Another tumultuous week for fantasy managers. Nothing can derail an NFL team—or a fantasy roster—faster than injuries to top players. Joe Burrow was already lost for the season. This week, Tyreek Hill and Malik Nabers joined him with crushing season-ending injuries, sending fantasy managers into free fall. CeeDee Lamb remains sidelined, but there’s at least some optimism he could return soon.
We’re only one month into the season, and managers are already scrambling. In redraft formats, especially, it’s time to keep grinding the waiver wire every week. In fantasy football, when one door closes, another opens: injuries create opportunities for unexpected players to emerge. Managers can either throw in the towel or keep churning and clawing out victories. If you’re reading this article, you’re part of the latter group. Rough patches can turn into win streaks.
In a weekly game like fantasy football, it’s critical to step back and remember: the playoffs are within reach. Whether it’s a three-week sprint in formats like the FFPC or NFFC, or a single-elimination playoff, you can’t win the raffle without a ticket. In a season like this—loaded with attrition — fantasy managers who keep improving their rosters and attacking the waiver wire will gain the edge.
And now, on top of the injury blues, bye weeks are here. Try to stay at least a week ahead — especially at one-off positions—so you’re not scrambling when the lineup lock hits.
Upcoming Bye Weeks
Week Five
Atlanta
Chicago
Green Bay
Pittsburgh
Week Six
Houston
Minnesota
Week Seven
- Buffalo
- Baltimore
Running Backs
Kenneth Gainwell (RB, Pit) — Jaylen Warren was a late scratch with a knee injury, and Gainwell had the backfield all to himself and responded with a career-high (31.4 points) performance. Warren could be back as early as this week, but Gainwell needs to be rostered everywhere. Arthur Smith has been an RB whisperer throughout his career, propelling Cordarelle Patterson to an RB1 season and Tyler Allgeier to 1,000 + rushing yards. Gainwell is the top add in most leagues this week (assuming Woody Marks is not available).
Kendre Miller (RB, NO) — Miller looked very good in Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, finishing with 65 combined yards on 11 touches. He scored a TD and, for the first time this season, out-produced Alvin Kamara in fantasy scoring despite Kamara dominating backfield touches with 19. Miller has obvious contingent upside, but also has the added upside of ascending to the RB1 job with a Kamara trade if New Orleans goes full rebuild mode (and why wouldn’t they at this point?). Still only 23 years old, Miller finally has a coaching staff that actually likes him after the dark days of Dennis Allen.
