So you've managed to get into your league's playoffs? There will always be a need for fill-in players because of injury. This, as they say, is for all the marbles. You may need a running back this week as LeSean McCoy is still out and you didn't have the foresight to grab Bryce Brown. Well it's time to look at the opportunities that you can take advantage of.
Billal Powell is available in a pretty large percentage of leagues. Powell is involved in a timeshare with Shonn Greene who has under-impressed as of late. Both backs will run well this week and although Powell played 43 percent of snaps as opposed to Greene's 48 percent, there is still value there. Powell can be started as a low-end flex with some upside because he is the primary goal line back. Pair that with the change at quarterback, and there could be more carries for both backs.
Rashad Jennings will enter the concussion program this week according to Mike Mularkey. Maurice Jones-Drew is not ready and with Jalen Parmele out. There is a real question mark as to who gets the ball. Montell Owens looks like the front runner as the starter with Jordan Todman, and Richard Murphy as the reserves. The Jets will give up plenty on the ground as well. So this may be just the play that one team needs to fill in for an injured back.
James Starks sure looked the part last week as he got to the edge and outraced Vikings defenders for a touchdown. The problem is that every time he shows some promise, it ends with a trip to the injury report. This was the first time that I saw Starks really turn it on. Any back not named Cedric Benson is seriously not the answer. The answer here is if you have Green that you can rest assured that he will get the majority of carries only to be vultured by John Kuhn at the stripe.
The signing of Donte Stallworth means that Julian Edelman is indeed done for the season. Stallworth will be a pretty deep option on the depth chart. I suspect that Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez, and Shane Vereen should see an uptick in targets. Grab Stallworth only if you are desperate.
Dallas Clark is starting to get enough targets to be fantasy worthy. I had that inclination last week and grabbed him off of the wire. He had a nice catch in the end zone on a play clearly designed to get him the ball. He has big red zone potential as teams stack the box against Doug Martin. If you can still grab him, do so. He will be a decent play this week against the Eagles, and a pretty...