It’s been a rough NFL season for some of the best wide receivers in football.
AJ Green has missed the better part of two games with a toe injury and likely will miss a third.
Calvin Johnson has been slowed by an ankle injury and has missed time.
And even Brandon Marshall was slowed earlier in the year.
Now, add Victor Cruz to the list of injury victims, with Cruz’s injury being the worst of the bunch. A torn patellar tendon will sideline the salsa-dancing Cruz for the rest of the season, leaving at least one fantasy owner in every league scrambling for a replacement this week.
Here is a look at a few players to target on the waiver wire before Week 7 begins:
Wide Receivers
With Cruz gone for the year, Eli Manning will need a few receivers to step up to fill the void. Sure, Larry Donnell will continue to be a redzone preference of the quarterback, but it will be Odell Beckham Jr. and Rueben Randle who figure to be next in line for Cruz’s targets.
Randle is the first receiver that should be considered of the two. After a breakout sophomore season in which he became a waiver-wire target, the former LSU star should have the most trust built up with Manning. Randle has 28 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns this season, and his reception and yardage numbers figure to see a big boost with Cruz’s absence.
Beckham Jr. had a lackluster Week 6 but showed why the Giants invested a first-round pick in him earlier this year with a strong Week 5 performance. Beckham Jr. has 72 yards and one touchdown in October since coming back from his hamstring injury, and look for the Giants to get him more involved on quick throws and screen passes to let the speedy receiver go to work in space. Both Giants receivers should be added in all formats.
With Green’s toe still ailing in Cincinnati and Marvin Jones still out with a lingering ankle injury, Mohamed Sanu is a must-start again this week against the Indianapolis Colts. Sanu, who has three touchdowns and more than 300 yards receiving now this year, should be first in line for targets again this week, and his big frame also makes him a valuable redzone threat for Andy Dalton. Make sure Sanu is in your lineup this week against a Colts’ defense that ranks 19th against the pass.
In deeper leagues, look at Andre Holmes of the Oakland Raiders and Justin Hunter of the Tennessee Titans.
Holmes had 121 yards and two touchdowns as the third man on the Raiders’ depth chart in Week 6, and it was the consecutive big game for Holmes, who went for five catches, 74 yards and a touchdown in Week 4 against Miami before a bye week.
Hunter has six catches, 176 yards and one touchdown the last two weeks for the Tennessee Titans, and he will see a good matchup this week against a Washington Redskins’ defense that ranks 18th against the pass this year.
After six weeks of the fantasy season, it should be clear if you are in the playoff hunt. If you are firmly in the chase, consider it safe to stash Josh Gordon if available in your league, which is the case in more than 80 percent of leagues. Gordon won’t return from suspension until Week 12, but that is just in time for the playoffs in fantasy football. Get Gordon now, and you likely will have one of the top receiving threats come playoff time.
Tight End
Jordan Reed made sure he wouldn’t get left on the waiver wire after returning in Week 6 for the first time since going down with a hamstring injury in Week 1. Reed showed the same flashes of athleticism he did late last season with eight catches on 11 targets for 92 yards against Arizona. The Redskins’ offense loves to get the tight end the ball, no matter who is behind center at quarterback or who is lined up at the tight end spot. Owners of Niles Paul can consider it safe to drop him for Reed going forward, and Reed should be a top-10 tight end going forward.
Running Back
Now that Knowshon Moreno has been placed on injured reserve in Miami, Lamar Miller is worth holding onto the rest of the season. Miller now is over 400 total yards and four total touchdowns this season and is worth starting the rest of the way.
Jerick McKinnon dominated the touches after he earned a start ahead of Matt Asiata for the Vikings on Sunday. McKinnon was involved in 30 more plays than Asiata on Sunday and looks to be the more valuable back moving forward, but the running back situation in Minnesota still is unclear. Go with another option if you have one available, but both Minnesota running backs are worth roster spots.
In deeper leagues, consider adding Tre Mason of the St. Louis Rams. Zac Stacy hasn’t shown any of the tools that made him a surprise star in fantasy leagues in 2013, and Mason went for 52 total yards on six touches last week against the 49ers. It is hard for the Rams to get Mason on the field with his undeveloped ability to pass block, but it is possible Mason will get more touches and a chance to climb his way up the depth chart soon.
Also consider Brandon Bolden and rookie James White now that Stevan Ridley is out for the year in New England. It is tough to gamble on what Bill Belichick will do with the running back position, but White had a strong preseason and can catch the ball out of the backfield. Shane Vereen will get the majority of touches, but if he fumbles or needs to take a series off, it will be up to Bolden or White to step up.
Survivor Pool
This week’s survivor pool pick is the Chicago Bears at home against the Miami Dolphins. At 4-1 this year, we go back to the tradition of picking a home team that had its offense clicking Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears need a win to get above .500 before a showdown with New England.
John Livingston is a sports writer at The Durango Herald and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He can be reached at jlivingston@durangoherald.com or on Twitter @jlivi2.
