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The injuries just keep coming, folks. This week, we add Le’Veon Bell to the list of stud backs who are done for the year. We also lost Steve Smith for the season to an Achilles injury. Khiry Robinson broke his leg. He’s done. Keenan Allen injured his kidney and he’s out indefinitely. Matt Forte injured his knee and will miss time. Reggie Bush is done for the year with a knee injury and that leaves the 49ers without any established backs to speak of because Carlos Hyde and Mike Davis are also hurt. I could go on, but you get the point. There are a lot of people looking for answers this week.
Oh, and did I mention that this rash of injuries hits on a week when we have six teams on their bye? Get those bids in early this week, folks. The cupboard will be bare by Wednesday morning.
As always, I will be posting an expanded wire over at Rotobahn later Tuesday after I finish with this week’s game film. This expanded wire will have more options for everyone who plays in deep leagues and some streaming defensive choices as well.
The ownership rates listed for each player were obtained at Yahoo!
QUARTERBACKS
Sam Bradford, Eagles, 53 percent
His receivers and backs are all getting healthy and he’s in a very good position coming off his bye week. The Eagles play a very nice schedule the rest of the way. I’d be adding Bradford if I need quarterback help.
Derek Carr, Raiders, 39 percent
He has lit up two good defenses the last two weeks, so it’s time to start taking Carr seriously as a QB1 on a weekly basis. He can help you in all leagues because of his weapons and his improving all around game.
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers, 18 percent
He had another strong outing last week and he did it on the road with a lot of his weapons injured and on the sidelines. Winston’s remaining schedule is excellent. He is worth an add in all leagues for the rest of the season.
Blake Bortles, Jaguars, 55 percent
He has a tough matchup with the Jets this week, but I like Bortles the rest of the way as his schedule lightens up nicely. I also like his weapons with Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas all healthy.
Jay Cutler, Bears, 32 percent
Cutler has a tough schedule the rest of the way or I would be even higher on him. He’s a guy to use as a matchup play now that Alshon Jeffery is back and healthy.
Marcus Mariota, Titans, 34 percent
He could be back this week and he looked pretty good before he went down with injury. Mariota has a nice matchup with the Saints this week, so he might be able to help in deeper leagues and he could certainly have value the rest of the way.
RUNNING BACKS
DeAngelo Williams, Steelers, 24 percent
Williams is the must-add guy this week and for good reason. If you are a Le’Veon Bell owner, or anybody else looking for an answer at running back, you should sell out to get Williams, who has looked good this season when given touches.
C.J. Spiller, Saints, 58 percent
Khiry Robinson has a broken leg and that opens the door for Spiller, who just wasn’t getting enough touches to be a viable weekly option. Add Spiller in all leagues, especially PPR leagues.
Ryan Mathews, Eagles, 56 percent
This guy needs to be owned in all leagues. He’s a flex option with big weekly upside and he could be a monster if anything happens to starter DeMarco Murray. If you own Murray, you should go get Mathews while you can.
Jeremy Langford, Bears, 8 percent
Matt Forte sprained his knee last week and Langford is the next man up. It appears that Forte’s knee injury is a one or two week thing, but we’ll know more in a few days. The Bears have a nice Monday night matchup with the Chargers next week, so Forte owners would be wise to go get Langford now. If a Week 9 running back is a priority for you, you might consider beating the Forte owner in your league to the punch.
David Cobb, Titans, 23 percent
If you haven’t stashed him yet in 12-team leagues, you should do so now. Cobb could have fantasy viability by Week 10 or 11. He’s a worthwhile add in all leagues if you need an option at RB.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Willie Snead, Saints, 62 percent
He’s coming off his beat game of the year and he is looking like a weekly WR3 play in 12-team leagues and in 10-team PPR leagues. Drew Brees is back on top of his game and his skill guys are all looking better because of it.
Michael Floyd, Cardinals, 50 percent
He’s off this week, but Floyd is clearly back now with touchdowns in three straight games. People tend to forget that Floyd has top shelf talent. Add him if you can.
Tavon Austin, Rams, 55 percent
Austin was active once again and as I have been saying, it should continue. Go get Austin and use him as a weekly flex or WR3 in 12-team leagues. He should be owned in all leagues.
Michael Crabtree, Raiders, 61 percent
The targets are there every week and he’s scoring touchdowns now with two in the last two weeks. Crabtree needs to be owned in all leagues. He’s a weekly WR3 option regardless of scoring format.
Kamar Aiken, Ravens, 19 percent
Steve Smith is done for year with an Achilles injury and that leaves Aiken as the receiver to own in Baltimore. He won’t help you this week as the Ravens are on their bye week, but he’s a WR3 option the rest of the way.
Marvin Jones, Bengals, 49 percent
He’s a boom or bust WR3 option and he can help you plenty in leagues during the bye week crunch. Add him if you need receiver help.
Malcom Floyd, Chargers, 18 percent
Keenen Allen is out indefinitely with a kidney injury and that means Floyd will play a major role every week for the indefinite period. He’s worth an add in most leagues and can help you out during the heavy bye weeks.
Stevie Johnson, Chargers, 43 percent
Johnson, just like Floyd, can help you plenty while Allen is out. He’s a solid WR3 option in 12-team leagues for Week 9 and beyond.
Nelson Agholor, Eagles, 24 percent
He’s one of my favorite players to add right now. He’s at his low point, but if you look at his season as a whole, there are many reasons for his poor stats. If the Eagles offense picks up, as I expect it will, Agholor could be a big part of it. Stash him now in all leagues, especially PPR leagues.
Ted Ginn, Panthers, 38 percent
He has a pretty good schedule the rest of the way and he’s past his bye week, which is a plus. Cam Newton is looking for Ginn consistently and that is not likely to change this season. He’s a weekly option in 12-team leagues.
Marquess Wilson, Bears, 4 percent
Eddie Royal injured his knee and that opens the door for Wilson, who should be playing ahead of Royal regardless of health status. For this week, at least, Wilson should play a major role in the offense and is a WR3 option in 12-team leagues.
TIGHT ENDS
Jordan Reed, Washington, 68 percent
He’s the guy to add if he is available. He’s healthy right now and he produces TE1 numbers when healthy. Reed’s a no-brainer.
Ben Watson, Saints, 52 percent
As I said a few weeks ago, Watson is a sustainable asset because he has talent, as Patriots fans know, and he has a great quarterback in Brees. Add Watson if tight end help is what you need. He can help you the rest of the way.
Charles Clay, Bills, 50 percent
Clay is a viable weekly option and he’s past the bye now. He’ll be targeted every week and he is a primary weapon in the red zone.
Eric Ebron, Lions, 47 percent
He’s on the bye this week, so keep that in mind, but I like Ebron the rest of the way. He’s an improved player and he has the ability to make big plays with so much talent around him. Teams cannot afford to pay him much attention with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate playing outside.
Heath Miller, Steelers, 28 percent
We knew he’d be better with Ben Roethlisberger back, and he ended up getting 13 targets last week. While that kind of usage will not continue, Miller will be getting more looks without Le’Veon Bell in the fold. He’s a fringe TE1 in 12-team leagues going forward.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Bucs, 34 percent
There’s a good chance he will return this week and he’ll be heavily used once he’s back. He’ll also be playing with an improved quarterback. Seferian-Jenkins has TE1 upside the rest of the way.
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