Planning to Cover for Achane, Hall, Etienne, & More [Footballguys Daily Update 9/29]
Bob Harris and Mike Dempsey run through a weekend full of injuries to skill players across the NFL, breaking down backfield situations in Miami, New York, New Orleans and Tampa Bay while also touching on wide receiver injuries in Los Angeles and San Francisco and quarterback situations in Minnesota, Washington and Buffalo. The episode is primarily a rapid-fire waiver-wire and injury-replacement guide rather than a big-picture strategy discussion.
This episode of the Football Guys Daily Update is a rapid-fire injury triage session, with Mike Dempsey and Bob Harris working through a weekend that hammered the skill-position landscape across several teams. The through-line is urgency: with season-ending and multi-week injuries piling up at running back and receiver, managers need immediate, specific waiver and lineup guidance rather than wait-and-see hedging.
The arguments
Jalen Wright, not Ollie Gordon, is the play in Miami after Achane's torn ACL. Harris notes Wright already beat out Gordon for the RB2 role in camp and on the unofficial depth chart, and that Gordon was inefficient (2.4 yards per carry on 17 totes) in the lone game he saw extended work. Wright's receiving chops also fit better in what projects as a negative-game-script offense, even though a foot/stinger issue currently clouds his availability.
Braylon Allen should slide straight into Breece Hall's lineup spot. With Hall week-to-week on a quad injury, Harris expects Allen to inherit the bulk of the workload (he cites reports of a roughly 70-30 split) over Isaiah Davis, who saw zero carries in Week 3. Harris flags Allen as more of a volume-driven, bruising option than a pass-catching threat.
Alvin Kamara is the priority Saints pickup over Kendre Miller with Travis Etienne banged up. Harris argues Kamara is "first man up" and doesn't need a heavy workload to be fantasy-relevant, projecting 10-15 touches with 6-8 as catches as sufficient given his receiving role, with upside for more.
The Bucs' passing-game outlook is murky enough to fade most pass catchers with Baker Mayfield out three weeks. Harris has little conviction on Jalen Daniels beyond his preseason profile (dual-threat, 27-of-44 for 239 yards and a rushing score) and suggests looking elsewhere at receiver this week, taking it matchup-by-matchup after, though he'd keep rostering Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka at the same rate regardless.
Konata Mumfield is worth adding as Puka Nacua's return slips further away. Harris calls him an add in deeper leagues and a must-start replacement in shallow leagues or for Nacua's own managers, pointing to his increased role over the past two weeks as evidence he'll stay featured if Nacua's absence extends.
Brock Purdy should remain fantasy-viable despite San Francisco's receiver attrition, but with a lower ceiling. Harris lists the injured names (Stribling, Robinson, Kirk, Pearsall) and dismisses the remaining depth options, instead leaning on Purdy's rushing ability and the presence of Kittle, McCaffrey, and Deebo Samuel to keep him afloat; Mike Evans' own rib strain (day-to-day) adds another variable to watch.
T.J. Hockenson is fading into irrelevance in Minnesota's offense. Even with Justin Jefferson out and Josh Oliver (torn biceps) sidelined, Hockenson drew only four targets while Jordan Addison saw the usage spike; Harris says he no longer expects Hockenson to be "a thing" in this offense and had considered starting him against Tampa Bay before this performance.
What it means for your roster
- Add Jalen Wright ahead of Ollie Gordon on Miami waiver priority; treat Gordon as a hold-only speculative add given his poor efficiency and likely short-yardage role.
- Start Braylon Allen as a volume-based RB2/flex while Breece Hall is out; don't expect receiving-down production.
- Prioritize Alvin Kamara over Kendre Miller in Saints backfield pickups — he's the clear lead in touches and receiving work.
- Sit or bench most Bucs pass catchers this week given Jalen Daniels' unknown translation to live action; Evans and Egbuka can stay rostered but shouldn't be trusted as locks.
- Claim Konata Mumfield now, especially in deeper formats or if you drafted Nacua — he's a starter as long as Nacua's absence continues.
- Keep starting Brock Purdy with tempered ceiling expectations; monitor Mike Evans' rib strain before finalizing 49ers WR lineup decisions.
- Bench/drop T.J. Hockenson in most formats — Jordan Addison, not Hockenson, is absorbing the target bump created by Jefferson's and Oliver's absences.
“I feel like I should still be apologizing for the blind spot I've had for him in past years.” — Bob Harris
Players in this episode
→ Took a helmet/shoulder hit to the left knee, appeared uncomfortable and was seen limping/favoring the leg postgame; something to monitor though not being overblown yet.
↓ Increasingly unlikely to return for Week 4 at Philadelphia.
↓ Season likely over with a torn ACL, headed to injured reserve.
↑ Reportedly avoided long-term injury and has a chance to play in Week 4 against Miami, with no clear indication the team will hold him out through the Week 6 bye.
↑ Reportedly will participate in practice this week working back from an elbow issue.
↓ Considered week-to-week with a quad injury after an MRI.
↓ Kellen Moore said there will be lost time due to a hamstring issue.
→ Currently ranked WR28 through three games; hosts uncertain whether to trust him with Daniels at QB and lean toward looking elsewhere this week.
↑ Pushing for full-time snaps; played 21 snaps vs. Cowboys including the key play setting up the game-winning field goal; has 10 catches, 234 yards, and a TD on 41 snaps this season.
→ Despite multiple WR injuries (Stripling, Robinson, Kirk, Pearsall all on IR), Purdy should stay viable fantasy-wise due to Kittle, McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and his own rushing ability, though his ceiling may be lowered.
→ Left the field appearing in pain but is considered day-to-day with a rib strain (note: hosts misspoke referencing 49ers).
↓ Expected to miss three weeks with an injury.
↓ Ranked WR51 through three games amid QB uncertainty.
↑ Got a massive target bump with Jefferson out.
↑ Appears to be first man up in Etienne's absence and is the preferred waiver add; doesn't need a huge workload if he keeps getting receiving work.
↓ Only drew four targets even with Jefferson out and Josh Oliver injured; considered essentially waiver-wire fodder now.
→ Has a minor quad strain and is questionable for the Lions matchup; his absence would hurt Tetairoa McMillan's workload and Darren Waller's mismatches.
→ Will undergo imaging after getting kicked in the leg vs. Browns, but hosts are confident he'll be ready to play.
↑ Expected to take over the dominant share of work in Hall's absence, possibly a 70-30 split; bruising runner but not a big pass-catching threat.
↑ Considered the favorite for lead back duties over Ollie Gordon based on camp usage and depth chart, though dealing with a stinger/foot issue and day-to-day.
→ Was splitting work with Kamara but viewed as the second option behind Kamara for saints backfield touches.
→ Traded from Minnesota to the Giants for a fifth-round pick; hosts view it as the Vikings admitting a draft mistake, and expect McCarthy could eventually start for the Giants over Jameis Winston.
↓ Expected to sign with the Commanders, but he's previously said his playing days are behind him, so fantasy relevance is minimal barring an injury to Rashad White.
↓ Was unimpressive with 2.4 YPC on 17 carries; projected as short-yardage back in a below-average offense facing negative game scripts, less appealing than Wright.
↓ Named starter for now by Brian Daboll, but hosts expect turnovers to eventually cost him the job to McCarthy.
↑ Threw three touchdown passes filling in, which is seen as a positive for McLaurin/Diggs managers regardless of Daniels' return timeline.
↓ Was active in Week 3 but had zero rushing attempts, suggesting limited role even with Hall out.
↓ Believed to have a torn biceps and could be out indefinitely.
→ Will start over Jake Browning after beating him out in camp; athletic dual-threat with big arm, strong preseason numbers (27/44, 239 yards, TD, no INT, plus rushing TD).
↑ Role has increased the past two weeks and worth adding in deeper leagues or for Nacua managers if his absence drags on.