Nate Washington (WR, HOU) - Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: The injury bug wastes no time buzzing about this game we call fantasy football. Week One saw Dez Bryant felled for 4-8 weeks with a broken foot. T.Y. Hilton escaped structural knee damage but is still expected to miss a game or two with a sprain.

While he is probably not a long-term fix, Texans veteran wide receiver Nate Washington is worth a gander on the waiver wire this week for those in need of wideout help. The 32-year-old Washington saw 11 targets in Houston's opening loss to Kansas City, finishing with six grabs for 105 yards. This is not too shabby for a player who has topped 50 receptions only twice in his career. Granted, Houston's quarterback situation is murky, with Bill O'Brien remaining coy on whether Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett will be under center against Carolina on Sunday.

Regardless, Washington gained all-too-much experience playing with sub-par quarterbacks from 2009-2014 in Tennessee. His output against the Chiefs suggests that he has plenty left in the tank, and the veteran know-how to capitalize on the opportunities that come his way. Houston threw the ball 47 times last Sunday. For as long as Arian Foster remains out, Bill O'Brien will continue to air it out. Thus, there will be work for Nate Washington this week, making him a high-upside play. If you're an unfortunate Bryant or Hilton owner, Washington is a viable replacement for the short-term.