Injures are the bane of our existence in fantasy football, but there is nothing worse than injuries hitting your squad during the playoffs.
Replacing a top-performing player is a daunting task, and when you’re in a win-or-go-home scenario, desperation can set in, especially when it’s a wide receiver and you are trying to identify where the targets are going to land.
With Rome Odunze and Davante Adams likely to miss Week 16, fantasy managers are going to have to put their trust into players who might not have been the most trustworthy this season.
After Sunday night, Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor became an immediate waiver wire target. It isn’t not about chasing his Week 15 points. It is about his relationship with J.J. McCarthy. The hope was that McCarthy would come together with Justin Jefferson more, but the two just don’t appear on the same page.
Yes, eight targets landed Jefferson’s way and a touchdown was nullified by a penalty, but McCarthy just seemed more comfortable targeting Nailor out of the slot, particularly inside the red zone. With a matchup against the Giants and their 19th-ranked pass defense, Nailor should see decent work once again.
Not only was Odunze a late scratch with his foot injury, but an ankle issue forced out rookie receiver Luther Burden III. That left DJ Moore as the primary target for Caleb Williams, and the two finally clicked.
Being the lead is what Moore craves the most, so if Odunze and Burden are out or limited, Moore should see a healthy target share. Tight end Colston Loveland could also be an interesting add to put into your Flex position if needed.
But the situation everyone is monitoring the closest is with the Rams, as Adams aggravated his hamstring injury and looks like he could be held out for a few games while the team focuses on the playoffs. Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington have seen the highest snap counts among the backups with Mumpfield seeing more over the past three games, but this might be a good time to look at the tight ends and think about using one in your Flex should you need. In fact, this past week, Matthew Stafford targeted his tight end room 13 times against Detroit.
Colby Parkinson has been an absolute beast over the past six weeks, playing a 60-70 percent snap share while averaging roughly five targets per game. The yardage totals have been adequate, but his real work is done inside the red zone.
Over the past six games, Parkinson has seen 25 red-zone looks and scored at least one touchdown in five of those games. Whether you have an elite-level tight end on your roster or not on your roster, Parkinson should be added this week if available.
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It is an all-hands-on-deck situation as you navigate through the fantasy football playoffs. If you’re being hit with injuries at the wide receiver position and are unable to find adequate replacements, then turn to the tight ends. You have two weeks to go before you can call yourself a champion. Do whatever it takes to get the points you need to win.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.
