🚑 3 Big RB Injuries To Monitor

Everyone is injured. Thankfully there is a waiver wire...

In today’s Fantasy Life Newsletter presented by CreditStrong:

• Injury roundup: 3 big RB injuries
• Buy/Sell/Hold. Cooterdoodle gives you market advice
• Another rookie WR breakout
• Sam's Waiver Wire Diving: Week 4 pickups
• Dear Pete: Send in your questions!
• Sam's Breakout Watch: Olave & Williams

After a brutal TD drop in the first half, CeeDee Lamb redeemed himself on the go-ahead drive in the 4th quarter where he converted a big fourth down play and capped things off with a sick one-handed TD grab:

OKAY CEEDEE LAMB

— Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife)
Sep 27, 2022

The Cowboys, largely propelled by their defense (14 sacks in three games), moved to 2-1 as they handed the Giants their first loss of the season. 

Giants WR Sterling Shepard suffered a serious left knee injury, meaning his season is likely over. The team is now desperate to get Kadarius Toney and Wan'Dale Robinson up to speed.

Shepard kicks off a big injury roundup to run through today before you place your waiver bids. Let's get to it...

🚑 3 Big RB injuries: D'Andre Swift, David Montgomery, and Dalvin Cook

• Swift is dealing with multiple injuries (ankle, shoulder) and it sounds like the team is finally going to power him down for a few weeks. The Lions have a bye in Week 6, so taking off the next two games would give Swift almost a full month to rest up. We'll be seeing a ton of Jamaal Williams during that stretch (and also a deep sleeper that Sam highlights below in his waiver piece.)

• Montgomery hurt his leg during the Bears game Sunday and is now officially listed as "day-to-day" with ankle and knee injuries. It would seem silly to rush him back after Khalil Herbert played so well in relief, but what do I know (don't answer that, it was rhetorical).

• Cook dislocated his shoulder vs. the Lions and is somehow day-to-day as well. These guys are absolute warriors. I dislocated my shoulder playing basketball once, wept in the ER, and then didn't play sports for like two months. Guess I'm just built different. Anyways, the Vikings head to London this Sunday for a 9:30 am ET game, and it sounds like Cook will be there. If not, Alexander Mattison will be an RB1. 

 🚑 Mac Jones out for multiple weeks

Jones suffered a high ankle sprain and the team is currently discussing his options. Apparently, there is a disagreement between the team and Jones' camp. Journeyman Brian Hoyer will take over in the meantime, and I expect we see even more usage for RBs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson in the short term. Stevenson's role, by the way, is really juicy these days with Ty Montgomery on the IR. 

🚑 Zach Wilson could be back for Week 4

The doctors have the final word, but coach Robert Saleh is expecting Wilson back for Sunday's game vs. the Steelers. This is one of those funny spots where fantasy doesn't match up with reality. Stopgap QB Joe Flacco has been bad (he threw 2 INTs, lost a fumble, took four sacks, and failed to score a TD vs. the Bengals) and yet he's been supporting fantasy production while chucking the hell out of the ball (155 attempts through three games). Please don't ruin Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore, Zach. 

🚑 A.J. Green could miss this week

As if things couldn't get any worse for the depleted Cardinals pass catchers, Green has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and could miss "at least" this week. Marquise Brown had 16 targets on Sunday and he might clear 20 this week. 

💪 Build out your bench, build out your credit score

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In the same vein, we also need to build out our credit because you never know when you'll need it.

A good credit score helps acquire credit cards, car loans, home loans, apartment leases, and every other trick play life throws your way.

If that sounds tougher than finding the next Jeff Wilson Jr., don't worry, CreditStrong makes it incredibly easy.

Choose to build:

1. Revolving credit (the type of credit you'd get from a credit card) or
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Regardless of your financial goals in life, CreditStrong has you covered. We'll leave it to Fantasy Life to help you find the next great RB, though.

Each week during the season, Cooterdoodle walks us through the fantasy trade market from a buy, hold, sell perspective...

BUY

🛒 DeAndre Hopkins

This is a bit of a psychological play, but hear me out. Those who drafted Hopkins have to stash him for the full six weeks of his suspension. That’s a long time. Hopkins’ dead roster space will spike up the cost once Week 7 approaches. But if you make your move now, they’ve only had to stash Hopkins for 3 weeks, meaning they’re less invested and more likely to sell.

Bonus points if their team is in an 0-3 panic phase.

Currently, there’s not much excitement surrounding Arizona’s offense. The Cardinals are 1-2 and Kyler Murray has thrown a measly three TDs. Since expectations are low, your trade cost should be, too. If Hopkins can seamlessly fill the void in his return, you could find yourself with a viable starter for cheap.

Disclaimer: This type of aggressive acquisition better suits teams that are currently winning and have the freedom to roster a suspended player. If you’re 0-3, don’t get cute.

SELL

👋 Russell Gage

While no Microsoft tablets were harmed in Tampa's loss to Green Bay on Sunday, Tom Brady’s ego was. The goat is not looking like himself.

While this lull in Tampa’s offense is likely to change in the future, so is the WR corps. Gage might have turned 12 catches into 87 yards, but Mike Evans, Julio Jones, and Chris Godwin were not on the field. Gage had a little fun with the WR1 badge, but it’s time for him to give it back now that Evans is returning from his suspension in Week 4. I’d look to sell Gage now while he’s got a decent week under his belt and before the big dogs come back to play. WOOF.

👋 Darnell Mooney

I am beary worried if you need an explanation for this one. Yea, beary worried.

This blurb needs to be as painful to read as the Bears’ offensive stats. I know I said “sell” Mooney, but no one’s buying. Chicago won’t pass the ball, so I’m passing on anyone other than Khalil Herbert. 

👋 Damien Harris

I’m not panicking, but I’ve never enjoyed rostering a Patriots running back. Not only is it hard to predict who will get the majority of goal-line carries in this offense every year, but Rhamondre Stevenson is looking good. The numbers don’t lie, and Harris looks to be losing work to the sophomore RB. Put some feelers out. See what you can get in return.

💥 The QB1 going nuclear. Wild stats the past two weeks.

🚀 Another rookie WR breakout. There's seemingly a new one every week.

🤯 A mind-blowing Trevor Lawrence/Peyton Manning stat. Excuse me??

🔑 A key piece of the Dolphins' offense on the waiver wire? Run, don't walk.

📚 The comeback story of the year. It's an incredible story.

🔽 I hope you faded all of the WRs with the same last name. Less is moore, I guess.

🎨 Draw Jimmy G every day until he gets traded. These never disappoint.

🐤 Free Justin Fields. This is so absurd.

Waivers are a critical component of fantasy football, and nabbing the next league winner ahead of your leaguemates can help you edge out that title. Each Tuesday, Sam Wallace will highlight players to target in your redraft leagues. Here are four players you should scoop up before your leaguemates..

I'll be using Yahoo's "percentage rostered" data. Players are listed in order of priority, by position. Only players who are available in at least 75% percent of leagues are considered.

These three players are rostered in most leagues, but would be priority adds over anyone mentioned in this column if available in your league.

• Khalil Herbert (Available in 51% of leagues)
• Alexander Mattison (Available in 45% of leagues)
• Jamaal Williams(Available in 40% of leagues)

➕ Romeo Doubs (Available in 76% of leagues)

Rookie WR Romeo Doubs, a fourth-round rookie, took advantage of a depleted WR room by hauling in all eight targets for 73 yards and a score. WR Sammy Watkins entered this week on IR and will miss at least four games. Doubs has significant appeal moving forward as he establishes himself as a consistent option for QB Aaron Rodgers.

FAAB: 20%

➕ Mark Ingram (Available in 75% of leagues)

Veteran RB Mark Ingram continues to have fantasy relevance. Teammate Alvin Kamara lost a fumble early in the game and Ingram scored from five yards out in the second half. Aside from having high-end value as a handcuff, Ingram holds deeper league flex appeal as he’s topped 20 snaps in each game (PFF).

FAAB: 10%

➕ Jaylen Warren  (Available in 90% of leagues)

An undrafted rookie, RB Jaylen Warren is passing the eye test. On Thursday night, he racked up 30 rushing yards on just four carries. He had another big gain called back by a penalty. RB Najee Harris has been inefficient and has already dealt with injury this season.

The Steelers’ No. 2 RB in rushing attempts last season was Benny Snell with 36. Warren has 11 attempts through three weeks but has emerged as an explosive secondary option. He has some appeal as a handcuff to Harris.

➕ Craig Reynolds (Available in 100% of leagues)

RB D’Andre Swift, who was already dealing with an ankle injury, suffered a sprained shoulder that could force him to miss time. It reportedly doesn’t need surgery but will be something to monitor. RB Jamaal Williams is the obvious benefactor, but RB Craig Reynolds could get additional touches.

During a three-week stretch last season, Reynolds averaged more than 18 opportunities and almost 11 fantasy points/game. He’s worth a look if you roster Williams as Reynolds becomes the upside stash.

For the rest of Sam's waiver wire picks, check out FantasyLife.com.

Want your question answered in the newsletter? I'll be doing another edition of Dear Pete on Saturday.

Send your questions to dearpete@fantasylife.com. They can be about fantasy or life, though ideally both. 

Playing safe ain't it. We need to make big moves to win our leagues. Today, Sam Holt shares a RB she thinks is primed for a breakout...

🚀 Chris Olave - WR - Saints

The rookie wideout Chris Olave is making a solid case to earn himself a starting role in your week four lineups. Two weeks in a row, Olave has seen 13 targets; with that, he’s had more total targets than Michael Thomas and 97 more total receiving yards than Thomas to date. 

Olave’s smooth route running and speed make him a favorite outlet for Jameis Winston, who’s dealing with a beat-up receiving corps. Thomas is now dealing with a toe injury (on the opposite foot to his previous ankle injury), TreQuan Smith left Sunday's matchup with a concussion,  Jarvis Landry left early with what was thought to be an ankle injury and now looks to be general soreness in his foot. 

Given the injuries to the Saints WR corps and Olave’s progression as a high-upside WR, you should have extreme confidence starting the young WR this weekend as the Saints matchup against the Vikings in London.

Sep 25, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) reacts after catching the ball in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

🚀 Jamaal Williams - WR - Lions

Jamaal Williams has to be one of my favorite RBs to watch; when he’s on, he’s on! Whether it’s motivating his teammates on Hard Knocks this summer, rushing for two TDs a game, or shaking his hips like Shakira, he’s keeping the good times rolling.

Leading the Lions backfield with 43 rushing attempts and four TDs over the first three weeks, he’s outpacing RB1 D’Andre Swift, who’s also had a few injuries. Swift picked up a mild ankle injury in week one that's held him up since, and on Sunday, he added a sprained shoulder to the list. Head Coach Dan Campbell said that Swift would benefit from taking off the next two weeks to get right, setting his return after Lion’s Week six bye.

Williams looks ready to carry the load while Swift heals and is positioned for success afterward, given he had two TDs in week one while Swift was active. Williams is an RB2 while Swift is out and should settle in as a low-end flex play after Swift’s return.