Fantasy Footnotes: Freeman, Forsett injuries highlight importance of RB stashes
Every gameday during the regular season, theScore's fantasy editors recap the most important news and notes from around the league.
Fantasy football is a game of attrition.
Two more RB1s were lost to injury Sunday in what has been a nightmare season for featured runners.
Falcons tailback Devonta Freeman, a late-round pick in most fantasy drafts and a player who could be the breakout star of the year, saw his day end in the first half after suffering a concussion.
Ravens runner Justin Forsett, a second-round pick in many fantasy drafts this summer, was lost for the season after breaking his arm.
These injuries highlight the importance of depth on your fantasy roster. As the bye weeks end, the goal of every fantasy owner should be to build a roster best equipped to survive the onslaught of the playoffs.
That means stockpiling players at positions of scarcity.
Drop your backup kicker if you're carrying one. Drop your backup defense. If you feel good about your starters, you should drop your backup quarterback and tight end, too.
Don't be afraid to drop any player who's on your roster primarily because he's a recognizable name or is a "safe" option. Ceiling wins fantasy titles, not floor.
Load up on backup running backs who would inherit a sizable role should the starter ahead of them get hurt and have the upside to make the most of such an opportunity.
That list includes, but is not limited to:
- Thomas Rawls
- Tevin Coleman
- Jay Ajayi
- Javorius Allen
- Andre Ellington
- Charles Sims
- Jerick McKinnon
Notable Fantasy Lines
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers
246 yards passing, 5 TDs, 16 yards rushing
Remember back in the summer when many of us were down on Newton's fantasy prospects because of concerns about his offensive line? Yeah, so ...
Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers
246 yards passing, 5 TDs
Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson, and the expected return next week of Austin Seferian-Jenkins gives Winston some very formidable weapons.
Brock Osweiler, QB, Broncos
250 yards passing, 2 TDs
We need to see more before considering Osweiler as a fantasy starter, but early returns are promising.
Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys
227 yards passing, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
He's back. And he looks like he could finish the season strong.
Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks
209 yards rushing, 46 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Rawls started in place of Marshawn Lynch, who was a surprise inactive. He finished the day as fantasy's top scorer. Not bad.
Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers
225 yards rushing
It's hard to run for that many yards and not score a touchdown.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts
30 yards rushing, 20 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Bradshaw caught six touchdowns in 10 games with the Colts last season. It's not out of the question that he could catch six in the second half of this season.
Spencer Ware, RB, Seahawks
96 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Ware had a big day filling in for Charcandrick West, who left early in the game with hamstring woes.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans
118 yards receiving, 2 TDs
Hopkins absolutely abused Darrelle Revis on his first touchdown grab.
Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders
4 yards receiving
Darius Slay is emerging as a shutdown cornerback, but Cooper made things easier with some drops.
James Jones, WR, Packers
109 yards receiving, TD, 2-PT
After several quiet weeks, Jones is back to being a major weapon.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings
106 yards receiving, TD
Rudolph had his best game of the season by far.
Injury Ward
Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens
Forsett is out for the season after breaking both bones in his right forearm.
Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons
Freeman exited the game early in the first half after suffering a concussion. He must pass through the NFL's concussion protocol before returning to the field. That could take days or weeks.
Charcandrick West, RB, Chiefs
West left the game in the first half with a hamstring injury and didn't return.
Waiver Wire Targets
Jameis Winston, QB, Buccaneers
The rookie is a borderline QB1. And he's just getting started.
Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks
Marshawn Lynch will probably play more games than he misses in December, but Rawls is a must-start every week Lynch sits. He could even have FLEX value in games Lynch plays.
Tevin Coleman, RB, Falcons
Coleman was unimpressive in relief of the injured Devonta Freeman on Sunday, but projects as strong RB2 and borderline RB1 as long as Freeman is sidelined with a concussion.
Javorius Allen, RB, Ravens
Had Joe Flacco not suffered a torn ACL on Sunday, Allen would be the top recommended waiver-wire add. Allen should inherit most of Justin Forsett's workload, but it's hard to imagine the Ravens scoring many points without Flacco.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Colts
Bradshaw remains behind Frank Gore on the depth chart, but is making the case for more playing time.
Terrance Williams, WR, Cowboys
Williams is back to fantasy relevance with Tony Romo back in the lineup.
Devin Funchess, WR, Panthers
Funchess saw a career-high eight targets Sunday. His hands and toughness remain suspect, but his fantasy value is on the rise.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers
If you need a tight end, ASJ could be your guy. After a very lengthy injury absence, he will reportedly return next week.
Vernon Davis, TE, Broncos
Davis was far more involved in the Broncos' offense with Brock Osweiler under center than with Peyton Manning.