Three of yesterday's top four fantasy scoring RBs were backups. In fact, handcuffs accounted for six of the 16 RBs who scored double-digit points (standard scoring). What can be said about them? Flukes, or worth picking up?
- Thomas Rawls: Oh yeah, he’s for real. A puff fantasy playoff schedule and Marshawn Lynch’s season in doubt. It makes Rawls (37% rostered in ESPN leagues) one of the top waiver pickups not of the week, but of the season. An hour before the second round of games kicked off yesterday, I picked him up in the one league where he was available. He has legit top 8 RB potential the rest of the way—if Lynch stays sidelined.
- Spencer Ware: It was Ware—not the for-some-reason-much-maligned-Knile-Davis—who replaced the injured Charcandrick West yesterday. This is the same Spencer Ware who the Chiefs cut in September. West’s injury might not keep him out next week, meaning Ware—who beat up on one of the league’s worst defenses—is not worth picking up unless West’s prognosis changes.
- Ahmad Bradshaw: The highly underrated veteran is rostered in less than 4% of ESPN leagues. His 2-TD performance Sunday was no fluke, as he’s gotten increasingly involved in the offense, and shows no signs of slowing down with Matt Hasselbeck at the helm for a few more weeks. Bradshaw is a nearly must-own RB3/4 with upside.
- Patrick DiMarco: Pass.
- Darren Sproles: As expected, Sproles enjoyed his best game Sunday since Week 3, and unsurprisingly earned the most touches he’s had since Week 3. It won’t continue when Ryan Mathews returns. Sproles is a perfect spot-start rental for those in desperate need. Fare thee well, Darren.
- Tevin Coleman: What happens when a superstar running back gets hurt, and the rookie backup gets a chance to show his stuff? When the scenario involves Coleman, apparently not much. In arguably the worst RB fantasy performance of the week (from an opportunity perspective), Coleman turned 17 carries and two targets into two fantasy points. Remember all those times I wrote about stashing handcuff RBs? Drop Coleman near the bottom of that list. Even if Freeman ever misses another game, there still should be better waiver options out there.
- Javorius Allen: I’ve been pushing him since September out of concern for Justin Forsett’s durability and the downtrodden Ravens’ likely look to the future. Obviously, a broken arm has nothing to do with durability: Forsett got robbed out there and deserved far better. But now we’re left with a rookie RB you could have gotten on the cheap before this weekend, and who will take his 3.9 YPC and decent pass-catching abilities into the season’s stretch run, including a fantastic matchup next week in Cleveland. Allen is a solid RB2 as long as he earns 20+ touches a game.
- Thomas Rawls: Oh yeah, he’s for real. A puff fantasy playoff schedule and Marshawn Lynch’s season in doubt. It makes Rawls (37% rostered in ESPN leagues) one of the top waiver pickups not of the week, but of the season. An hour before the second round of games kicked off yesterday, I picked him up in the one league where he was available. He has legit top 8 RB potential the rest of the way—if Lynch stays sidelined.
- Spencer Ware: It was Ware—not the for-some-reason-much-maligned-Knile-Davis—who replaced the injured Charcandrick West yesterday. This is the same Spencer Ware who the Chiefs cut in September. West’s injury might not keep him out next week, meaning Ware—who beat up on one of the league’s worst defenses—is not worth picking up unless West’s prognosis changes.
- Ahmad Bradshaw: The highly underrated veteran is rostered in less than 4% of ESPN leagues. His 2-TD performance Sunday was no fluke, as he’s gotten increasingly involved in the offense, and shows no signs of slowing down with Matt Hasselbeck at the helm for a few more weeks. Bradshaw is a nearly must-own RB3/4 with upside.
- Patrick DiMarco: Pass.
- Darren Sproles: As expected, Sproles enjoyed his best game Sunday since Week 3, and unsurprisingly earned the most touches he’s had since Week 3. It won’t continue when Ryan Mathews returns. Sproles is a perfect spot-start rental for those in desperate need. Fare thee well, Darren.
- Tevin Coleman: What happens when a superstar running back gets hurt, and the rookie backup gets a chance to show his stuff? When the scenario involves Coleman, apparently not much. In arguably the worst RB fantasy performance of the week (from an opportunity perspective), Coleman turned 17 carries and two targets into two fantasy points. Remember all those times I wrote about stashing handcuff RBs? Drop Coleman near the bottom of that list. Even if Freeman ever misses another game, there still should be better waiver options out there.
- Javorius Allen: I’ve been pushing him since September out of concern for Justin Forsett’s durability and the downtrodden Ravens’ likely look to the future. Obviously, a broken arm has nothing to do with durability: Forsett got robbed out there and deserved far better. But now we’re left with a rookie RB you could have gotten on the cheap before this weekend, and who will take his 3.9 YPC and decent pass-catching abilities into the season’s stretch run, including a fantastic matchup next week in Cleveland. Allen is a solid RB2 as long as he earns 20+ touches a game.