If the running backs you drafted this season are still all healthy, you are a very lucky fantasy football owner. Let’s count up the backs who have missed at least one game: Le’Veon Bell, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster, Marshawn Lynch, Matt Forte, Chris Ivory, Todd Gurley, LeSean McCoy, Carlos Hyde, C.J. Spiller, Joseph Randle, Andre Ellington and now Dion Lewis. All of those guys were counted on by a lot of fantasy owners to contribute, and now most are sitting on the waiver wire due to a season-ending injury.
Fantasy football waiver wire: 5 running backs to target in Week 10
Another elite fantasy back got hurt, but he might have lost his job anyway. James Starks headlines this week’s group of RB fantasy adds.
Subsequently, that means a lot of pickups. Also, James Starks of the Green Bay Pacers looks to have leapfrogged Eddie Lacy -- a popular top pick in fantasy. Here are a handful of other pickups.
James Starks, Green Bay Packers (owned in 40 percent of leagues)
Eddie Lacy hurt his groin, but Starks has been the better back for most of the season, especially on Sunday. The Packers have really struggled on the ground attack, so expect Starks to be used heavily. He can help in the passing game, too. He should be added everywhere.
Alfred Blue, Houston Texans(owned in 49 percent of leagues)
In his last game, Blue only had a team-high nine carries against the Chiefs. He should see more work this week and going forward. Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk probably won’t threaten Blue.
James White, New England Patriots (owned in 3 percent of leagues)
He is expected to take most of the work from Dion Lewis, who is out for the year with an ACL tear. White is good in the passing downs, but obviously any Patriots back is a huge gamble. He’s not a complete must-add player, but he should be owned to see what happens. Brandon Bolden is also a strong pickup in competitive leagues.
Karlos Williams, Buffalo Bills (owned in 37 percent of leagues)
LeSean McCoy sounds like he’s going to play with his shoulder injury. Still, Williams should get 10-12 touches and could be a flex most weeks. Probably not this week against the Jets, though.
Matt Jones, Washington(owned in 33 percent of leagues)
He hasn’t been very good and even lost his third fumble of the season on Sunday. Jones should be getting more snaps going forward as Washington tries to figure out if he’s the back of the future. He has two good matchups in the next three weeks, facing the New Orleans Saints this week and the New York Giants in Week 12.
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