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Just when you thought your fantasy football season was in the clear from the bye weeks, the Friday injury report comes out and suddenly you’re down another man or two.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was forced into an appendectomy earlier in the week, neither Terry McLaurin nor Chris Godwin can get back onto the field, and the number of hamstrings currently being monitored has forced us, once again, to the waiver wire for last-minute help.
With just three or four weeks left in your fantasy regular season, wins are mandatory for many of you and finding the right deep-cut receiver could mean all the difference between making the playoffs and sharing stuffing recipes with the rest of the bottom-feeders in your league.
The obvious first-choice of where to look is in Arizona, where the Cardinals lost Jacoby Brissett’s No. 1 wideout in Harrison.
The 49ers pass defense ranks 25th in DVOA, and they’re allowing the 11th-most passing yards per game with the sixth-most passing touchdowns allowed.
Brissett will be looking Trey McBride’s way plenty, but both Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch will need to step up to win this game.
Calvin Austin III runs after making a catch during the Steelers’ Nov. 2 game. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectWilson should be your first choice because he already has been playing the second-most snaps on the team and has seen 11 targets over the past two games.
He is capable of working the underneath routes as well as stretching the field vertically and is ready to take his game to the next level.
Dortch makes for a strong contingency option, though he is suited better for full-point PPR formats given his work as the team’s slot receiver.
Neither player is going to be the superstar Harrison was finally blossoming into, but with the 49ers allowing opposing quarterbacks a 105.1 passer rating, Brissett should efficiently work his way downfield finding both receivers throughout the game.
Should neither Cardinals player be available, you probably need to dive in a little deeper.
Facing the woeful Bengals, Steelers wideout Calvin Austin III should be a decent add to your roster.
He is the bona fide No. 2 receiver in this offense, and Aaron Rodgers has targeted him a lot more over the past three games.
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With 19 targets in that span, Austin has had his struggles adjusting to his quarterback’s needs, but they continue to work together.
In a game that feels like it has some shootout vibes, Austin could break a long touchdown.
And if you really need a deep dive who could even have some future value, pay attention to what is happening in Chicago.
A Luther Burden III emergence, now that he is healthy, could be coming.
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Olamide Zacchaeus has been working as the Bears third receiver, but with six drops over the past two games, coach Ben Johnson could be in the market for a fresh face.
Being able to dig deep for wide receiver help is a strong mark of a fantasy champion.
Anyone can surf the boxscores and find someone who had a decent week, but the true winner is the manager who has the foresight to see what is coming.
Given the situations and injuries around them, all four receivers could be your key to unlocking the fantasy playoffs.
Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.
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