• Multiple running back options due to injuries: Rhamondre Stevenson, Derrick Henry, Brian Robinson Jr. and D’Andre Swift all left their games with injuries. Their backups are all available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues.
• Injuries affect other positions: Injuries to Tank Dell, Amari Cooper, Christian Watson, Derek Carr and Josh Whyle will open up opportunities for other players.
• Check the schedule: With only four games left in the fantasy season, the opponents a team faces will have a much greater impact on the players they should consider.
Estimated reading time: 24 minutes
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Joshua Dobbs, Minnesota Vikings (Listed in 47.4% of leagues on ESPN)
Dobbs threw four interceptions in Week 12 on Monday Night Football.
- The combination of a poor game, questions about his status as the team’s starting quarterback, and the Vikings’ bye in Week 13 led to several fantasy managers dropping him.
- Despite a poor performance, Dobbs has been a top-12 fantasy quarterback in each of the last four weeks.
- Assuming he keeps his job, he will now have the advantage of pitching to Justin Jefferson for the first time.
- The Vikings have the best quarterback schedule for the remainder of the season, according to PFF’s Strengths Schedule tool.
- If the Vikings announce a new starting quarterback like Nick Mullens, the Vikings’ schedule and supporting cast make it worth a waiver as well.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (32.1%)
Stafford completed 22 of his 37 pass attempts against the Cleveland Browns for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
- Stafford has consistently finished outside the top 12 fantasy quarterbacks, but has been a touchdown-throwing machine over the past two weeks.
- The Rams generally don’t have a good schedule at quarterback in the final four weeks of the fantasy season, with one clear exception in Week 15 when they face the Washington Commanders.
- Washington has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
- If you have an uncertain quarterback situation, it’s worth scheduling Stafford a week early to take advantage of this dominant matchup.
Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints (0.3%)
Winston took over for Derek Carr when he suffered a head injury in Week 13. He is also battling shoulder and back injuries.
- It wouldn’t be surprising if that kept Carr out next week.
- Winston didn’t see many opportunities in this game, completing two of five passes for 41 yards.
- In his last full season as a starter, he scored the third-most fantasy points in 2019. He scored the 15th most points in the first three games of last season.
- The Saints have the fifth-best schedule at quarterback for the remainder of the season, according to PFF’s Strengths Schedule tool.
- At the end of the season they will face the Carolina Panthers, the New York Giants, the Los Angeles Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- The matchups get better as the season progresses. Winston’s fantasy value will be much higher if Carr has to miss multiple games.
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (10.4%)
Minshew threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts’ overtime win against the Tennessee Titans.
- The Colts trailed by 10 points at one point, forcing them to rely on the passing game.
- The loss of Jonathan Taylor may also have influenced the game plan to pass more often.
- Minshew has finished most weeks as a top-20 fantasy quarterback, but has rarely ranked in the top-12.
- The Colts have the second-best schedule at quarterback for the remainder of the season, according to PFF’s strength of schedule tool.
- He faces the Cincinnati Bengals next week, giving him the best matchup for fantasy managers looking for a quarterback off the waiver line.
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots (34.1%)
Rhamondre Stevenson had to be taken off the field with an ankle injury and was out at halftime.
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