Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton suffered a shoulder injury at practice Thursday, putting his status for a Monday Night Football showdown against the Tennessee Titans in doubt.
That has left many fantasy football owners scrambling to find a potential Sutton replacement for their starting lineups.
If Sutton is inactive on Monday, Jerry Jeudy would be the most likely candidate to see his targets increase. Jeudy was likely selected in your fantasy draft, though, and if you didn’t pick him, you’ll need to consider other options.
If you have to start a receiver (opposed to a flex), Tim Patrick would be next in line behind Jeudy on Denver’s fantasy depth chart. Patrick might serve as the real-life “No. 1” WR on Monday but Jeudy is probably poised to have a better fantasy performance.
Patrick is a big receiver (6-4, 212 pounds) and he made some nice catches last season but he’s never had much fantasy relevance. That could change with an increased workload but given Jeudy’s first-round draft pedigree, the Alabama product feels like a safer start.
If you’re looking for a flex replacement, Broncos tight end Noah Fant could have an even bigger role than usual in the passing game if Sutton is sidelined. Unfortunately, Fant won’t be available in most leagues.
Denver running backs Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay are also strong flex candidates but they are also owned in most leagues. Patrick might be the only Sutton replacement available on the waiver wire and there are probably better WRs available from other teams who could be streamed in Week 1.
TLDL: Jeudy is the best bet to have a strong fantasy performance if Sutton sits out but Patrick could be worth a flier and he should be available in most leagues.
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