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Week 10 of the NFL is a distant memory. We must forge ahead to our next battle. But we will be without some soldiers, with four strong options out with byes in Week 11. Chris Carson, Aaron Jones, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley will all sit. Hopefully, your bench can accommodate the losses, but if not, there is one immediate play available and a few other long term options.
We’ll scour the waiver wire for players who are available in the majority of ESPN fantasy football leagues. Let’s go, troops!
Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons (.7 percent)
Hill has the most potential for fantasy goodness of all the running backs this week, as Devonta Freeman hurt his foot and could miss “about” two weeks according to NFLN’s Ian Rapoport. Freeman’s absence will vault Hill into a heavy workload against a Panthers defense that running backs have obliterated of late. If he can show well, he could also win a timeshare with Freeman once he returns.
Derrius Guice, Washington (38.4 percent)
Guice will return this week against the Jets then Lions at home. It’s hard to know what kind of workload he’ll get early on, but we can be sure it won’t be as the every-down back from day one. Washington wants to run, especially with Dwayne Haskins starting now, so Guice has some upside if he can win touches, especially if he can take over the receiving back role.
J.D. McKissic, Detroit Lions (16 percent)
McKissic has played well in spot duty this season, and Ty Johnson had to leave Week 10’s game against the Bears with a concussion. McKissic took over and rushed ten times for 36 yards and, most importantly, caught 6-of-7 targets for 19 more yards. Those target numbers would come in handy during these last two bye weeks in PPR leagues.
Kalen Ballage, Miami Dolphins (27.7 percent)
Ballage was terrible in his first lead back role of the season but received 24 touches. He ended up gaining a lousy 45 yards on those touches and could start to lose work to Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskin, but if he can keep that lead role, he’s bound to trip into some fantasy points with so much usage.