The Replacements: Week 6

The Way This Works...

To see this article's purpose, please refer to the intro from Week 2.

The Running List of Options

I'll update this throughout the season, so you have a wealth of considerations beyond my weekly recommendations. 

Add Nows 

Most of these players will not be available, but you'll get a sense of who has been recommended.

Jordan Mason: I mentioned in two different articles late in the preseason that you should add Mason if you have Christian McCaffrey or if McCaffrey shows up on the injury report with a tag of questionable or worse. Now you know why.

Cam Akers: A former early-round prospect, Akers had an impressive preseason in Houston, earning a roster spot. He's a powerful runner with good receiving skills. Joe Mixon is week-to-week with an ankle injury and hasn't practiced this week. Akers will continue seeing significant touches as the team's lead runner. He earned 64 yards and a score against the Vikings, who limited the Texans' passing game. Akers may remain the starter this week despite Joe Mixon earning some practice time.

Alec Pierce: Adonai Mitchell's separation score impresses people, but his ability to be on the same page with Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco isn't reliable at this point. Richardson told the national media before Week 1 that the public had written off Pierce, and he was about to remedy that. Don't expect Pierce to return to fantasy anonymity. He is making too many plays with a high degree of difficulty to ignore and he's converting on 74 percent of his targets. Pierce is a legitimate deep threat with contested-catch skills, and he works effectively over the middle. Michael Pittman Jr is out for multiple weeks with a back injury which keeps Pierce in place as a top-three target-getter in the passing game.

Andrei Iosivas: An excellent athlete from Princeton, Iosivas knew next to nothing about running routes but sought out receiver coach Drew Lieberman during the offseason. His game has grown substantially during the offseason because, according to Lieberman, Iosivas had no bad habits to unlearn. Iosivas has scored three times in the past two weeks, and his 7-target, 5-catch, 52-yard output against Washington was his best overall week. Tee Higgins is expected back soon, but Iosivas is worth having at the end of your bench as a preemptive option once that happens. Iosivas should still have flex value. 

Preemptive

Many of these players are still available. Some were past Add-Nows or Monitors.

Darius Slayton: Slayton isn't a marquee name with a marquee game, but he has proven capable of delivering flex-play value. He had 5-6 startable games last year and delivered against Seattle as predicted here in Week 5. Slayton will be the primary receiver in Week 6 if Nabers isn't ready. If opponents begin finding answers to limit Malik Nabers once Nabers returns, Slayton is a candidate to benefit because, unlike Wan'Dale Robinson, Slayton can win downfield. 

Xavier Hutchinson: If desperate for a receiver in a deep league and out of options. Hutchinson could earn more playing time as the third or fourth receiver in the Texans' rotation. With Nico Collins out for multiple weeks, Hutchinson may earn more targets if the Texans continue to use Tank Dell most often in the slot. If Dell earns a lot more work as the perimeter deep threat, Robert Woods may see more time in the slot and Hutchinson won't have as much potential value. Hutchinson is a good route runner with contested-catch skill and smarts as a ballcarrier. He's not a top-end speedster.  

Allen Lazard: Fantasy analysts may minimize Lazard's rest-of-season value due to his age, and the attention Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams should eventually command from Aaron Rodgers. However, Rodgers has the most rapport with Lazard; he performed well behind the scenes in camp, and Rodgers demands talent that can be on the same page. Also, do you trust Mike Williams to stay healthy? I don't. Against the Patriots in Week 3, Lazard earned 3 catches for 48 yards and a score. He'll still be a match-up factor with big-play potential for Rodgers, and this will translate into flex value. Lazard will still be available for a few more weeks due to Williams' street value, the potential for a Davante Adams trade, and most underrating Lazard because of his drops. Still, the volume remains compelling.

Isaac Guerendo: If he can pick up the details of the system fast enough and Jordan Mason falters, Shanahan will give Guerendo a chance. Just know if Guerendo falters just a bit, Shanahan is likely to find someone else just as fast. Blessed with Todd Gurley's size and speed, Guerendo was one of those college running backs who began on a loaded depth chart at Wisconsin with the likes of Jonathan Taylor, Braelon Allen, and Chez Mellusi. 

Preemptive/Monitor

Tyler Goodson: A cutback runner with good explosion and excellent receiving skills from the backfield, Goodson offers a big-play element in the Colts' offense that Trey Sermon lacks. Sermon earned the lead role with Jonathan Taylor out, but Goodson's big-play ability and versatility still offer the potential for the Colts to roll with the hot hand. Taylor may play in Week 6 and Trey Sermon has a collarbone issue that kept him out of Wednesday practice. This could render Goodson a player worth adding. 

Tre Tucker: A speedster whose development trajectory is steadily climbing, Tucker was likely a popular target for bidding this week on your waiver wires. If not, add him now because he'll earn a starting role in the offense when Davante Adams leaves, and that could generate a significant bump in targets. A lack of confidence in the Raiders quarterback play will be the reason his value plateaus--if it does. 

Jalen Nailor: A quick and fast receiver with YAC skills in the mold of Bills' Khalil Shakir, Nailor has scored every week and has displayed toughness over the middle and up the seams. He's an addition at the end of your roster's bench who can give you at least WR3 fantasy production when one or both of the Vikings' starters are hurt. 

Brenton Strange: Evan Engram delivered a limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and there's more optimism about him starting this week compared to last. If the Jaguars declare Engram inactive on Sunday morning, Strange will continue to fill in admirably when targeted. He's a skilled receiver with enough athletic ability to earn yardage after the catch. He has a future as a starter. 

Chris Brooks: The former Dolphin earned three carries for three yards in his debut on the Packers' active roster. His touches came in a close-out role after Green Bay built a substantial lead. The Packers have MarShawn Lloyd on IR for at least the next three weeks, so Brooks is worth a preemptive add for larger rosters if you want a talented back who could earn a bigger role if Josh Jacobs and/or Emanuel Wilson get hurt. 

Cordarrelle Patterson: Currently in a walking boot, some fantasy GMs might have dropped Patterson as quickly as they added him. It's hard to tell whether the ankle injury is serious or the boot is a precaution. Before Patterson got hurt, he was running well against a weak Colts defense. With Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren dealing with various injuries, Patterson was establishing himself as the temporary lead back in the offense. Patterson and Warren are questionable against the Cowboys. Patterson is worth adding if you want to gamble the availability of a proven talent against a weakened defense. 

Monitor

Some of these players were past Add-Nows or Preemptives, but circumstances have changed. 

Michael Penix Jr.: I've shared in great detail why Penix is one of the most talented passers in this draft. Penix is a strong fit for Atlanta's passing attack because of his mobility, skill with off-platform placement, and bold vertical game. Atlanta featured Kirk Cousins more often under center against the Eagles in Week 2 but mostly handing off the ball. Cousins' velocity and accuracy on routes outside the numbers beyond 15 yards still look suspect--even the completed passes didn't have great placement and zip. Atlanta has had success working around this weakness in Cousins' game. Continue monitoring Cousins' play, especially if Atlanta goes on an extended losing streak.

Sean Tucker: The second-year speedster from Syracuse has a role on special teams and a nearly non-existent role in the offense. No one in the fantasy community wants to hear Todd Bowles explain that Rachaad White's role and game scripts lead to more difficult situations as a runner than what Bucky Irving is seeing. They all want to believe White's days as the lead back will end soon, while Bowles says we'll still see a committee split, at best. If this is true, Tucker will earn a committee role if one of Irving or White gets hurt. Tucker is a good cutback runner and can catch screens and check-downs. 

Drew Lock: If Daniel Jones falters, Lock has the skills and experience to deliver strong outings that could lead to big weeks. If Lock has learned to work at his craft behind the scenes since Denver dumped him, this could be the makings of a beautiful career rebound. Click here to read the preemptive indicators for adding Lock to your rosters. 

Dawson Knox: Knox is an excellent athlete who can win jump-balls. He's a good blocker, and that's likely his role as long as Dalton Kincaid is healthy. There were multiple indications--including Week 1--that Knox would still have a legitimate role in the passing game, but as I mentioned two weeks ago, Kincaid will heat up. Knox only has 2 catches for 30 yards after three weeks. Unless Kincaid gets hurt, you don't need Knox on your rosters. 

Skylar Thompson: The Dolphins' reserve quarterback dealt with a lot of pressure against the Seahawks while executing a conservative offensive game plan. When Thompson earned some intermediate passing opportunities, he executed, but they were too few. A rib injury abbreviated his first start in two years. Tyler Huntley appears to be the starter until Tua Tagovailoa returns. At best, Thompson is a desperation preemptive addition who you hope Mike McDaniels gives more opportunities to be aggressive as a passer. 

Forget (For Now...)

Dylan Laube: Ameer Abdullah had a 40-yard run and scored a touchdown against the Broncos in Week 6, which keeps the door closed on Laube earning playing time in Las Vegas. If Abdullah and/or Alexander Mattison get hurt, Laube could get pressed into action. A dynamic open-field back with receiving skills from New Hampshire, Laube is better between the tackles than touted. The rookie impressed the Raiders this summer, making the active roster and prompting teammates and staff to believe there's a brighter future ahead.

Jordan Mims: Kendre Miller is back at practice and likely to leapfrog Mims on the depth chart as the Saints' No.3 runner. 

Dalvin Cook: The most impressive runner in Dallas' rotation thus far has been Rico Dowdle, but the Cowboys' defense has been so bad that Dowdle doesn't earn enough touches due to poor game scripts. That has changed in recent weeks, so unless Cook can also become an impactful defensive player and play two weeks, he's not earning significant playing time. You can add Cook in anticipation that he'll get a try, but consider him a preemptive addition only for deep rosters. Otherwise, monitor from afar. 

Tyler Badie: After earning an extended opportunity two weeks ago, Badie suffered a back injury and collapsed on the field after trying to make it to the bench on his own. He's a candidate for IR. 

Blake Watson: A rookie passing-down back with enough size to work between the tackles as a committee option on running downs, Watson has good speed and excellent hands. If Watson begins earning an uptick in touches and has success, consider making him a preemptive addition for 1-2 weeks at the bottom of your depth chart. At this point, forget about him.