The hottest waiver wire pickup of Week 10 didn't surface in wake of a big performance, but due to injury. Now, fantasy owners in just about every league are figuring out what to make of New England Patriots running back James White.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 10: James White
The Patriots suffered a huge loss when Dion Lewis tore his ACL in Week 9. We break down the fantasy implications.
Dion Lewis will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, and it leaves a huge void across the fantasy football spectrum. Lewis is the No. 9 running back in PPR scoring leagues and No. 16 in standard formats, leaving fantasy owners scrambling to find RB1/RB2 production. It's likely that they won't be able to. But if it's going to be had in the Patriots backfield, White is the best candidate to replicate that.
Fantasy impact: White has already played in Lewis' spot this season, when the Patriots squared off against a stout New York Jets front seven. It was a game where the Patriots decided to attack through the air, as Tom Brady attempted 54 passes, but White only had five touches for 30 yards. It's disconcerting that a passing-down running back would be involved so little amid a game where the Patriots took to the air, and as a result, it would be difficult to trust White's production even with Lewis out for the season.
The upside remains for White, but fantasy owners expecting him to produce at the level Lewis did are likely in for a rude awakening. White deserves flex consideration against the New York Giants on Sunday, but he isn't likely to be the RB1/RB2 Lewis was in leagues across the board.
