Are you one of those rare, lucky few whose fantasy football team hasn’t been impacted by a major injury yet? Congratulations, hooray for you. For the other millions of you, don’t worry, you are not alone.
As the injuries stack up you have to adjust your roster accordingly. Unless you’re in a 2-QB or Superflex league, you don’t need to roster a backup quarterback. Even if you don’t have one of the set it and forget it guys, there are plenty of great streaming options.
You also likely don’t need to hold on to that backup tight end you were only going to play for your starter’s bye week. Drop him, you’ll figure it out in a month. Hopefully no one needs to be reminded to never roster more than one defense or one kicker at a time.
Your fantasy football team’s depth is being tested, as are most NFL teams, and you have to make adjustments. Save those bench spots for running backs and wide receivers. Try to make your bench a mixture of different types of players. Stock up on high upside guys who, while they have a low floor, could win you a week thanks to the potential for big plays or lots of red zone opportunities. Balance those out with one or two high-floor plays, safe guys who won’t win you the week but won’t lose it for you either, you know you’ll always get 8-12 points from them. Some of them you will only be able to start if another player gets injured, but at least you’ll have a backup plan.
We’re all used to having backup plans these days, so prepare for anything with your fantasy team. We’ve got 14 weeks left to go and it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Start
QB: Gardner Minshew (vs MIA) – Minshew Mania has thrived the first two weeks, even going against the solid defenses of the Colts and Titans. Now Minshew and his mustache have their best matchup of the season against Miami. The Dolphins have generated just three sacks and no interceptions through two games and might be without star cornerback Byron Jones against the Jaguars. After throwing just one incompletion in Week 1, Minshew went for over 300 yards in Week 2 and passed for three touchdowns in both games. With the emergence of wide receiver Keelan Cole and the dynamic rookies, fellow wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and running back James Robinson, defenses can’t key in on DJ Chark and the sophomore quarterback has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Jacksonville may have wanted to tank for Trevor Lawrence this season, but Minshew is doing his best to show the Jaguars he is the quarterback they need, and, in Week 3, the quarterback you need to start.
Also consider: Ryan Tannehill (@ MIN) – No A.J. Brown, no problem, Tannehill should continue to be a solid play in a plus matchup. Aaron Rodgers (@ NO) – Rodgers is out to prove he’s got plenty left in the tank, and will continue to do so against a disappoint Saints defense, even if Davante Adams is out.
RB: Jerick McKinnon (@ NYG) – When San Francisco signed McKinnon to a $30 million contract in 2018, they had envisioned the former Viking being a big part of their offense. A couple years, a few injuries, and a restructured contract later, McKinnon is finally serving the role the 49ers envisioned for him and at a discount. Along with Jeff Wilson, McKinnon is one of only two healthy running backs for the Niners, and as long as George Kittle is sidelined, possibly the only bright spot for the offense. Nick Mullens will likely get the start for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, and a backup quarterback could lead to San Francisco leaning on their healthy running backs even more than usual. Wilson will get his share of work but expect McKinnon to shoulder the load. McKinnon is a good pass catcher and should see plenty of activity in the passing game, especially if Kittle can’t go. The 49ers can use all the receivers they can get as their wide receiver corps has been banged up all year. With a defense as banged up as the offense, San Francisco will need to put up plenty of points to stay ahead. The Giants are allowing a little over 100 yards per game on the ground and around 35 yards per game in the air to running backs. Despite all the injuries this is a good matchup for San Francisco and McKinnon should finally get his chance to shine.
Also consider: David Montgomery (@ ATL) – Montgomery has been efficient on the ground and is seeing work in the passing game, he has a chance at a big game against a bad Falcons defense. Kenyan Drake (vs DET) – The lack of work in the passing game is troubling, but a home game against the Lions is as good a time as any to break out.
WR: Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf (vs DAL) – Russell Wilson isn’t the only beneficiary of Seattle’s decision to #LetRussCook. The guys he’s been throwing to have been benefitting big time, especially Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. After a breakout rookie season Metcalf has deservedly gotten the bulk of the hype so far this season, but don’t let Lockett’s performance fly under the radar. Lockett has received eight targets in both games this season, and has caught all but one of them. The veteran has 159 yards and a touchdown on the season. Metcalf has done just a bit more (187 yards and two touchdowns) with less (14 targets but just eight catches). Against a Dallas defense that’s been thrown on by both the Rams and the Falcons, both players are clear starts this week and either one could end up being the top wide receiver for the week in what should be a high scoring game. If, for some reason, you have to choose between Metcalf and Lockett, go with Lockett, especially in PPR. When two players have similarly high ceilings always go with the higher floor, and therefore safer, play. Metcalf will get his but as long as Lockett catches nearly everything Wilson throws his way, he’ll continue to see high volume and put up big numbers for your team.
Also consider: Diontae Johnson (vs HOU) – Johnson might be the best (fantasy) wide receiver on a team that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, and now he faces a lackluster Texans defense. Keenan Allen (vs CAR) – After catching seven of ten targets last week, Allen might be better off with Justin Herbert than Tyrod Taylor.
TE: Mike Gesicki (@ JAX) – The Dolphins offense has been struggling but Gesicki is doing everything he can to help his team. Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn’t been able to get on the same page as DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, Gesicki’s main competition for targets in Miami, and last week Gesicki picked up the slack in a big way. His eight catches on eleven targets for 130 yards and a touchdown is far and away the best receiving outing for any Dolphins pass catcher through two weeks. In fact, those 130 yards are almost double the best total yardage in a game for any other Dolphins running back, wide receiver, or tight end so far this season. Now Gesicki gets to face a Jaguars defense that just allowed Jonnu Smith to go for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Miami has very few playmakers and Fitzpatrick has to throw the ball somewhere, so far Gesicki has been his most reliable, and dynamic target. The pre-season fantasy sleeper might finally be breaking out.
Also consider: Jared Cook (vs GB) – A touchdown last week salvaged his day. As long as Michael Thomas remains sidelined he has a good chance to see a large target share, especially in what could be a high scoring game. Mo Alie-Cox (vs NYJ) – After tying for the team lead in targets while putting up 111 yards last week, Alie-Cox makes for a great streaming option, as long as Jack Doyle is injured.
Sit
QB: Jared Goff (@ BUF) – Coming off a highly efficient, three touchdown performance in Philadelphia it might be tempting to play Goff in another road matchup in Buffalo. Even more so when you see that the Bills just allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for two touchdowns and over 300 yards, but that was a hobbled Buffalo defense. Star linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano are trending towards returning for the Bills against the Rams this week.. Edmunds and Milano should be able to keep Tyler Higbee in check; and Tre’Davious White, one of the best cornerbacks in the league, leads a formidable secondary, which should be a tough matchup even for Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Goff has a lot of weapons at his disposal but struggled Week 1 against an inferior Dallas defense. Goff and the Rams offense are tough to stop but the quarterback could struggle in this tough road game, buyers beware.
Be wary about: Matt Ryan (vs CHI) – You likely have to start Ryan but the Bears defense is still a tough matchup even for this high scoring QB. Deshaun Watson (@ PIT) – Before the season who would’ve thought Watson would be a risky start in two straight games, but here we are, the Steelers defense is that good.
RB: David Johnson (@ PIT) – Pittsburgh continues to be a defense for everyone to avoid and Johnson is no exception. Just 34 yards on the ground last week against the Ravens, Johnson didn’t give Houston many reasons to increase his carries from the 11 he’s had in back to back games. Those low numbers are partially thanks to the Texans leaky defense. They’re allowing points in bunches, forcing the offense to give up on the run game early. Johnson hasn’t been getting nearly enough work in the passing game to offset the lack of rushing attempts or to raise his value in PPR. Those struggles are unlikely to change in Week 3. The Steelers defense has allowed just 97 rushing yards and no rushing touchdowns through the first two games. Houston’s offensive line isn’t going to be able to give Johnson much help against Pittsburgh’s defensive front. Until Johnson sees more opportunities, both on the ground and through the air, he’s a risky play, especially in this matchup.
Be wary about: Leonard Fournette (@ DEN) – In one week the Tampa Bay backfield flipped from Ronald Jones to Fournette, who looked much better than Jones, but until we see some consistency with who the lead back is, be careful with Fournette in a tough matchup. Todd Gurley (vs CHI) – He’s not getting targeted in the passing game, the Bears run defense is very stout, these days it’s touchdown or bust for Gurley’s fantasy value.
WR: Carolina Panthers WRs (@LAC) – Without Christian McCaffrey the Panthers wide receivers will receive extra attention from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, but they’ll also receive extra attention from defenses. Teams won’t have to expend a safety, linebacker, or cornerback to guard McCaffrey on routes, and they certainly won’t be stacking the box to stop Mike Davis. While the lack of McCaffrey could mean added targets for DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel it will also result in extra defensive attention those three. Add in a matchup with the fierce Chargers secondary and it’s tough to feel comfortable starting any Panthers pass catcher. Chris Harris is a difficult matchup for anyone lining up in the slot, Casey Hayward can match up well with anyone on the outside, and Michael Davis has done well lining up on the other side of the defense. That trio, and a solid pass rush, even kept the vaunted Kansas City Chiefs, relatively, in check. The pressure is on for Teddy Bridgewater and the wide receivers to pick up the slack in the absence of McCaffrey, they won’t be up for the task this week.
Be wary about: Robert Woods (@ BUF) – Woods will likely get the shadow treatment from Tre’Davious White, Kupp could have an easier time in the slot, but a tough matchup for the quarterback is a tough matchup for his wide receivers.
Stefon Diggs and John Brown (vs LAR) – One or both of the Bills receivers will see Jalen Ramsey, a tough matchup for any wide receiver.
TE: Rob Gronkowski (@ DEN) – Chances are no one was really considering starting Gronk at this point. Even if he was out-producing O.J. Howard, at best he’d still only be the third best receiving option on his team. Four targets from his buddy Brady, that’s all. This week his coach, Bruce Arians, even said Gronk’s impact on opposing defenses, “I don’t think they’re paying that much attention to him.” Arians also complimented Gronk’s blocking. Between those comments and the fact that Brady is barely looking his way, Gronk has no value in fantasy football. Brady is still adjusting to his new offense, and has plenty of talented pass catchers to choose from so he’s barely looking to his tight ends. Howard likely isn’t worth rostering either unless you’re incredibly desperate or think he’ll score a touchdown. If Howard were to get hurt…well Cameron Brate is actually a pretty capable tight end. Drop Gronk, he might be better off hopping back in the wrestling ring.
Be wary about: Tyler Higbee (@ BUF) – The status of Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano will be key here, as the Bills defense struggles without them, but if those linebackers are healthy, this is a tough matchup, even for Higbee. Austin Hooper (vs WSH) – Despite a potentially good matchup, Hooper doesn’t have much of a role in the passing game, you can drop him.
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Follow Moshe Kravitz on Twitter @MosheKravitz