7 Paths to Climbing the Running Back Depth Chart
5. Replacement-Level Starter Suffers Injury
The Roman philosopher Seneca is credited with saying, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” The players on this list were able to capitalize on an injury to takeover their respective backfields, even if they did so in an underwhelming manner:
| Player | Player Takeover |
|---|---|
| Adrian Peterson | Kerwynn Williams |
| Terrance West | Javorius Allen |
| Ty Montgomery | Jamaal Williams |
| Jamaal Williams | Aaron Jones |
| Chris Carson | J.D. McKissic |
| Chris Thompson | Samaje Perine |
Alex Collins is the hero in the Baltimore running back room, but injuries to Buck Allen and Danny Woodhead initially paved the way for Javorius Allen to showcase his chops. And he led the backfield in points in six of eight weeks from Weeks 2 to 9.
In Green Bay, Ty Montgomery's long-term outlook suffered a setback when a set of broken ribs opened the door for both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams.
Seattle figured to belong to newcomer Eddie Lacy or the returning Thomas Rawls. However, it was Chris Carson who showed out in Week 1 and ran away with the job prior to breaking his ankle in Week 4. From there, J.D. McKissic led a hobbled and ineffective Seahawks running back group.
Chris Thompson emerged in 2017 as a featured playmaking talent for Washington before going out for the season in Week 11. His departure led the Redskins to feed Oklahoma rookie Samaje Perine heavily.
Lesson: You must be active on the waiver wire. Every player on this list who seized an opportunity to takeover the backfield was on a majority of waiver wires. Any running back getting usable weeks is a worthwhile asset in fantasy football.
