Mike Fanelli | November 12th, 2018
Sometimes football is awesome and other times it is miserable. No one ever wants to see a player get hurt, especially when it impacts their fantasy football team. On Sunday, Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp went down with a non-contact knee injury and reportedly torn the ACL in his left know, ending his season.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp (torn ACL) to miss remainder of season: https://t.co/4Xgw4PtaQW pic.twitter.com/sdZTb9Zxz5
— NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2018
For fantasy owners and the Rams, this couldn’t have come at a worse time as the playoffs are on everyone’s mind. In all redraft leagues, Kupp can be dropped without any concern. However, in dynasty or any sort of keeper league, fantasy owners should hold onto Kupp, even if it means using a bench spot for the rest of the season.
While everyone wishes Kupp a speedy recovery, life goes on and fantasy owners need to add a replacement off the waiver wire. Kupp was the WR18, averaging 14 fantasy points per game in PPR scoring prior to Sunday’s game. Fortunately, there are several solid option available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. Below, I give you my six favorite adds in PPR to replace Kupp.
Danny Amendola, Dolphins (44.6% owned)
Over the last five weeks, Amendola has scored at least 9.7 fantasy points in every game and he scored 13.9 or more in four of the five. With the injuries to Albert Wilson, Kenny Stills and now Jakeem Grant, Amendola has taken over as the number one weapon in the passing game. Since the Wilson injury in week seven, Amendola leads the team in targets with 23, including 10 Sunday verse the Packers. As the Dolphins fight for a wild-card spot, expect the passing game to continue to go through Amendola.
Adam Humphries, Buccaneers (27.8% owned)
After back-to-back games with seven or more catches, Humphries was held to just two catches for 53 yards and 7.3 fantasy points Sunday verse the Redskins. However, I am throwing that game out the window. The Buccaneers were in the red zone five times, turned the ball over twice and scored just three points; the game was a total fluke. Over his last three games, where Ryan Fitzpatrick has played, Humphries is second on the team in snaps at wide receiver, only behind Mike Evans. The Buccaneers have to throw the ball to win and that’s great news for Humphries.
Willie Snead, Ravens (20.4% owned)
The Ravens were on a bye this past week and have questions about the starting quarterback, but whether it’s Joe Flacco or Lamar Jackson, Snead’s role in the offense will remain the same. Snead has scored double-digit fantasy points in 77% of his games this season despite having just one touchdown. Furthermore, Snead is seeing a consistent target share, being targeted at least seven times in every game since week four. The Ravens’ rest of schedule is super friendly to wide receivers. Three of their next five games are against teams that rank in the bottom five against opposing wide receivers.
Josh Doctson, Redskins (16.8% owned)
With all the injuries to the Redskins’ offense, Doctson is one of the few healthy starters from week one. Paul Richardson is on injured reserve and Jamison Crowder hasn’t played since week five, leaving Doctson as the only starting wide receiver still healthy. Afters struggling to start the season, Doctson has back-to-back games with a touchdown and 12 or more fantasy points. While the Redskins’ passing game isn’t very good, volume alone makes Doctson worth an add. Doctson leads all Redskins wide receivers in targets over the last three games.
Anthony Miller, Bears (13.3% owned)
Miller has had a nice stretch, scoring 9.9 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games. Despite the return of Allen Robinson, Miller had five catches on six targets for 122 yards, one touchdown, and 23.2 fantasy points Sunday verse the Lions. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has been on fire over his last six games and the Bears’ offense is looking explosive. Millers’ role in the offense seems concrete as he has at least six targets in four straight games.
Josh Reynolds, Rams (1.1% owned)
This may seem kind of obvious because it is. Earlier in the year when Kupp missed two games with a knee injury, Reynolds scored 21.9 fantasy points, including two touchdowns. Reynolds was on the field for 86% of the snaps when Kupp was out. Jared Goff has the ninth most pass attempts this season and that shouldn’t change with the Kupp injury. The Rams are in 11 personal (three wide receivers on the field) more than any team in the league and with Kupp gone, Reynolds is the guy to join Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods in those sets.
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