Every Friday during the season, I pen the Replacements feature -- a look at free agents in most leagues who could deliver production as last-minute replacements. This week, the Footballguys staff takes their shots.
Welcome to Week 11 of the 2024 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
- Giants QB Lock's Potential
- Cowboys QB Lance's Potential
- Late-Week Replacement Picks (see below)
- Rookie QBs: Nix vs. Daniels
Let's roll.
Late-Week Replacement Picks
Matt Waldman: Here's a list of players likely on a majority of waiver wires heading into the weekend.
- WR Malik Washington
- TE Tanner Hudson
- WR Jermaine Burton
- WR Tylan Wallace
- WR Jalin Hyatt
- WR Devaughn Vele
- WR Kevin Austin Jr
- RB Jordan Mims
- WR Mack Hollins
Pick one to monitor as a potential roster addition in the coming weeks. Pick one to add preemptively as a bet he emerges in a week or two and you're ahead of a bidding war. And, pick one to add now to give you some amount of value as a desperation play due to injuries.
Monitor
Dan Hindery: This list is rough. I can’t see any of these players contributing to a solid fantasy lineup at any point this season.
Waldman: I agree, but these scenarios are why you're in the big leagues, my man. Let's stretch the envelope here for some of our diehards who must consider these options in larger formats.
Hindery: Jermaine Burton might be the one worth keeping an eye on, though. He needs two things to go his way to have any chance at fantasy relevance. First, he needs Tee Higgins' injury to linger; if both Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase are healthy, his chances are slim.
Second, he needs to stay focused and keep earning the trust of Joe Burrow and the coaching staff. Reportedly, he had a solid week leading up to the Week 10 Thursday night game, despite his no-call, no-show before the Week 9 matchup that led to a benching.
Matt Montgomery: I agree with Dan; Jermaine Burton, despite the horrible press he received last week, will eventually become a quality starter for the Bengals. Before his lapse in judgment, he was beginning to play significant snaps and was even productive on the field. I think his apology tour is nearly over and I expect him to be a contributor for the Bengals down the stretch.
Sean Settle: Add me to the chorus on Jermaine Burton, who has all the tools to be an elite receiver. He was very polished in college and showed the ability to make big plays all over the field. However, he has not adapted to this next level and was recently benched due to breaking team rules. With Tee Higgins hurt and not a lot of talent outside of Ja'Marr Chase, Burton could get an extended look in the coming weeks as the Bengals fight for a playoff spot. Watch the next few weeks and see if he gets a bigger snap share before making the pickup.
Jason Wood: Jermaine Burton needs maturity and was punished just two weeks ago for unexcused absences. But the talent we saw on his collegiate film is enticing, and Joe Burrow is arguably the league's best passer right now. Burton played 48% of the snaps last week and could be an enticing option late in the season if (a) Tee Higgins remains hurt and (b) either Ja'Marr Chase or Andrei Iosivas gets hurt.
Corey Spala: I would also monitor Jermaine Burton. We are unsure if Tee Higgins will be returning; at least there has been no word in regards so far. Burton out-targeted Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin in Week 10. We will need to monitor Higgins' injury news to understand if Burton will be added.
Phil Alexander: Monitor Devaugh Vele. He would have been my "add now," but trying to guess Sean Payton's wide receiver rotations each week has proven a fool's errand. If Vele trails only Courtland Sutton on Denver in wide receiver routes run for a second straight week, you can feel better about making a move for the intriguing 26-year-old rookie.
Preemptive Pickup
Montgomery: Devaughn Vele is a fun name to watch. He has already shown us an ability to connect with starting quarterback Bo Nix, and eventually, he will emerge as the true No.2, maybe even No.1, depending on what happens with Cortland Sutton in the future. With Sean Payton as his play-caller, he has as good an opportunity as anyone on this list to get schemed favorably.
Hindery: At this point in the season, extra bench spots are best reserved for running backs who are just an injury away from relevance. With Kendre Miller on season-ending injured reserve and Jamaal Williams still out, Jordan Mims has unexpectedly become the primary backup to Alvin Kamara.
Kamara has averaged 30 touches per game over his last two outings, making an injury a real possibility. This is especially true if the Saints lose another game or two and are eliminated from any remaining playoff hopes, as Kamara might sit out with even a minor issue.
Settle: Devaughn Vele is an intriguing option to add now in this capacity. He trailed only Courtland Sutton in routes run last week, but the WR usage in Denver has been unpredictable this season. Sutton has multiple games without a catch and the rushing attack has been lacking all season. Despite those issues, Bo Nix has been a top-10 quarterback in fantasy scoring. If Vele continues to see the same level of routes run, he may turn into a viable option down the stretch.
Spala: I would add Devaughn Vele. He has played six games this season and has averaged 4.5 targets per game. He is the only name on this list who has a consistent role within their respective offense each week.
Alexander: Jordan Mims makes a fine pre-emptive stash. Whether he's truly hurt or not, Kendre Miller is on IR, Jamaal Williams is nursing a groin injury, and Alvin Kamara is carrying an uncharacteristic workload in his age-29 season. If Kamara gets (more) banged up, there is a chance Mims is the last man standing in the New Orleans backfield.
Wood: I struggle to call Mack Hollins a smart pre-emptive stash, but in all fairness, he's played more than 75% of the Bills snaps over the last two weeks. If both Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper miss more time, Hollins may have enough target volume from Josh Allen to warrant usage.
Add Now
Hindery: It sounds like Amari Cooper should return this week, but Mack Hollins should maintain a modest pass-catching role in the Bills offense even after Cooper returns. In Cooper’s absence the last two weeks, Hollins has averaged 13.3 PPR fantasy PPG. Plus, Keon Coleman may be out for a while, which gives Hollins some value as a desperation play in leagues with deep starting lineups.
Montgomery: Believe it or not, Mack Hollins just shows us enough to continue roster consideration already. If there were injuries in front of him, it wouldn’t surprise me if he emerged as an ugly but effective option for the Buffalo Bills. Allen has shown he has a bit of chemistry with him already, so he would be an effective plug-and-play option if there were ever a situation where he became more important than he currently is.
Settle: Mack Hollins has seen a huge increase in usage with injuries to Keon Cole and Amari Cooper. He had a 75% snap share last week and should continue to be viable if both receivers miss more time. He would likely still be a touchdown-dependent FLEX option, but with Josh Allen at quarterback, you never know who is going to get the ball that week.
Spala: I would add Mack Hollins. He has nine targets over the last two weeks and has the potential immediate playing time. Keon Coleman will not play in Week 11, and Amari Cooper’s status is uncertain. Hollins may be looking to be Buffalo’s WR1 against Kansas City. It should be noted Kansas City is a tougher wide receiver matchup, but there is the potential volume needed to succeed.
Alexander: If I had to add one now, it's Mack Hollins. With Keon Coleman confirmed to miss this week's game, we can at least trust Hollins to receive significant playing time. In the last two games, Hollins returned to a full-time role due to injuries and responded with double-digit fantasy points in both games. But temper your expectations. This week's matchup against Kansas City is difficult, and Amari Cooper's potential return probably means Hollins will get rotated out more than he did in the last two games.
Wood: Devaughn Vele is the only player in this group who is remotely interesting. He played 66% of the Broncos' snaps in Week 10, second only to Courtland Sutton among the receivers. If his increasing workload of late is indicative of a starting role, he could luck into a touchdown catch or two if you're desperate and put him in your flex spot.
Waldman: Thanks for reading. Check out the links below for all of this week's roundtable topics:
- Giants QB Lock's Potential
- Cowboys QB Lance's Potential
- Late-Week Replacement Picks
- Rookie QBs: Nix vs. Daniels
Good luck!