Bump with updates in red including updates to some of @JFS171 quotes, and added K. Carey to the Honorables.
What possible
Season Changing / Champion Maker (Lotto Ticket) RB's are out there on waivers (or possibly a buy low)? RB's who could put up Top 5 RB numbers ROS. We are talking
preemptive.
To paraphrase
@TZMarkie : "This is for re-draft and we are looking for the ones with the best combination of
availability, upside and possibility of a big workload. That combination would likely give the average owner the best chance at hitting the "lottery ticket RB" that could change an owners season."
Potential Season Changers / Champion Makers - Here is my Post-Week-6 list, loosely ranked:
- D. Booker DEN - big defense holds game scripts on a team that wants to run, usage is trending up, trend continued Oct 13 v DEN - Here's the thread on Booker: Devontae Booker
- D. Williams PIT - did well last year when Bell was out (twice) - Bloom *continues* to advise to hold him at all costs in The Audible
- A. Morris DAL - still looks good on a team that wants to and can run the ball
- B. Powell NYJ - Bloom has recently stated in a pod cast that Powell could be a #1 given the chance - UPDATE: the Jets looked inept Oct 17 - does Powell belong on this list?
- D. Henry TEN - another team that wants to run the ball - has looked really good in limited opportunities
- M. Gillislee BUF - another team that wants to run the ball all day - volume play here - Oct 16: it was SF after all but a nice 6-60-1 line Could start this Sun if McCoy can't go
- Mike Davis SF FROM ROTOWORLD: (Oct 17) thanks to @JFS171 : "Mike Davis rushed five times for 13 yards and caught 1-of-3 targets for six yards Week 6 against the Bills. When Carlos Hyde briefly left the game with a shoulder injury, Davis took over instead of Shaun Draughn. Davis out-snapped Draughn 24-to-5 and out-touched him 6-to-1. It is only one game, but it looks like Davis is establishing himself as Hyde's handcuff. " UPDATE: I replaced Draughn with Davis on this list
- Rawls SEA - a ton of potential - OL issues didn't seem to matter last year with his 5+ YPC - nervous owners may have dropped him
Honorable Mention (potential top 12 ROS) (no particular order):
- Rob Kelley WAS - per @zamboni "(HC) said (Oct 9th) that while Jones is still the guy, Kelley deserves more carries" - is this a changing of the guard situation? How good is WAS OL? - Oct 16: 5-59-0 <-- nice line but Jones also had a nice 16-135-1 line - I thought PHI's defense was good??
- K. Dixon BAL - wasn't used much his 1st week back but I *love* players on teams that fire their HC/OC - the new coach often shakes things up increasing fantasy value - looks like it's West's show going forward
- Dwayne Washington DET - on a team with a mediocre defense and a tendency to pass anyway, how much production? - Zenner went 14-58-0 Oct 16 perhaps he is the Lotto Ticket in DET? per @BobbyLayne: No. Yesterday (Oct 16) was a desperation game plan - Boldin playing Ebron's role, Tate playing Riddick's role, Zenner was effective but he's the clear #3 behind Swaggy and Theo (#4 if AA ever comes back in 2016 but that seems unlikely.)
- W. Smallwood PHI - 4-6-0 Oct 16 while Matthews went 9-60-0 and 3-75-0 receiving
- Dion Lewis NE - see DJ Foster below
- DJ Foster NE - per @JFS171 "I think there's more hurdles to him getting on the field than initially believed. White's a guy Brady trusts -- and that's huge. Blount is going nowhere. If Blount gets hurt, they brought back Gaffney to the practice squad. Plus Lewis is theoretically returning at some point too. That's a lot of dominos that have to fall for DJ Foster to get a shot... I'd take him off the list"
- Farrow SDC - @JFS171 : "he's a very solidly built dude with some CJ Anderson type of running to his game. Not a speed demon, but he can get what's blocked and has some agility to get some more. I don't know how his hands are, but the situation is very ripe for a late season king maker to emerge. Gordon's getting SO MUCH VOLUME... and volume doesn't always equal injury, but it's more chances to get injured IMO. If Gordon goes down, McCluster isn't taking over the workhorse role. Prime situation for a handcuff IMO."
- A. Ellington ARZ
- Malcolm Brown STL
- DeAndre Washington OAK - per @need2know "The 3 way split becomes a 4 way when Murray gets back. Horrible situation for fantasy" - used more than Richard Oct 16
- Jalen Richard OAK - thanks to @davearm for this one and per @austinball "Im seeing just as may "experts' whispering that he's the more talented explosive back as DW. Personally I think JR looks speedier" - out used by DeAndre Washington Oct 16
- Paul Perkins NYG - thanks @austinball Can he produce like a Top 5 RB if he gets the chance?
- Hightower - thanks to @Rodrigo Duterte who states "would be an automatic RB2" - I've added him to the Honorables as I don't see him as a Season Changer / Lotto Ticket
- Don Jackson GB - running with the 1's in practice Oct 19th
- K. Carey CHI
Too Late for preemptive pickup (the cat is outta the bag) - at least in my two 12 team leagues these guys are long gone:
- Howard CHI - Is Fox finally being Fox and snubbing the rookie for a new healthier Carey?
- Ware KC - He is a "must roster, must hold" for sure now and if available will be a hot WW pickup this week.
- Knile Davis GB - whatever his production, highly likely to be rostered by now and does not qualify as a preemptive
- Jay Ajayi MIA - whatever happens in MIA, highly likely to be rostered by now and does not qualify as a preemptive
- J. Rodgers TBB - was likely taken off waivers after his breakout 30 carry Oct 16 game
P.S. I started a similar thread for WH/TE here:
2016 WR (and TE) Lotto Ticket Rankings
Yeoman's work here, daylight, thanks!
This is a long and comprehensive list, but in it's ongoing additions and permutations, would be good to discuss really narrowing and focusing on the tickets we're more confident than not to get punched and pay off.
Of all the backs here, the following to me are the truest lottery winning backs, ranked in order:
Ajayi -- Foster IMHO is toast, and Ajayi is the best guy left. Damien Williams and Kenyon Drake may have talent, but Ajayi (despite fits and starts) is getting it done.
Booker -- already in an increasing time share with CJ with a coach continually talking up getting him more.
D. Henry -- Murray is the man, but he's being run at around 20 carries/game -- with Mularkey showing no signs of letting off Murray's gas, I think he starts to wear down. Enter Henry's fresher and just as talented legs.
K. Davis -- may have ranked him higher than Henry given he has the opportunity and is less dependent on injury, but until he gets over the spectre of a committee, and given that GB's is more pass than run dependent, feel good about him here for now.
A. Morris -- see above, replacing Murray with Elliott. Elliott is extraordinary and taking the league by storm. Hope it lasts as it's fun to watch; but with what we;ve seen across the RB landscape so far this year, things can change mighty quick.
D.Will -- Ben being out means that Bell is going to be leaned on even more to take some pressure of Landry Jones.
Tied in the next tier are guys with opportunity that have yet to prove it on the field (K. Dixon, D. Lewis, D. Washington), and those who may shoot up the list if injury to the starter lingers/gets worse (Gillislee, M. Davis).