On Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles announced running back Ryan Mathews will not play on Monday night against the Green Bay Packers because of a knee injury.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 12: Wendell Smallwood looking to seize his opportunity
The Eagles’ running back is expected to see more time on the field this week because other players in the team’s backfield are injured. We explore the fantasy implications.
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As a result, running backs Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood are expected to see an increase in playing time this week to make up for the loss of Mathews in Philadelphia’s backfield — especially Smallwood, as he’s predicted to take over Mathews’s duties as the Eagles’ primary back on first and second down.
Fantasy impact: In what could be his first career start in the NFL on Monday, Smallwood at least gets to face a lackluster Green Bay Packers defense.
The Packers are giving up the 15th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2016, but their defense has struggled to stop the position group in recent weeks. In its last three games, Green Bay has given up six touchdowns to opposing rushers, and two running backs have finished with at least 120 yards on the ground.
Yahoo is projecting Smallwood to end Monday with 50 total yards on 11 touches. Fantasy owners thinking about Smallwood as a flex option this week would not exactly have the worst of ideas.
