Injuries occur every week in football, and there is a constant cycle of lesser-owned players filling in for starters. It’s important to identify the players worth picking up if their predecessor were to go down, in order to scoop them off the waiver wire before your opponents.

Jordan Howard, Tyrell Williams and Tyler Boyd are examples of players whose fantasy values skyrocketed when the player in front of them on the depth chart was injured earlier in the season. Today I'll take a look at a few players who could become fantasy relevant down the home stretch if an opportunity opened up.

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Running Backs Who Could Emerge

Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI)

Smallwood has carried the ball 13 times in each of the last two weeks, totaling 118 yards (4.5 yards per carry) over that span. He has taken a backseat to Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles all season, turning 57 carries into 253 yards and a touchdown through 10 games.

Philly’s offensive line has been solid all season, and with a rookie under center, the Eagles have been one of the more run-heavy teams in the league despite inconsistent play from Mathews. If Mathews misses Philadelphia’s Week 12 game — or any time going forward — Smallwood would become a useful fantasy option. Sproles also sitting out would be an added bonus.

Jalen Richard (RB, OAK)

Richard has made an impact both on the ground and through the air for the Raiders this season. He has outproduced DeAndre Washington from the start, with 281 yards rushing on 46 carries (6.11 YPC) with one touchdown, compared to 302 yards on 63 carries (4.79 YPC) with no touchdowns for Washington. He also has 101 yards and eight more receptions that Washington, including a 17-yard touchdown grab from Derek Carr in Week 11.

If Latavius Murray were to go down, Richard would likely slide into a larger role for a team that utilizes its running backs in the passing game and also frequently jumps out to early leads. He already has some value in deep PPR leagues.

Alfred Morris (RB, DAL)

Rookie Ezekiel Elliott, who leads the league in rushing, recently became the third Cowboys back in as many seasons to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark— DeMarco Murray led the league with 1,845 yards in 2014, and Darren McFadden finished fourth with 1,089 yards last year. Dallas’ offensive line is the best in football, and just about anyone can have success running behind it.

Alfred Morris, Elliott’s current backup, scampered for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons in the NFL — from 2012 to 2014 — as a member of the Redskins. He struggled a bit last season, but at just 27 years old, is still a capable back. An injury to Elliott would immediately make Morris an appealing fantasy option.

Other options to consider: DeAngelo Williams (RB, PIT), Damien Williams (RB, MIA), Alex Collins (RB, SEA), Alfred Blue (RB, HOU), Andre Ellington (RB, ARI)

 

Wide Receivers Who Could Emerge

Malcolm Mitchell (WR, NE)

Mitchell has shown flashes of potential in his rookie season, most notably in Week 11, when he caught four of his five targets for 98 and his first career touchdown. When utilized, he has been more effective than both Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan.

Even with Rob Gronkowski banged up, Julian Edelman commands most of the attention from Tom Brady, who looked Edelman’s way 17 times in Week 11. Edelman going down — regardless of whether or not Gronk is healthy — would allow Mitchell to step into a larger role in an explosive, Brady-led offense.

Victor Cruz (WR, NYG)

Cruz has had a solid — albeit unspectacular — return to the field in 2016, picking up at least 30 yards in eight of his nine games played. He has managed a reception of at least 35 yards four times, including back-to-back games with a 40-yard grab in Weeks 10 and 11.

Odell Beckham plays all over the field, but a lot of his success comes when operating out of the slot. If he were to go down, it would allow Cruz, primarily a slot receiver, to see more targets as the veteran presence in the receiving corps of a pass-heavy Giants offense.

Phillip Dorsett (WR, IND)

Dorsett has settled back into Indianapolis’ No. 3 wideout role with Donte Moncrief back in action, but has flashed big-play potential in a limited sample size. Three of his 24 receptions this year have gone for at least 50 yards. The Colts’ 2015 first-round draft pick has totaled 395 yards and one touchdown in his second NFL season.

T.Y. Hilton going down would be more beneficial for Dorsett than when Moncrief was injured, seeing as Hilton is more commonly used as a deep threat. Of course, Dorsett’s hypothetical value would depend on Andrew Luck returning from his concussion, but a starting job alongside Moncrief would make the former Miami Hurricane a hot commodity.

Other options to consider: Devin Funchess (WR, CAR), J.J. Nelson (WR, ARI), Breshad Perriman (WR, BAL), Kenny Stills (WR, MIA), Russell Shepard (WR, TB)

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