Reynolds
• James Robinson
• Robert Tonyan Jr
• Travis Fulgham
• Tim Patrick
• Russell Gage
• Braxton Berrios
• Duke Johnson Jr
• Rashaad Penny
• Davis Mills
• A.J. Dillon
• Tyler Conklin

This is a partial list, but you get the point.

We’ll examine three types of replacements:

1. Players who get immediate playing time.
2. Pre-emptive additions from your league’s waiver wire.
3. Options worth monitoring in case the established backup eventually misses time.

Many of these players are late-round picks and street-free agents. I'm not giving you obvious waiver candidates that will command a large percentage of your FAAB dollars. These are options you'll often find in your First-Come, First-Serve section during the latter part of the week prior to kickoff.

If you think street-free agents won’t be factors TySon Williams from Week 1 last year is on Line 1 waiting for you to pick up. Craig Reynolds is on Line 2. Boston Scott is waiting patiently on Line 3. They each have a long list of players before them who would like to make an appointment to set you straight. James Robinson would like to tell you about his 2020 campaign. And Raheem Mostert has time on his hands if you need a deeper consultation.

WEEK 5 REVIEW

Add Now:

• Geno Smith: He's probably not on most waiver wires by now. Safe to say he's playing well enough and in a good position to be considered for-real as a starter.
• Eno Benjamin: His the safest choice as the lead back this weekend with James Conner out and rookie Keaontay Ingram (see below) replacement Darrel Williams. Ingram could earn more playing time with a good first impression, but Benjamin is the known quantity in this passing offense. Expect numbers on par with low-end RB2 production that could be higher with a receiving score from the red zone. When Conner returns, Benjamin could still retain low-end flex value while Wiliams is out and if Ingram doesn't acclimate fast enough.
• Khalil Shakir: Fantasy analysts will tell you that Shakir is a short-term fix who had one good game, and you should sell due to his fifth-round draft capital. Bills fans will tell you that Shakir clearly has more talent as a future fixture than Isaiah McKenzie. While I agree, don't expect McKenzie to lose his job due to injury. Shakir is a good short-term addition who might expand his role, but think of his ceiling as a bye-week player this year.
• Nico Collins: He led the Texans receivers with 6 targets, 4 catches, and 65 yards. He's a worthwhile reserve with bye-week value for all but the smaller roster formats.
• Gus Edwards: Now practicing, Edwards is worth adding, even if he's a week or two away from meaningful value.
• Richie James: James still looks like one of the most reliable receivers in the Giants' lineup, and Kadarius Toney still isn't practicing.
• Tyler Conklin: An RSP favorite, Conklin earned raves this summer from a former Jets scout who labeled Conklin a steal in free agency. Conklin isn't stretching the field, but he has been a reliable safety blanket for Joe Flacco. Considering the rave reviews that occurred during practices with Zach Wilson, there's still a chance Conklin remains a viable fantasy target when Flacco exits the lineup.
• Devin Duvernay: He has clearly been the third option in this passing attack with red-zone and vertical targets.
• Teddy Bridgewater: While there's a chance Skylar Thompson can play well enough to leapfrog Bridgewater if Tua Tagovailoa remains out long-term, don't bet on it.
• Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Davis Mills: I presumed most of your league doesn't have them as free agents, but I'm listing them here if that's not the case. I'd roll with them in this order of preference, but Garoppolo and Mills are close enough that I wouldn't fault anyone for opting for Mills.
• Odell Beckham: He may be a month away from making an impact, but I can't think of many scenarios where it doesn't make complete sense to add him now.

Preemptive Pick:

• Keaontay Ingram: Eno Benjamin will likely start with James Conner (ribs) unlikely to go this week and Darrel Williams out with a knee sprain. Ingram is a longshot for a big game but could make an impression over the next two weeks to potentially leapfrog Williams with a strong performance. As we've seen with Khalil Herbert, coaches will ride the hot hand at running back and let them work their way into a bigger role during the season.
• Skylar Thompson: He's been a long-term monitor for the legitimate possibility of Miami leapfrogging him over Teddy Bridgewater on the depth chart if Tuga Tagovailoa falters and the Dolphins fall out of contention and want to see if his preseason promise is worth building around. With Tagovailoa suffering a head and neck injury after an already questionable diagnosis the week prior, Thompson's debut wasn't fantasy-worthy, but his play was decent when considering the circumstances of entering a game on the second play after Teddy Bridgewater earned all of the starter reps. Thompson should be at least a little better with a full week of practice with the starters. He might be worth keeping on large rosters if injuries put you in a desperate spot.
• Isiah Pacheco: Likely on another roster at this point, but there are still leagues where he's available. Pacheco is earning opportunities beyond clean-up duty. It may not amount to anything, but the door is still open and worth considering Pacheco as a luxury hold for the end-of-rosters.
• Josh Reynolds: A viable flex or bye-week option in most leagues, Reynolds is often the second or third option in Jared Goff's progressions and occasionally the first read. He won't beat top man-to-man coverage with timing routes, but he's reliable in the middle of the field and at the boundary against off-coverage.
• Latavius Murray: It was too soon for Murray to earn playing time, and while I've preferred Mike Boone, if you're in a deep league and need to place a small bet on a potential value, Murray is a viable play who may see time with both Melvin Gordon and Boone limited in practice this week.
• Caleb Huntley: He was more efficient than Tyler Allgier but earned 8 carries to Allgier's 13. Neither was a factor in the passing game last week. Huntley is worth having until Cordarrelle Patterson returns in case Allgeier gets hurt or loses touches.
• Dontrell Hilliard: He sees more playing time in a Titans offense that won't dominate game scripts. He's a good receiver and earning red-zone duty in this capacity. The biggest concern is if the Titans switch to Malik Willis and Willis opts to run more than check the ball, a legitimate possibility based on his playing habits at Liberty and last week.
• Marcus Mariota: The veteran journeyman had an unimpressive follow-up against the Rams, but he remains a threat to supplement his below-average fantasy value as a passer with what he can do as a runner.
• Cooper Rush: Prescott is close to a return, but Rush has at least a week left as the starter.

• Greg Dortch: He didn't earn any targets in Week 5, and with DeAndre Hopkins returning soon, Dortch is only an injury substitute.
• Jerick McKinnon: He's an injury away from being the lead back in the Chiefs offense -- or he'll at least earn the first shot to compete for it when Kansas City brings Ronald Jones II into the three-way mix with Isiah Pacheco if Clyde Edwards-Helaire gets hurt.
• Isaiah Likely: He didn't surprise me in Week 1, and while he was more active in Week 2 when Devin Duvernay suffered a concussion, Duvernay is the more compelling third option in this passing game. It leaves Likely in the role of a low-end desperation addition unless you have the luxury to add a player with athletic promise who has a tangible possibility of growing with the offense if he proves his reliability.
• Mack Hollins: When the Raiders face a team with a poor pass rush, Hollins has value because he's targeted on longer-developing routes.
• DeAndre Carter: The window is nearly closed on Carter.
• Nelson Agholor: He's not pretty, but he's likely to continue being more reliable than DeVante Parker if his hamstring isn't a major issue. Even so, that's not saying much. Worth considering with greater weight when Mac Jones returns.
• Noah Brown: His window may be closing as a flex-play with Michael Gallup's return in Week 5.
• Foster Moreau: He's on the verge of forgetting about if not for the fact that he'll be a good replacement for Darren Waller if injury strikes.
• Joshua Kelley: The Chargers' backup performs well when on the field. He's holding his own with Sony Michel around but is better to monitor than add at this time.
• Denzel Mims: He has yet to earn a snap, but his talent is good enough to keep tabs on.
• Trey Sermon: He earned his first playing time in Week 4, carrying the ball twice for 19 yards against Jacksonville, including a solid 14-yard gain on a cutback.
• Malik Willis: Most likely to become a preemptive pick if the Titans fall to 0-6 or 1-5. He already earned clean-up duty in a blowout against the Bills in Week 2.
• Calvin Austin: He's returning to practice, but he's likely a small-volume gadget option for the Steelers' offense until there's another injury to a teammate ahead of him.
• Kyle Philips: An infrequent target, Philips is on the verge of forgetting.
• Justice Hill: Now that Gus Edwards is practicing and Hill is nicked up, you can probably dump Hill back into the free-agent pool, but he remains worth monitoring.
• Darrel Williams: Dealing with a knee sprain.
• Justin Jackson: Craig Reynolds has held down the No.2 role in Detroit. Jackson is a break-the-glass, injury substitute at best.

ADD NOW: Darius Slayton And Marvin Jones

The Skinny on Slayton: The Packers' secondary is not the barometer for future fantasy success. At the same time, the Giants' passing game delivering 200 yards passing against anyone is a high-water mark this year.

Daniel Jones is a big part of the problem. So is Brian Daboll, whose desire to teach his receiving corps lessons about effort, competition, and preparation may bear long-term fruit for the organization, but it's rough going for fantasy GMs with any draft-day investments in New York's passing game.

Slayton began his career with a 740-yard, 8-touchdown season under Pat Shurmur. The next year, Joe Judge arrived in town, and as we know about new coaching regimes, they have "their players" and don't have to be as invested in past draft picks or signings.

Slayton arrived in New York as a talented athlete with a high ceiling but a track record of inconsistency at Auburn. Judge, playing and failing at the tough-guy coaching role, likely buried Slayton early if Slayton didn't demonstrate the veteran-level professionalism that Judge demanded.

Daboll has a similar demand but his communication and execution of his demands appear far more mature. This weekend, Slayton caught 6 of 7 targets for 79 yards, making some impressive plays along the way.