RADIO
It's Wednesday, so you know the waiver wire is bumping like Hotline Bling at Drake's house. After multiple injuries from big-name players last week, there are some popular replacement adds that fantasy owners will be banking on. I'm not here to tell you "You shouldn't have added that guy", but rather to temper your expectations for the ceilings of some of these must-add players.
The San Diego Chargers received quite the blow last week when wide receiver Keenan Allen went down with a season-ending lacerated kidney. Allen was definitely the most talented receiver that quarterback Phillip Rivers had to throw to, and his absence will certainly hurt the offense moving forward. Allen had 67 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns through eight weeks before being injured.
Allen's injury presents opportunities for Chargers wide receivers further down in the depth chart, with one of those names being Malcom Floyd. Floyd filled in for Allen last week and flourished with four receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns against the Baltimore Ravens. Floyd certainly showed that he's worthy of an add, but fantasy owners shouldn't expect him to repeat last week's numbers on a weekly basis. Floyd is a big receiver at 6'5" and is a great jump-ball and deep-threat receiver due to that size, but his value is dependent on big plays. He isn't the possession receiver that Keenan Allen was before his injury. Floyd has shown that he can be productive in this system, but don't expect him to be a top-25 wide receiver the rest of the season.
Another team that was bitten by the injury bug last week was the Chicago Bears. Running back Matt Forte went down with a knee injury that is believed to be an MCL sprain. The good news is that Forte is expected back this season, but there is no real timetable for his return at the moment. Taking over for Forte will be rookie running back Jeremy Langford, who has carried the ball 27 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns this season. Langford received 12 carries last week against Minnesota, gaining just 46 yards. Any starting running back in the NFL deserves an add in fantasy leagues, but you shouldn't expect the rookie to put up Matt Forte-like numbers in a Bears offense that has struggled at times this season. Langford could be a viable flex or low-end RB2 option depending on the matchup, but don't count on him to replace Matt Forte's RB1 numbers.
