As another week goes by in the NFL, the injuries keep piling up. Last week we saw some of the NFL's top quarterbacks fall victim to lengthy setbacks including future hall-of-famers Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger.
As always, fantasy owners are forced to look for alternatives. When someone goes down with an injury, the next man up becomes ever so important in fantasy.
This week, we'll take a look at the 2019 Fantasy Football Week 3 Injury Impact and show owners how to capitalize.
2019 Fantasy Football Week 3 Injury Impact
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Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley is arguably the best running back in football and went first in many drafts. Owners were cringing when he ended up in crutches on Sunday. Barkley has been a beast this year, racking up 237 yards on the ground and 74 in the air, before sustaining the injury.
Expect Barkley out for up to eight weeks.
With last year’s second-overall pick falling to a high-ankle sprain, Wayne Gallman is suddenly thrusted into the starting position. He’s the logical pick for fantasy owners and can be expected to have heavy usage in New York’s offense.
Owners can confidently snag Gallman on the wire, as rookie Daniel Jones will rely heavily on the run game while adjusting to the NFL.
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots
After catching a touchdown in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, wide receiver Julian Edelman left the game with an apparent chest injury. After releasing Antonio Brown, and losing Edelman to injury, the New England Patriots would look to Philip Dorsett.
Patriots say Julian Edelman is questionable to return. Chest. Video (if you missed it) pic.twitter.com/F3ivzxBxAf
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) September 22, 2019
Josh Gordon would be slated as the first man up, but Dorsett is a viable option as well. So far on the season, Dorsett has 187 yards and 13 catches with three touchdowns. Even if Edelman plays in Week 4, Dorsett is still a good pick-up with Tom Brady throwing the ball.
Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are known for utilizing their running backs in a multitude of ways. For years they have been employing more than one running back in their offensive schemes.
Ito Smith, the second running back on the depth chart, was evaluated for a possible concussion on Sunday. With Smith out and Kenjon Barner also questionable, Devonta Freemon should see an uptick in usage going forward.
Also, Qadree Ollison, the 152nd pick in last year’s draft class might have an opportunity to get some touches in an otherwise crowded backfield. Ollison, a big-bodied power-back could see some looks in the red zone, especially in heavy sets near the goal line.
Although Freeman will dominate the work load, Ollison is certainly a player to keep an eye on for owners who are in need of flex streamer.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, T.Y. Hilton entered Week 3 with a lingering quad injury. It didn’t seem to be an issue, however, as he balled out in the first half. Hilton caught eight passes in the first half, but was held out after re-aggravating the quad.
It’s currently unclear if Hilton will miss Week 4 because of the quad injury, but it’s clear that the Colts’ medical staff will be monitoring the ailment on a play-by-play basis.
Expect Hilton’s usage to drop, which will open the door to the other receivers in Indy. Deon Cain and Zach Pascal are likely to fill the void in Hilton’s absence as the top receivers in the Colts’ depth chart.
Also, the Colts drafted burner Parris Campbell out Ohio State this past year. His development should be accelerated without Hilton garnering as many reps. Out of all the options in the Colts’ offense, Campbell is the most intriguing because of his home-run hitting ability, making him a boom-or-bust candidate going forward.
Make sure to visit the F6P Fantasy Football Page for more advice to help you dominate the 2019 season.
