With Week 4 in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead at the fantasy football landscape. Injuries piled up across the league, and with them come new opportunities. Let’s skip the gimmicks and dive straight into the Week 4 injuries and waiver wire replacements.
For additional potential Week 5 pickups, check out ASL Founder, Leonard LaPadula's, Streamers for the Desperate - Week 5 , or ASL's Colton Peter's Fantasy Football Waiver Adds - Week 5.
Quarterback
Injury – Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (Q – Hamstring)
Opportunity – Cooper Rush
Jackson left the loss against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury. Reports suggest that even if the game had been close, he still would have stayed on the sideline. That hints this injury could be more serious than initially expected, putting his Week 5 status against the Texans in doubt.
If Jackson misses time, veteran backup Cooper Rush steps in. While he’s experienced, this severely limits Baltimore’s passing game. WR Zay Flowers becomes a risky flex, while WRs DeAndre Hopkins and Rashod Bateman are no more than DFS dart throws. Expect RB Derrick Henry to see heavy volume to keep the ball out of Rush’s hands.
Injury – Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (Q – Toe)
Opportunity – Mac Jones
Purdy landed back on the injury report after his first game returning from a previous issue, missing practice with toe soreness. If he sits, QB Mac Jones is the next man up. Jones can keep San Francisco’s offense afloat, but isn’t a strong fantasy option himself, especially with several of the 49ers’ top weapons also questionable.
Running Backs
Injury – Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Q – Undisclosed)
Opportunity – Rachaad White
The Bucs are waiting on MRI results for Irving’s undisclosed injury, and head coach Todd Bowles admitted concern. If Irving misses time, RB Rachaad White takes over as the clear lead back. With volume and pass-catching ability already in his favor, White is locked in as an RB2 start.
Injury – Braelon Allen, New York Jets (Q – Knee)
Opportunity – Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis
Allen went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury and was immediately ruled out. That vaults Breece Hall into RB1 territory. Hall’s talent was never in question — now his workload won’t be either.
In deeper PPR leagues, RB Isaiah Davis becomes a viable emergency start thanks to his pass-catching role and expected increase in touches.
Wide Receivers
Injury – Malik Nabers, New York Giants (IR – Knee)
Opportunity – Wan’Dale Robinson
This is a brutal loss for fantasy managers, as Nabers’ promising rookie season is over. In his absence, WR Wan’Dale Robinson and TE Theo Johnson should see increased work in short-yardage and PPR formats. Robinson profiles as a low-end flex, while Johnson is a desperation deep-league TE play.
Injury – Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (Q – Knee)
Opportunity – Jaylen Waddle, Devon Achane
Hill was carted off Monday night and later taken to the hospital with a dislocated knee. The timeline for his return remains unclear, but a long recovery is likely.
Jaylen Waddle becomes the clear WR1 in Miami, with near double-digit weekly target potential. RB Devon Achane also benefits from more involvement in the passing game. Outside of those two, the Dolphins’ aerial attack is uninspiring.
Injury – Ricky Pearsall (Q – Knee) & Jauan Jennings (Q – Ribs), San Francisco 49ers
Opportunity – Kendrick Bourne, Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco continues to pile up injuries. Jennings briefly returned after a rib issue, but Pearsall sat out practice on Monday. If either sits, expect RB Christian McCaffrey to carry an even bigger load, while WR Kendrick Bourne — familiar with the system — slots into WR3 duties and can be used as a deep-league flex.
Injury – Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (D – Hamstring)
Opportunities – Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond
Tillman and WR DeAndre Carter both went down with hamstring injuries, leaving the door open for WR Jerry Jeudy to step into a bigger role. More intriguing is rookie WR Isaiah Bond, a highly regarded prospect who fell in the draft due to off-field concerns. He saw a 71% snap share against Detroit and is worth an add in deeper leagues.
Expect additional targets for TEs David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. as well.
Injury – Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (Q – Hamstring)
Opportunity – Drake London, Kyle Pitts
Mooney left Sunday’s game with a hamstring issue but may benefit from Atlanta’s Week 5 bye. If he misses time in Week 6, TE Kyle Pitts stands to benefit the most, fresh off a TE1-level performance.
