Injuries suck.
There's no way around it. You can have a fantastic draft, make all the right moves on the waiver wire and in trades and yet still wind up with a terrible team just based on injuries alone.
You can't predict who is going to get hurt or when. All you can do is curl up in a ball and cry...and of course, stay active on the waiver wire.
Lose Le'Veon Bell? That sucks, but go pick up DeAngelo Williams. Lose Andrew Luck? We're sorry, but go out and get Blake Bortles. Pick your head up and move on.
No matter the injuries you've been hit with, take solace in one fact: At least you're not a Browns fan. (And if you are a Browns fan, we're so, so sorry. Seriously. We feel bad for you.)
While we're at it, be grateful you're not a ref right now, either:
Alright, on to this week's top waiver targets:
NFL
1. David Johnson, RB, ARI
Finally. He's been teasing us all year with somewhat low yardage totals but showing ways to find the end zone. Now, he has the backfield all to himself. Chris Johnson is likely out for some time with a broken tibia while Andre Ellington is battling some turf toe. It's not a pretty matchup this week against the Rams defense but Johnson has shown he's a major threat in the passing game. With Johnson likely to see a lot of playing time the rest of the year, he's a must-add this week. (Paschall)
2. Scott Chandler, TE, NE
Chandler had just 23 targets in 10 games played before Sunday night's loss to the Broncos, but he is suddenly shooting up wavier claims list. Rob Gronkowski is slated to miss at least one game with a knee injury, which means Chandler is suddenly a must-start in that Patriots offense, even with a bad matchup against an Eagles team that defends TEs well. Chandler caught five of his 11 targets Sunday for 58 yards and a TD against the top pass defense in the NFL and even though he's far less talented than Gronk, he's still one of the only reliable options left for Tom Brady on a depleted offense. (Tony Andracki)
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3. Julius Thomas, TE, JAC
Somehow, Thomas is only owned in 60 percent of ESPN leagues. Thomas has recorded 5+ catches and a TD in each of his last two games and has finally overcome his slow start to emerge as a solid option in a rising offense led by Blake Bortles. (Andracki)
4. Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA
This might be the start of a beautiful relationship between fantasy owners and Baldwin. While Jimmy Graham's injury may have some impact on guys like Luke Willson, it's now clear Baldwin is the best option in the Seahawks passing attack, and it's not really close. As much as we all love Thomas Rawls, he doesn't do much out of the backfield, leaving Fred Jackson as the best option there. Tyler Lockett and Jermaine Kearse will do some battling for targets, but neither has gone over 100 yards receiving in a game yet this year. Baldwin has 19 catches in the last three games and four touchdowns. He's a quality waiver get this week if he's still available. (John "The Professor" Paschall)
5. Spencer Ware, RB, KC
Ware posted back-to-back huge games in relief of Charcandrick West and has become a must-own. Regardless of who the starting Chiefs back is this year, they've proved to be a valuable fantasy commodity, so even the unknown Ware has become a top start option at RB each week. If West is healthy, he's the starter and Ware is not worth putting in your lineup, but hamstrings are notoriously finicky, so there's no guarantee West will be good to go this week. (Andracki)
6. Shaun Draughn, RB, SF
Like Ware, Draughn has gone from unknown to lead back and fantasy option. The journeyman back - who was in camp with the Bears last year - had never been even worth owning in fantasy until four weeks ago. But with Reggie Bush out for the year and Carlos Hyde still haunted by a foot injury, Darughn has received 60 touches over the last three games. He hasn't scored and is averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry, but Draughn is helpful in PPR leagues (he has at least four catches in each of the last three games) until Hyde gets back. (Andracki)
7. Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD
When Keenan Allen went down for the season, everybody assumed Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd would be the two Chargers receivers to own. While Johnson has been as good as advertised, Floyd has one catch his last three games while Inman has racked up 19 targets, 11 catches, 144 yards and a TD in that span. He's not a must-start (especially against Denver this week), but Inman's arrow is clearly pointing up and he could become a solid contributor in the fantasy playoffs on one of the most pass-happy offenses in the league. (Andracki)
[MORE: Complete Fantasy Football coverage at Rotoworld]
8. Luke Willson, TE, SEA
Jimmy Graham is done for the year, which means Luke Willson is suddenly the No. 1 tight end. He's not a great receiver and certainly not worth starting, but if you're desperate at TE, he's an option. Willson is capable of a big game (as Week 16 proved last season when he went for 3 rec, 139 yds and 2 TDs). Gamble on him at your own risk. (Andracki)
9-11. J.J. Nelson (ARI), Seth Roberts (OAK), DeVante Parker (MIA), WR
These rookie wide receivers are probably not worth starting right away, but they're perfect stash guys for this season (or next year if you're in a keeper league). All three have come on lately. Nelson has earned 15 targets over his last three games, emerging as a deep threat in the NFL's top offense. Roberts had a huge Week 12 (6 rec, 113 yds, 2 TD) and now has as many TDs as his fellow Raiders rookie Amari Cooper (4). Parker took advantage of garbage time with four catches for 80 yards and a tuddie and he figures to get a lot more snaps and looks with Rishard Matthews now injured. Pick these guys up if you have the roster space and if you don't, at least keep an eye on these rookies as the season moves on. (Andracki)