The Arizona Cardinals have been aching to find an electric weapon in their backfield, and Andre Ellington has certainly fit that bill of late.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 10: Andre Ellington
The Cardinals got a much-needed boost during their last game when Andre Ellington was given the keys to their backfield. Can he maintain productivity with Rashard Mendenhall slated to return from injury? We break down the fantasy implications.
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In Rashard Mendenhall's absence in Week 8, Ellington was thrust into a prominent role and thrived in it. Versus the Falcons, Ellington totaled 162 yards on 17 touches, including an 80-yard touchdown run that showcased his lateral running ability and breakaway speed.
Despite his breakout performance, offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin has said that the team desires to keep Ellington fresh and will “remain careful” with his workload. But if Ellington keeps producing with the ball in his hands, that will be easier said than done.
Fantasy Spin: With Mendenhall expected to play on Sunday, the noise you hear is the audible groan from Ellington’s fantasy owners. Mendenhall has been a plodding presence at best, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry and 40.1 rushing yards per game while Ellington’s touches have been inexplicably scarce.
While there's minimal fantasy value to be had from Mendenhall, Ellington makes for a worthy flex play even if given just 12-15 touches each game. With his counterpart banged up, Cardinals brass may not be so hesitant to give Ellington these chances this week in wake of a huge game. As a result, fantasy owners could do much worse than pen Ellington into their flex spots with the likes of Jamaal Charles, Stevan Ridley and Chris Ivory on byes.
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