Top fantasy football replacements for Keenan, Ertz, Watkins, and Ivory
Keenan Allen was officially placed on the Chargers injured reserve list Monday, a day after tearing his ACL against the Chiefs. Allen’s fantasy football average draft position ranged from late-first round to early-second round in PPR leagues.
As I mentioned in Sunday’s Week 1 fantasy football recap, San Diego’s receiver depth chart now features Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams and Dontrelle Inman. However, running back Danny Woodhead is a good bet to finish as the team’s leading receiver as he did in 2015. Woodhead caught 80 balls for 755 yards with six scores.
Inman’s top 2015 fantasy performance came against the Raiders in Week 16. He caught eight passes on 13 targets for 82 yards with a touchdown. He was held in check in Week 1, but did see three targets. Williams could be a “big splash” target, but only a few times a game as was Malcom Floyd. Just don't expect consistent production. In Week 17 last season, he caught two passes (five targets) for 90 yards. Against the Chiefs, he caught two passes (five targets), for 71 yards.
It wouldn’t shock anyone for the Chargers to sign a veteran free agent. James Jones comes to mind who was with the team during part of training camp before he was cut.
To truly find a replacement for Allen is impossible, but the waiver wire may offer up some solutions that can ease the production gap.
Last week, I named Titans rookie wide receiver, Tajae Sharpe, as one of my favorite post-draft fantasy football options lingering on the waiver wire. He didn’t disappoint in his regular season debut. Sharpe was on the field for 64 of the Titans’ 67 plays. He caught seven passes (11 targets) for 76 yards. Sharpe is owned in only 18 percent of leagues. He may not be Keenan Allen, but with that much burn and healthy amount of Marcus Mariota targets, you could do a lot worse.
Will Fuller saw three more targets than DeAndre Hopkins in Week 1. He caught five of 11 for 107 yards with a touchdown. While I think Fuller is a talent and rostertable, I don’t think the production against the Bears will be the norm in the short term. Hopkins and Lamar Miller remain options 1 and 1A.
After posting nine receptions for 172 yards with a touchdown against the Raiders, Willie Snead is going to see more attention in the weeks ahead. This opens the door for Michael Thomas to carve out a larger role and earn more targets. He caught all six Drew Brees’ targets yesterday for 58 yards. Brandin Cooks and Snead are going to be smothered. Take a look at Thomas if you lost Allen.
In addition to losing Allen for the season, owners were dealt conflicting information regarding Sammy Watkins’ health on Monday. It started with several reports that Watkins’ foot was a mess – for lack of a better word – and could be shut down for an extend period of time. Bills head coach Rex Ryan said Watkins wouldn’t be shut down. A few hours later, Watkins said he got his foot checked out and it’s fine.
So, who are you going to believe?
What we do know is that Watkins’ foot has been far from 100 percent for some time now after offseason surgery. The trickle down impacts not only Watkins’ owners, but those who invested in Tyrod Taylor – who torched several secondaries the final eight games of the 2015 season thanks, in part, to Watkins availability. The vagueness of the injury also dings the fantasy juice of LeSean McCoy who could see defenses loading up the box to stop the run and make Taylor beat them through the air via the likes of Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin and Charles Clay. Yikes.
What-if Zach Ertz Misses Week 2?
The TE-5 in our weekly fantasy football rankings, posted solid numbers against the Browns. Ertz caught six balls (seven targets) for 58 yards, but also suffered a rib displacement. So, now there’s a chance he could miss the Eagles’ Week 2 contest against the Bears. Brent Celek would step up in his place locally.
Outside Philly, take a look at Kyle Rudolph, Dwayne Allen, Eric Ebron, and if you are really desperate – Jacob Tamme.
Rudolph’s matchup against the Packers isn’t too bad depending on if Sam Bradford (an assumed Week 2 starter) works the tight end into the offensive mix as Shaun Hill did against the Titans. Green Bay allowed Julius Thomas to catch five balls for 64 yards in Week 1. Although Jack Doyle caught two touchdowns on three targets, Dwayne Allen also posted strong numbers against the Lions to the tune of four receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown. Ebron returned from a training camp injury to catch all five targets against the Colts and found the zone.
What-if Chris Ivory Misses Week 2?
Chris Ivory’s Week 2 status is up in the air after being admitted to the hospital on Sunday. The Jaguars’ running back had been dealing with a calf injury, but his undisclosed illness is unrelated.
With T.J. Yeldon lingering and Blake Bortles prepotency to target Allen Robinson (15x vs. GB) and Allen Hurns (5x vs. GB), Ivory’s true fantasy value comes in standard scoring leagues.
It may say odd, but Isaiah Crowell didn’t look bad in what was a disastrous Week 1 for the Browns. He finished with 12 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. With Robert Griffin placed on injured reserve Monday, Josh McCown takes over at quarterback and we could see more of Crowell as we did in 2015. He’s got the Ravens in Week 2. LeSean McCoy rushed 16 times for 58 yards and a touchdown against Baltimore on Sunday.
On the flip side, the Ravens’ running back committee of Justin Forsett and Terrance West could eat well against the Browns horrendous defense. Odds are Forsett is already on somebody’s roster, but West could finish off drives inside the five. Be aware Javorious “Buck” Allen was inactive in Week 1, but could return in Week 2 in a favorable matchup.
