Eddie Lacy, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Bush, Ray Rice, Steven Jackson, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Malcom Floyd and Vernon Davis.
What do all those names have in common? They could be the bulk of a team someone drafted, but hopefully that's not the case. If it is, they might be the unluckiest fantasy player ever. No, that's a list of guys who were hurt in week 2, of course. Some were injured worse than others, but all of them started a game they didn't finish.
As a result, fantasy owners are in a bind. Not because of the lost points or games. Those are in the past. The recent past, but the past nonetheless. You can't go back and change what happened, so fretting over it doesn't help anything. The real problem is week 3 and beyond. Some guys might play; others will be out for a few weeks. So owners are looking at Plan B (their bench) or Plans C-Y (the waiver wire).
Plan Z, by the way, is a trade. There will be plenty of offers for desperate fantasy owners who wish to be taken for a ride, but I'm ignoring those for the purposes of this column. If you want to deal from a position of weakness, that's on you. You should have better options.
Those other options might not be what you expect, by the way. Sure, if Ray Rice is out for any length of time, Bernard Pierce should carry the load. When Danny Amendola was hurt in week 1, Julian Edelman took that spot and has been great in PPR leagues. But an extended absence by Larry Fitzgerald doesn't mean you should go anywhere near the Arizona passing game, and Vernon Davis won't have a clear-cut replacement that suits your fantasy purposes.
Now, what about James Starks? Didn't he look good taking over for Eddie Lacy? Sure, but that doesn't mean he's your definite starter. Be careful when using the waiver wire, because you might already have someone better on your bench. Plus, picking someone up means you have to drop someone -- and that "someone" might be a better long-term fit than the flavor of the week.
Unfortunately, you didn't get a private note from the team stating your starter got hurt. Everyone in your league now knows about the injury, and you only have a couple of days to submit a waiver claim. That means you could be making an emotional decision instead of a rational one. If you don't make a move this week, you won't get the guy you think you want.
I suggest you take a deep breath and look over your options carefully, starting with the easiest solution:
First, go to your bench. Is the replacement you need already on your team? Maybe you have a strong third running back, or fourth receiver. Promote from within, especially if they've shown you something the first couple of weeks.
Second, ask yourself if there's a flex option. Some owners get so caught up in getting a replacement, they don't realize the choices they have. If your league has a flex position, you might be able to replace a back with a receiver, or vice-versa. This gives you added "flex"ibility when you're in a jam.
Strangely, you might have to tinker with the lineup to take advantage of it. I've played in leagues where I had to physically move the injured player to the flex spot and then replace them with a guy at a different position. It wouldn't shuffle them around for me. It's not a big deal, but it might make it harder to recognize your true options when you really need them.
Third, consider someone unrelated to your injured player. Sometimes the best fit to replace your starter wears a different jersey. In the Amendola example above, Edelman is a great replacement -- in a PPR league. In a standard league, not as much (and he'll be even worse when Gronkowski comes back). You'd have been better off with Eddie Royal. If you have Lacy and it's a PPR league, would you rather have Starks, or Joique Bell?
Next, go ahead and look at the player's direct backup. You might end up here anyway, but at least you went over your options first If you need that person's backup and you don't have them on your roster already, just place your claim and hope for the best.
Finally, consider a trade. No, I'm kidding. Don't do this. You'll overpay for a guy who might not even be much help. Don't pour salt in your own wound.
Look, you figured this would happen. Maybe not in week 2, and maybe not when so many other owners are facing the exact same problem, but you knew it would happen. How you deal with it can affect the rest of your season. Don't panic, and don't assume the "next man up" for their team is your best bet for your own lineup. Go over all the options, make the best move for you and hope you don't even need to use them. Some of those guys will be okay, and I hope yours is one of them. Good luck this week.
What injuries have you already suffered and what are you doing about it? Share your thoughts below.