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Fantasy football general managers must be prepared to make last-minute waiver wire pickups if their leagues allow it. In this crazy age of nonstop injuries, failed COVID tests, weather-related postponements and drug-related suspensions, fantasy footballers never know when one of their star players (or kickers) might not suit up on Sunday.
That is what this column is all about --- finding golden nuggets on the waiver wire in your fantasy league that you can pick up on Friday or Saturday when you discover one of your best guys might not make it on the field on Sunday.
Without further ado, here are my pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 2 -- and the questionable fantasy football players who you might need to replace in your lineups.
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Potential Pivot Plays for Fantasy Lineups
If Philadelphia’s Zach Ertz (hamstring) cannot limp out onto the field Sunday afternoon, you could pick up and play…
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills (TE) at MIA
While other fantasy general managers gobbled up New Orleans’ Juwan Jackson and Cleveland’s David Njoku, many probably passed on Knox during the first round of waiver picks after a disappointing 2020 campaign where Knox slumped so badly that the rumor was Buffalo was going to trade for Ertz to replace him as the team’s top tight end.
Knox caught all four of the passes Allen aimed his way in Week 1 for 41 yards and will be Buffalo’s No. 1 TE from here on out it seems. He will run routes this weekend against a Miami defense that allowed New England’s tight end twosome of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith to combine for eight catches, so do not be shocked if Knox finds the end zone. Knox scored five touchdowns over his final nine combined regular-season and playoff games last year.
If Detroit’s Tyrell Williams (concussion) is ruled out before Monday night, you could pick up and play….
Anthony Schwartz, Cleveland Browns (WR) vs. HOU
You may have never heard of Schwartz until last week when he replaced the injured Odell Beckham Jr. and surprised many with three receptions for 69 yards and a 17-yard carry. Cleveland’s third-round pick from his past April showed bursts of speed and flashes of brilliance, especially on the 44-yard reception he connected with quarterback Baker Mayfield on.
Schwartz is a short-term play since Beckham will return eventually and Cleveland has a run-first offense that spreads its passes around to OBJ, Jarvis Landry and three talented tight ends. But considering Schwartz is lining up to be the Browns’ No. 2 or No. 3 WR for Sunday’s game and is facing a Houston Texans defense that is exploitable in the secondary, he is a decent one-week play if you need to make a last-minute lineup pivot. Just be careful to make sure he will be ready to go as he is currently listed as questionable with a minor knee issue.
If San Francisco’s Brandon Aiyuk (hamstring/coaches) worries you too much heading Sunday’s game, you could pick up and play….
Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders (WR) at PIT
Aiyuk went catchless in a game his San Francisco 49ers put up 41 points and did not start, so fantasy managers are probably not going to trust him heading into Week 2 unless they hear head honcho Kyle Shanahan say he will become the next Jerry Rice between now and Sunday. Meanwhile, Renfrow racked up six catches for 70 yards on nine targets during Vegas’ entertaining victory on Monday night.
The Raiders slot receiver has to fight for David Carr’s attention and targets with Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller and up-and-coming wideouts Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards in the passing fold, but he has established himself as a go-to guy in crucial situations. You can the see game script going in a direction where Carr and Co. will have to pass a lot in the second half on Sunday versus the Steelers. Ruggs is still a little ways away from becoming the team's no-doubt No. 1 WR, so Renfrow's target share should be 6--to-10 for Week 2.
If Houston’s Pharaoh Brown (shoulder/ankle) does not dress for Sunday’s game, you could pick up and play….
Jordan Akins, Houston Texans (TE) at CLE
Sometimes the best way to replace one of your fantasy starters is with the same guy who is replacing him on the field. There might not have been many fantasy footballers who took a flyer on Brown during their drafts, but I am sure many scooped him up after his four receptions for 67 yards in Week 1. Yet the bloom is already off his rose now that he has popped up on the injury report with multiple injuries.
Akins was supposed to be Houston’s No. 1 TE entering the season, but Brown’s performance last weekend has led to many doubts. But if Brown cannot play and Akins gets a chance to go against a Cleveland secondary that allowed Kansas City’s Travis Kelce to score two touchdowns, he is certainly a solid late-week pickup and play considering the circumstances. There are not many red-zone threats in Houston’s passing attack. The big-bodied Akins could be the biggest one this weekend if everything falls into place for him.
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