2013 Fantasy Football: Six Players To Replace Danny Amendola

2013 Fantasy Football: Six Players To Replace Danny Amendola

Danny Amendola is easily one of the most frustrating players fantasy football owners deal with each season. He has some of the best hands in the league. He has the speed to outrun most defenders. He is unafraid of taking a big hit to make a big play, which often times leads to missed time due to injury.

Since he entered the league in 2009, Amendola has only once played the full 16 game season. When he moved to the New England Patriots to play alongside Tom Brady, fantasy football owners saw a huge boost in potential production. They also knew that he was a risky play. The savvy owners had handcuffs ready. Some have not.

Amendola teased owners with rumors of playing this week, but he has not made the trip to Georgia to take on the Atlanta Falcons in the Sunday night game, leaving many owners scrambling for a last minute replacement, and feeling anger that such a talented receiver will miss a choice matchup against a Falcons team that allows the eighth most fantasy points to wide receivers in a game that should be a shootout.

If you are that owner, don’t worry, I got you. There are plenty of options still available on the majority of wires across fantasyland. These aren’t guys you will ink into your starting lineup each week, but due to either injuries to their teammates, or this week’s opponent, offer potential to have a fairly productive day. If you need a quick replacement, here are six players who should be available that could fill in admirably this week.

Aaron Dobson

Aaron Dobson has been up and down during his rookie season. One of Tom Brady’s favorite targets early in the preseason, Dobson was passed by Kenbrell Thompkins as the season started. Thompkins has produced slightly more than Dobson this season, but Dobson has just missed on a few big plays. Great quarterbacks have a tendency to spread the ball around and keep their receivers happy, and Brady is a great quarterback. Call it a hunch, but after seeing Thompkins find the end zone twice last week, I have a feeling Dobson finds it this week.

Owned in 21 percent of Yahoo! leagues

Marlon Brown

Marlon Brown was hampered earlier this week with a neck injury, but appears on track to play today. He will be a boom or bust option as his target count this season has been 6-6-3, and owners will rely on touchdowns for production. Despite that he still has two touchdowns on the season, and is locked in as the number two receiving option for Joe Flacco. He gets a boost this week due to the Buffalo Bills allowing the second most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Owned in 27 percent of Yahoo! leagues

Vincent Brown

Admittedly, I think I’m higher on Vincent Brown than most. I have faith in his potential, but potential is just unused talent. Eddie Royal has been on fire lately, and with Malcom Floyd out, Royal and Antonio Gates should be the players who get the most targets from Philip Rivers. Brown is arguably the best route runner on the team and could be a sneaky option against the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas defense has been solid so far, but the Cowboys always seem to have a let down after a few solid games.

Owned in 52 percent of Yahoo! leagues

Ryan Broyles

Believe it or not, the Chicago Bears have allowed the fifth most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Ryan Broyles was one of the waiver wire scoops of the week this week after Nate Burleson broke his arm, moving Broyles up to Burleson’s spot. While Charles Tillman has said he would not shadow Calvin Johnson, Johnson will still command the majority of the attention from the Bears secondary. Broyles could reap the rewards.

Owned in 40 percent of Yahoo! leagues

Michael Floyd

No question that Larry Fitzgerald is the main man for the Arizona Cardinals. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been good against the pass, currently allowing the third least fantasy points to wide receivers. Darrelle Revis should see plenty of Fitzgerald leaving rookie Jonthan Banks or Leonard Johnson to cover Michael Floyd. Either matchup Floyd is capable of exploiting. He has six red zone targets this season and is due for a score.

Owned in 58 percent of Yahoo! leagues

Donnie Avery

To the dismay of Dwayne Bowe owners, Donnie Avery has been the man Alex Smith has more often looked for in the passing game. Avery is second on the team with 11 receptions, and has 100 more yards than Bowe. This week the Kansas City Chiefs host the New York Giants, who are a complete mess right now. Smith prefers to throw short to mid range passes opposed to taking the deep shot, and Avery is the short to mid range threat for the Chiefs. Avery could have a solid day against a defense that has allowed the ninth most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Owned in 28 percent of Yahoo! leagues

Read more from Dustin here.