I think some of you guys may be looking for "the definitive pickup" when certain things happen. (injuries....etc) It just doesn't work like that. The only thing we can do is throw darts at the "better scenarios".
The fact is, none of us really know for sure , but we can only go on the few things we do know, and try and interpret the information we DO have , and see what is likely to happen.
Examine the teams and their tendencies, thats always a good start. Henderson, Thompson and Brian Hill, even if they get carries, isn't it already pretty much a given they will either split carries, or not get a true bellcow type role? Thats what I see personally, but I haven't examined the Henderson scenario as I don't own a single RAM on any team..
The other 3 are extremely interesting.
TROY POLLARD - He is getting very little work, other than the Miami game which the Cowboys were truly running away with it. I'm not sure, but I'm willing to bet Pollard got the majority of his work in the second half, when the game started getting out of hand. The brass tax of this is, most everyone agrees he is not a special runner, but the expected workload in a good offense is whats appealing. He is a must add. If you already own EZE and don't have him rostered as insurance, then you have no one else to blame if something happens to EZE. Be proactive now, not reactive after injury.
REGGIE BONNAFON - This guy has had almost zero work, barring one game. Week 5 for 5 carries 80yds. and a TD. Uhh, compare that to his season totals. He literally sprang a 59 yard run for a TD as the game was winding down in the 4th quarter. Here is another case where he is getting almost no work. Everyone reaches and says "If CMC gets hurt, this guy will be slotted in for all the work". Not so fast. Those bellcow roles are handed to the true elite backs, i.e. CMC. If CMC does get injured , I think its safe to assume Bonnafon will get the majority of the work, but not as much as CMC does. He will likely lead a committee , and get a decent sized workload. He would be a strong play in weeks 13 WAS - 14 ATL . It toughens up in weeks 15-16 of the fantasy playoffs. SEA, @ INDY. Again a must add for CMC owners.
RYQUELL ARMSTEAD - As of today, Fournette LEADS THE LEAGUES IN CARRIES . Is Armstead going to be the guy if something happens? I don't know for sure, but he has gotten a little work sprinkled in here and there, nothing much. But I seriously, SERIOUSLY doubt the JAGS are going to completely change the offense if Fournette goes down. I'd have to examine a few other things, but I'm going to guess one of the reasons Fournette is getting so many carries, is because of rookie Minshew at QB. If Fournette goes down, then one would assume Armstead would get the majority of work. Again, I doubt they re-design the offense into a RB committee , so one would likely get the majority of the work. And, guess what........ Armstead is a similar big bruising back, like Fournette. I would think Armstead wouldn't get quite the screens/receiving work, but I would think he gets the majority of the carries, and sign me up for that. It is almost certainly a very big workload in this case.
I try and cuff my big workload backs, and I have had Armstead sitting on my bench in the league I own Fournette. I have a smattering of Breida, Latavius Murray (in EVERY league I am in), Wayne Gallman, Justice Hill.
WAYNE GALLMAN - I think its important we start viewing this guy as a potential "king maker" We all know the talent is not special, and sitting behind Saquon Barkley is not the place to be. But suppose something happens to Barkley, check out his schedule end of season. WEEK 14 PHILLY, WEEK 15 MIAMI, WEEK 16 WASHINGTON . Talent is often trumped by situational opportunity and workload in our game. Here is a scenario where we would clearly want to have this RB, not on talent, but schedule and opportunity combined. You should definitely own him where you have Barkley, and he should be slipped on the end of your bench in the event of a Barkley catastrophe.
JUSTICE HILL - I have been singing the praises of this guy from day 1. (If you have been following what I said) But I have softened a bit. The majority of why, is it appears so much of the rushing is being done by Lamar Jackson, who has 3 rushing TDs and over 550 yards. I think Justice Hill is elite, and has all the talent you can look for in a smaller back. Unfortunately its going to take an injury to Mark Ingram, AND Gus Edwards may be in line for some work then too. It would likely be more of a committee, so I am not so sure Justice Hill rises to the "king maker" some of us have been saying.....at least I'm not rostering him this way. If Ingram goes down, we would definitely want to own Hill, I'm just not so sure as of now how much work he would get, until he shows his real talent anyway.
TZM