RADIO
Just because no NFL teams or players are on bye this week, it does not mean that fantasy football managers will not be in search of a last-minute replacement this week.
Fantasy football teams are now battling for playoff berths and the opportunity to win their league titles. Making sure every player in your lineup is healthy and going to suit up is paramount. So if one of your superstars is 50-50 because of a COVID test, a tight hamstring or a toothache, you better back him up with someone from your league’s waiver wire. And if you have already set your lineup for a DFS contest, you better make sure one of your guys does not put up a zero and ruin your shot at stuffing your turkey this holiday with cold hard cash.
Without further ado, here are my pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 12 --- and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace:
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Potential Pivot Plays for Fantasy Lineups
If Minnesota’s Adam Thielen (COVID) does not receive the negative test result he needs to suit up Sunday, you could go with…
Cole Beasley (BUF, WR) vs. LAC
Beasley is not exactly a fantasy favorite unless you use him in a PPR league or DFS contest where his receptions count as points. He has had under 55 receiving yards in five of his last seven games as top target Stefon Diggs takes all of quarterback Josh Allen’s attention, plus he has never scored more than six touchdowns in a season. There are three bits of good news for Beasley heading into the weekend, however, that make him a possible play.
First, Buffalo is coming off a bye, so he should be as fresh as he has been all season. Second, No. 2 WR John Brown is banged-up again, so Beasley could be in line for extra targets. Third, the Chargers Defense has allowed 28 points or more in seven straight games. They have also allowed the Hall of Fame quarterback crew of Joe Flacco, Tua Tagovailoa, Drew Lock, and Gardner Minshew to each throw multiple touchdown passes against them over the last five weeks.
If Carolina’s Christian McCaffrey (shoulder) is not ready to give it a go on Sunday, you could go with…
Brian Hill (ATL, RB) vs. LV
Decent running backs with any fantasy value whatsoever are harder to find on fantasy league waiver wires these days than finding toilet paper in stores was back in April. Hill has to be available on most waiver wires due to the way Atlanta has been misusing him the past several weeks. Todd Gurley’s understudy has had fewer than 10 touches in three of his past four games despite showing more explosiveness and ability to catch passes out of the backfield. This could be the week he provides a little fantasy bang, though --- fingers crossed.
You have to think that Hill will be given more opportunities down the stretch now that Atlanta’s playoff possibilities have been dashed. Gurley has shown himself only useful around the goal line thanks to his arthritic knee. This could be the week Hill has more of a say in the offense as Atlanta hosts a Las Vegas team coming off a short week after allowing three rushing touchdowns to the Super Bowl champion Kansas Coty Chiefs. I am not saying Hill is a certainty for 75 yards and a TD. What I am saying is that he could give you 50-75 yards and a couple catches if you are in a severe pinch at the RB position due to CMC possibly missing another contest.
If Jacksonville’s D.J. Chark (ribs) cannot be cleared in time for Sunday’s game, you could go with…
Keelan Cole Sr. (JAX, WR) vs. CLE
Cole has had a lot to contend with this season. Jacksonville’s quarterbacks have been injured and inconsistent, and Chark and running back James Robinson have dominated the touches and had the offense revolve around them. This combo has made Cole about as popular among fantasy managers as kale is at a hog dog stand. He has just nine catches for 91 yards over his last four games and has probably been dumped by many fantasy players.
If Chark cannot play on Sunday, though, Cole gets a new lease on fantasy life. Cole would become new starting signal caller Mike Glennon’s top target this week, and he is facing a below-average Cleveland pass defense that has only done well in recent weeks thanks to Mother Nature making it difficult for opposing quarterbacks to pass. Take a flyer on Cole if Chark cannot go and you should get comparable numbers that will soften the fantasy blow for your squad.
UPDATE: D.J. Chark has officially been ruled out for this week.
If Chicago’s Nick Foles (hip) is unable to play on Sunday night, you could go with…
Mitchell Trubisky (CHI, QB) at GB
Foles has not been the answer to the problems that ail Chicago’s sickly offense. He cannot lift up mediocre talent and transform them into an above-average offensive unit. We saw the same thing with the St. Louis Rams when he was the starter there. Foles suffered what looked to be a severe hip injury at the tail end of Chicago’s last loss, but he still has a shot of playing on Sunday night the way things stand now. If you have Foles on your roster right now and not Trubisky, you should pick up the latter before word comes down that Foles is not suiting up Sunday evening.
Trubisky has had his own injury issues this year, yet it appears he would be ready to start if Foles cannot limp onto the field against Green Bay. I know Trubisky’s track record against the division rival Packers has been uneven at best (four touchdown passes in five career games vs. GB), but what other quarterback available on fantasy waiver wires would you gamble on at the last minute? Mike Glennon? Brandon Allen? At least Trubisky is familiar with his opponent and has been a starting QB before. Roll the dice with Trubisky and he might put up better number than Foles would have anyway.
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