Injuries Impact Fantasy Football Landscape as Playoff Push Begins
As the fantasy football season enters the home stretch, injuries to key players are causing a shakeup in the landscape and presenting opportunities for savvy fantasy managers.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Derrick Henry, Brian Robinson Jr. and D’Andre Swift all left their respective games injured, opening up opportunities for their backups who are available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. This presents an opportunity for fantasy managers to potentially scoop up some valuable replacements for the final push towards the playoffs.
Injuries are not just limited to the running back position, with Tank Dell, Amari Cooper, Christian Watson, Derek Carr and Josh Whyle also sustaining injuries that will impact fantasy rosters. The absence of these players will create opportunities for other players to step up and make an impact.
Aside from injuries, fantasy managers should also take into account the remaining schedule for their players. With only four games left in the fantasy season, the opponents a team faces will have a much bigger impact on the players worth considering, making it important for managers to evaluate the strength of schedule for their players as they head into the crucial final weeks.
In light of these developments, several quarterbacks are emerging as potential waiver wire additions to bolster fantasy rosters. Joshua Dobbs of the Minnesota Vikings, Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, Jameis Winston of the New Orleans Saints, and Gardner Minshew of the Indianapolis Colts all present opportunities for fantasy managers seeking quarterback replacements due to injuries or poor performance.
Furthermore, in the wake of Rhamondre Stevenson’s injury, fantasy managers may want to consider adding Ezekiel Elliott of the New England Patriots to their rosters as a potential replacement going forward.
As the fantasy football season nears its climax, the impact of injuries and the importance of roster depth have become even more pronounced, making the strategic management of rosters all the more crucial as managers seek to secure their spot in the playoffs.