Dallas Clark Injury: Examining the 5 Best Fantasy Football Replacement Plans

According to Tom James of the Tribune-Star, Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark may miss the rest of the 2011 season with a lower leg injury suffered Sunday during the Colts' 31-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Here's the tweet from James:

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"Lower leg injury to TE Dallas Clark may be season-ending. Colts hope to know more in a day or so."

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While the tweet raises the possibility, it doesn't confirm the finding as fact either. Still, for those of you with Clark on your fantasy football roster, it may be time to consider finding a suitable replacement. 

In the following slides, we'll run down the top waiver-wire candidates at tight end that can replace Clark.

Jake Ballard, New York Giants

Season Stats: 23 catches, 395 yards, 3 TDs 

Owned In: 27.3 percent of ESPN leagues 

After starting the season somewhat slowly, Ballard has emerged as one of the top tight ends over the past five weeks. During that stretch, Ballard has all three of his touchdowns and four games over 50 yards receiving.  

Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles

Season Stats: 20 catches, 209 yards, 2 TDs

Owned In: 15.2 percent of ESPN leagues

The faith in owning Celek over the rest of the season comes from the Eagles renewed faith in their tight end over the past couple of games. After catching two or fewer passes in four of his first five games, Celek has four or more in two straight with a touchdown catch in each. If that production continues, Celek will be a top tight end target on the waiver wire in coming weeks. 

Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans

Season Stats: 19 catches, 317 yards, 2 TDs

Owned In: 8.6 percent of ESPN leagues

The basis for adding Cook is the potential impact he could have. An athletic but physical tight end, Cook flashes some of that brilliance every week. But for whatever reason, the stats haven't always followed the potential.

There is some consistency here, however, as Cook has four or more fantasy points in five straight games. That's better than a goose egg, right?

Jacob Tamme, Indianapolis Colts

Season Stats: 3 catches, 7 yards

Owned In: 0.1 percent of ESPN leagues 

Obviously, you're not picking up Tamme because of the way he's dominated opposing defenses this season. He has just three catches and seven yards in 2011. But he's going to be the de facto No. 1 tight end in Indianapolis with Clark on the shelf and Brody Eldridge also hurting, so there's a touch of optimism here.    

Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers

Season Stats: 35 catches, 434 yards, 2 TDs 

Owned In: 42.3 percent of ESPN leagues

Finally, we come to the guy most should look towards to replace Clark: Heath Miller. It's actually surprising that Miller is owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues. In his last five games, Miller has seven or more fantasy points in four of them. Over his last two, Miller has 12 catches and 158 yards.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger targets him often, and you should too if you need to replace Clark on your fantasy roster.