the road to fantasy soccer Championships are long and difficult, and it doesn't get any easier when a player gets injured right after the playoffs start.
It's been tough enough to navigate the tight end position this year, but it gets even tougher when two of the top 10 players at the position get injured this time of year.
Fantasy managers are following news that Evan Engram will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and David Njoku is expected to miss this week's game with a hamstring injury. is scrambling for help on the waiver wire.
Finding replacement value may seem impossible, but other injuries seem to open up some options.
Before we dig deeper, understand that tight ends like Hunter Henry, Zach Ertz, and Pat Freiermuth should be your focus first. All three have a strong target share on their respective teams and will need to add to their respective teams if they lose either Engram or N'Joku.
In some cases, looking you straight in the face may be the best solution.
If none of these three are available, start your deep investigation with Stone Smart of the Chargers. Starter Will Dissly is out this week with a shoulder injury, so Smart is at the top of the depth against Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers have struggled to protect the middle of the field all year, ranking 27th in DVOA against the position, allowing an average of 66.8 receiving yards per game.
They also allow the sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, and with an injury to Rudd McConkie and other receivers still unreliable, Smart has been able to play both in and out of the red zone. It is expected to gain a large share of the target market share.
Also keep an eye on Saints tight end Juwan Johnson, who replaced the injured Taysom Hill. Last week, Johnson caught four of five targets for 50 yards and one touchdown.
New Orleans has Jake Haner at quarterback, and he's a tight end, especially against a Commanders team that ranks 21st against the position and allows an average of 11.2 fantasy points per game in a full-point PPR format. It is expected that they will rely on .
Teammate Foster Morrow might also be worth keeping an eye on if Johnson's foot problems return.
If all else fails, look at Noah Fant in Seattle. He's further down the Seahawks' target list, but the matchup against the Packers is very favorable and could land him with additional looks.
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Green Bay has struggled to cover tight ends, ranking 29th in DVOA and allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game. A large, wide-body tight end, Fant can be a strong target in the end zone.
Losing talented players like Engram and Njoku hurts, but all is not lost. We've been looking at detailed production for fantasy managers all season. Discovering any of the six listed here will put you in a good position to win the match.
Howard Bender is responsible for the following content. fantasyalarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy Catch him on the award-winning SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Channel on the “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Fantasy football news and advice.
