Thoughts go out to anyone who drafted a 49er...

By Martin Richardson

There was a brief moment where I thought I might get through a week of Fantasy football without an injury. Sure, I was losing my matchup after Ja’Marr Chase decided to become elite in a lost game, but I was injury free. Then I woke up Tuesday morning to see Brenton Strange was injured and by lunch time he was on IR. I don’t know what I have done to the Fantasy Gods, but if they could just leave me alone for a week, that would be fantastic.

I’m sure I am not the only one who has been ravaged by injuries this season, and if that is the case, there are some players who you would perhaps need to keep an eye on for having an impact on your rosters. This could be someone to make a move for in a trade if you want the edge as the playoffs get closer. Or it could be someone who is lurking on waivers who you may want to stash and, as the name of the article suggests, see if they are one to watch for this busy part of the season.

AJ BARNER:

The TE position in Fantasy football is weird. You can have players who ball out one week and end up being a top 5 player for weeks on end even if they do nothing and when you need a TE streamer, you pick them up it’s just not worth it.

However, it very much is worth watching AJ Barner. The man mountain who is nearly 2 meters tall, has become a huge target for Sam Darnold and the Seahawks. He has been really productive, and this has gone a little under the radar because of just how good Jaxon Smith Njigba has been; perhaps until his big Fantasy week last week against the Buccaneers where he had his biggest game: 7 receptions for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns.

With 2 more touchdowns previously against the Steelers and the Cardinals, Barner is making the most of his targets with redzone receptions that mean he has massive value in a strange TE market. Does this mean that this is dependent on the Seahawks offense getting into those redzone opportunities, that is certainly a question to ask; but Sam Darnold has got the offense moving and marching down the field with ease, so he will certainly have chance to capitalize. All it took was an untimely interception to stop the Seahawks from once again getting points on the board against the Bucs, such was their ability to move the chains.

With two upcoming games against the Jags and Texans, this is an ideal chance for the Seahawks to get back on track after that last minute loss last week, and a huge part of that is how successful Barner can be in the redzone when given the chance.

MICHAEL PITTMAN JR

Some of you now may be looking for players who can help tip you over the edge and help you get to the promised land of the playoffs. There are some big moves you could make, but it may cost you a premium.

This is where someone like Michael Pittman comes in.

Every year he goes a little under the radar, probably because he plays for the Colts and because over the past few years, they have been all kinds of chaotic. But, in 2025, Pittman is very close to becoming a top 10 Fantasy WR. With an average of over 10 points a game, a touchdown in all bar one game against the Broncos), Pittman is certainly someone you could look to if you are wanting to push on in your league.

He is also appealing because he has a later bye week (11), which means you can plug him in as a WR2 or FLEX option to keep you ticking over with wins whilst everyone else sits out for a week. And in those 5 games where he will help you, he has the Cardinals (who are all over the place right now), the Chargers (who can’t keep anyone healthy), the Titans (one win all season), the Steelers (ok, that may be a test for Indiana Jones et al) and then finally the Falcons (I don’t know which version of them will show up). All this tells me that by the end of those games, Pittman has a real shot at breaking into the top 10 and even higher if he continues to produce like he has at the start of the season.  

COURTLAND SUTTON

Just like Pittman, Sutton certainly has Fantasy trade value. Sitting one place above Pittman Jr, Sutton has delivered for Fantasy players even if the Broncos offense stuttered before they all did us favour and beat the annoying Eagles. Unlike Pittman Jr, Sutton has one less touchdown, but he is a yardage monster for this team, with over 100 yards against the Chargers, and just shy of 100 yards against the Eagles.

With an average points score of over 11, he, like Pittman Jr, could break into the top 10 for Fantasy WR if he carries on. He has winless Jets this week and that screams a Sauce Gardner shadow that could limit him a little, but given the terrible start of the Jets, I would still value Sutton to be as productive as ever. He also has Giants, Texans, Cowboys and Raiders in a 6 week window, so he and the Broncos really have the chance to become an AFC force and maybe even give themselves a chance of winning the AFC West.

MICHAEL CARTER AND EMARI DEMERCADO:

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As is the case whenever there is an injury, the backup brigade appears on the waivers in a way that makes no sense: both Michael Carter and Emari Demercado where both were projected to get the same number of points and both be the top back. ESPN may as well have written in their summary: ‘yeh we don’t know either; pick one and hope it works out.’ This could not be more accurate with Demercado now projected less than a point on the same platform a week later.

To those who picked up Carter, they would have been delighted with that early touchdown and the early attempts that he was getting in the offense. With 51 yards on the ground, a touchdown and then 22 yards in the air, there is chance for Carter to build on that as it was very clear that head coach Jonathan Gannon was less than impressed with Demercado’s fumble as he entered the end zone. Having said that, I doubt Fantasy managers who gambled on him being a starting option last week.

Speaking of Demercado, I wouldn’t count him out just yet. Yes that fumble was costly, for Fantasy players and the Cardinals, but he was productive. He broke free from the tackle and made the most of his three snaps for a total of 81 yards. There is nothing stopping him doing that again if he gets the chance. Sure the likelihood is that Carter is now the makeshift number one, but if you are in a deep league, Demercado still have some potential if Carter stumbles in any way.

The Cardinals need to bounce back from their embarrassing defeat to the Titans. And before Titans fans come for me, I am not saying it’s because it was your team, its because the Cardinals fumbled away that game in more ways than one. The highlight being the social media hubbub that Kyler Murray was concussed from when the ball hit him in the face. A game at the Colts isn’t ideal as the Colts are flying this season, then they have the Packers before a much needed bye week to address how they end their season: either in a rebuild or a push for the playoffs.

 

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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