Fantasy Football 2012: 5 Options to Replace Week 1 Injured Stars

Week 1 of the fantasy football season was relatively quiet for injuries, but there are a few which should catch your eye. With Week 2 in sight, you may need some last-minute options to fill in for your injured fantasy stars. 

With the waiver wire thoroughly picked through this week, this article will discuss options on who you should start if you own them or players who are owned in less than one-third of leagues for NFL Fantasy Football's statistics.

With many players with Week 2 breakout potential still on the market, here are 5 replacements for your Week 1 injured fantasy stars. These options may not be the most consistent options, but have large upside this week in their current matchups or situations.

1. Dexter McCluster, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Quick Overview: 

Percent Owned: 10.1 percent of ESPN.com leagues, 4.3 percent of NFL.com leagues

Week 1 Stats/Points:  6 receptions, 82 yards, 0 TDs. / Standard Scoring 8.2 points

Week 2 Projection:  6.1 points (NFL.com)

Which star should he replace?: Fred Jackson, RB. Buffalo Bills

With the train-wreck of bad luck that is the Buffalo Bills, Fred Jackson was taken down in it's path and will miss four plus weeks and as a fantasy owner you need to get out ahead now. Dexter McCluster can offer you the security of plenty of targets with a low profile. 

He led the Kansas City Chiefs in receptions week one (6 receptions, 82 yards) and will be another factor off the bench for the team in a very Darren Sproles-like role. He's so versatile that he can be a threat in the running or passing game but the Chiefs like to get him involved through the air. 

This week I don't think he will have as many yards as before, but will find the end zone on a screen that catches ironically the Buffalo Bills defense off-guard for a score. If you need a ten-point player for Week 2, McCluster is your man.

2. Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Quick Overview: 

Percent Owned:  38.8 percent of NFL.com leagues

Week 1 Stats/Points:  4 receptions, 65 yards, 0 TDs. / Standard Scoring 6.5 points

Week 2 Projection:  5.10 points (NFL.com)

Which star should he replace?: Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers

Antonio Gates is a walking injury now and should probably be avoided at all costs. If you can dump him for a WR3 or RB3 then you're in luck because the free-agent market for tight ends is better than the production you'll get from Gates this season. 

Gates didn't practice Thursday but coaching staff was hoping that they could get him on the field for practice on Friday. 

Celek isn't as widely available as our previous replacement, but Celek provides the upside of being known as one of Michael Vick's favorite receivers. Vick had a mediocre first game, but should recover and throw less than four interceptions in Week 2 (or at least I'm hoping).

If Vick can stay a solid quarterback in Week 2 then Celek has the opportunity to do much better than the 5.10 points he's projected. I think if Vick plays well he can easily haul in 6-8 receptions against a Baltimore defense that will give away plenty of dump off passes to the tight end. 

If you have Antonio Gates, give Brent Celek a try because as Gates has shown us already that he is nothing but an injury waiting to happen.

3. Aldrick Robinson, WR, Washington Redskins

Quick Overview: 

Percent Owned:  0.5 percent of NFL.com leagues, 0.9 percent of ESPN.com leagues

Week 1 Stats/Points:  4 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TDs. / Standard Scoring 11.2 points

Week 2 Projection:  Zero points (NFL.com)

Which star should he replace?: Pierre Garçon, WR, Washington Redskins

Garçon has an injured foot and after his long score for Robert Griffin III last week will be missed, but Robinson is ready to step up. A second-year player out of SMU, this is the best chance Robinson will receive to move up the ranks in the Redskins corps. 

He had four receptions and a score last week for the Redskins and with Santana Moss having soreness in his groin and Garçon out, it's the perfect storm for a breakout week. His ability to be a weekly replacement for you in Week 2 probably won't last more than this week, but it's worth the chance for the very high upside which we saw Week 1 from him.

RGIII gives him an opportunity to replace Garçon on your fantasy team for Week 2 and should score anywhere in the 8-12 points range with some yards and a score. 

4. Derek Hagan, WR, Oakland Raiders

Quick Overview: 

Percent Owned:  Zero percent of NFL.com leagues , 0 percent of ESPN.com leagues

Week 1 Stats/Points:  4 receptions, 44 yards, 0 TDs. / Standard Scoring 4.4 points

Week 2 Projection:  Zero points (NFL.com)

Which star should he replace?: Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland Raiders

With Jacoby Ford opting to undergo surgery on his left foot, Derek Hagan will have the chance to step up as a receiver with Denarius Moore still a game-time decision for Sunday's game against one of the NFL's worst team's in the Miami Dolphins. 

This is really banking on Moore being absent from the game, but with 4 receptions in the last game and now with Ford missing an entire game, in PPR leagues and even in standard leagues Hagan becomes a late-week pickup to have. 

Hagan was only signed in early September and this week should have a much stronger hold on the playbook and be able to play many more snaps. Pick him up if you have to play three wide receivers and didn't pick anyone up during waiver wire pickups. 

5. Louis Murphy, WR, Carolina Panthers

Quick Overview: 

Percent Owned:  0.2 percent of NFL.com leagues, 0.2 percent of ESPN.com leagues

Week 1 Stats/Points:  3 receptions, 63 yards, 0 TDs. / Standard Scoring 6.3 points

Week 2 Projection:  Zero points (NFL.com)

Which star should he replace?: Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers

With Steve Smith limited in practice and perhaps limited during the game, their No. 3 wide receiver Louis Murphy should get significantly more snaps than he did Week 1. Cam Newton only rushed a few times and looked good in the pocket. 

Robert Griffin III tore apart the secondary of the Saints and I expect Newton to do exactly the same with a few very large explosive plays. With Smith limited due to his knee, Murphy can become that guy and explode in Week 2 for at least 10 points with 2 receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.