Depending if I can employ a roster spot, around Weeks 8-10, I always look to see if there is an RB I can stash that may serve value as the season wears on.
My criteria usually involve elements such that this back is already part of the offense in some way, would be the primary backup on the team, the starter ahead of him is either getting tons of carries or has not been known to carry the load the entire season, and has a favorable playoff schedule.
Pierre Thomas is one of the backs I am looking to pick up in this next waiver period, as he meets many if not all of these criteria. Consider:
1) Thomas has not been a huge part of the offense in NO so far, but with his performance last week, he seems to add a north/south power running aspect that Stecker does not bring to the table.
Stecker is still involved, and is actually a bigger back in terms of listed hight and weight. But Stecker's skillset is more akin to Bush's in terms of having good hands out of the backfield. From what I've seen, Thomas looks comfortable running between the tackles. I can see him being used more and more in short yardage situations, or allowing the Saints the flexibility to put Bush back in wideout sets or simply reduce his carries slightly to help keep him healthy.
There is upside in Thomas being used more in the offense on a team struggling to find ways to stay in games.
2) Stecker is still technically ahead of Thomas in the depth chart. But if Bush goes down, I can see the Saints using Thomas in a Deuce McAllister role, with Stecker being in there to catch the ball out of the backfield and for third down duties. This is based upon my speculation alone, but I just think that Thomas presents more of a credible every down running threat than Stecker, who really hasn't taken on that role well at any point recently.
3) Bush is certainly getting a ton of carries, and looks to be doing well with this role. But his longevity in this role is simply an unknown, and as the Saints continue to rely heavily on him, it's not unfeasible to think that as the grind of the season wears on, Bush might get dinged.
4) In weeks 14, 15, and 16, NO is up against Atlanta, Arizona, and Philly.
Not saying that Thomas is a lock to set the world on fire. But if you can afford to burn a roster spot, he seems to present a lot more upside at this point than others sitting out there on the wire.
FWIW, other backs on the wire I see in similar situations -- and with similar upside -- right now are Musa Smith and Kevin Faulk (if still available right now).
