My Running Back Goes to the IR

Jones is a starting RB option in the short term as part of a limited running back room alongside Bree Hall (out for season). The source also lists Jones as part of a strong running back room in an 8-team format alongside Jonathan Taylor, Chase Brown, and others, indicating he is a valuable roster piece.

Part of a three-man running back committee in New Orleans; primary value in PPR formats due to expected reception volume. Not an exciting play but the best option among the committee backs for PPR scoring. The source identifies Kamara as 'the most valuable running back in this backfield here for the New Orleans Saints,' indicating he is the lead back and primary fantasy asset in the Saints' running back rotation, though the source acknowledges there is 'a real chance that the more valuable player is going to indeed be uh Miller.' The source identifies Kamara as the most likely primary running back to own in the New Orleans Saints backfield, especially with Etienne on injured reserve.

Ranked 6th overall by Flock Fantasy; valued as a stable weekly lineup piece with top-tier WR production. The source prefers retaining St. Brown in the lineup rather than trading him away unless acquiring a top-tier running back like Jonathan Taylor (ranked 8th) or Christian McCaffrey. In a league format where only three receivers can start, St. Brown is considered a core asset worth keeping; the source would prefer selling Mike Evans for a running back upgrade rather than parting with St. Brown.

Mentioned as a running back ranked below Kenneth Walker. The source suggests trading St. Brown for Gibbs would be a heartbeat decision if available. Antonio Gibson is listed as part of the running back roster (Gibbs, Bashell Tutin, Trevian, RJ Harvey) in a team evaluation, but no specific insight or recommendation is provided.

Hall is described as a 'very, very easy flex play' in non-PPR format and has already been acquired as a waiver wire pickup. The source also suggests that if a team is 3-0 or 4-0, waiting a week and trading for Hall on the cheap after his injury could be a smart move; the strong record provides flexibility to absorb the short-term injury hit while acquiring him at a discount.

Elite tight end stud and one of three absolute hammers on the team alongside Jamir Gibbs and Jonathan Taylor. Very rarely should such a talented player be moved, but in this league context with deep starting lineup requirements (three starting receivers) and shallow receiver depth, Bowers could be considered for trade-down scenarios including Bowers-for-Dalton Schultz-plus-Crystal Lave, Bowers-for-Tyler Warren, and other down-tier options to acquire receiver depth.

In an eight-team league, Brock Purdy is not a necessary acquisition if you already have Dak Prescott at quarterback; the source recommends holding Ashton Gentry rather than trading him for Purdy and Parker Washington, as Gentry is the best player in the deal. In deeper formats, the Purdy/Washington side would be favored, but in shallow leagues Gentry's value is too high to move.

The source recommends starting Bryce Young this week given his really good matchup against the Detroit Lions; the Panthers project to score 24 points compared to other quarterback options, making Young the better play. The source also recommends starting Young over Drake May and Justin Herbert based on matchup considerations.

Chase Brown is proposed as a down-tier target from Jonathan Taylor in a league requiring three starting receivers; the source suggests trading Taylor for Brown plus an additional wide receiver like Devonte Adams would make sense for a team with deep receiver-start requirements and shallow receiver depth. The source strongly prefers Chase Brown over Saquon Barkley at this point in the season, viewing the swap as a pretty big upgrade; recommends making a trade that sends away Barkley and Christian Watson to acquire Brown, Jaylen Waddle, and Dalton Goedert.

Chris Lave was acquired alongside Christian Watson in a trade for Jaxon Smith-Njoku; the source indicates this trade is losing value for the JSN owner but acknowledges it may make sense for team depth needs, recommending trying to squeeze more value before accepting.

Positioned as an elite trade target and premium upgrade for teams with receiver depth and running back need. The source recommends pivoting from Amon-Ra St. Brown to acquire McCaffrey, stating 'I think that would make a ton of sense' for roster construction. McCaffrey is presented as preferable to starting lower-tier options and is a heartbeat trade target if available.

In a 10-team, start-nine league format, the source evaluates trading away Christian Watson for Jaylen Waddle and David Montgomery as a fair deal given the team's weak running back two position, though the source expresses concern about Montgomery's efficiency and receiving role; Montgomery has been very inefficient and the source was worried about his explosiveness coming into the season, and Woody Marks is expected to get an expanded opportunity, which further limits Montgomery's upside.

Loveland is part of a tight end rotation alongside Dalton Schultz in Detroit; the source notes that tight end is not particularly compelling with this combo but can be played based on matchups. Loveland is also mentioned as a potential trade piece to package with Travis Etienne in order to pivot to another player, suggesting he is a secondary asset on the roster.

The source prefers DJ Moore over Jaylen Warren in a vacuum, suggesting Moore has better long-term fantasy value despite Warren's short-term appeal due to the Rico Dowel injury creating opportunity. DJ Moore is anchored as a core receiver piece alongside JSN for a 0-3 team and should not be traded away; he is part of the team's receiver foundation.

Added to injury report with a knee injury and did not practice on Thursday. Less concerning than a Sunday player missing Thursday practice since the Chicago Bears played Monday night, providing more recovery time. Source notes that DeAndre Swift missed practice with a knee injury but suggests it is likely nothing serious; however, it warrants monitoring. Source references waiting for confirmation that DeAndre Swift is healthy before making roster moves; his health status is a key factor in determining whether to sell running backs for a tight end upgrade. Source notes DeAndre Swift has a knee injury with uncertainty around his status; source advises against trading away running backs until confirmation that Swift is good to go, as the injury creates roster uncertainty. If DeAndre Swift gets in a full practice, he can be considered as a flex option, indicating his availability is being monitored.

The source would absolutely love to have Dak Prescott as his quarterback in a 12-team format, but notes he is not a great QB1 in an 8-team league, indicating format-dependent value; Prescott is also suggested as a trade piece that could be packaged with Bashel Tudin to upgrade at the quarterback position, targeting a high-end QB1 like Lamar Jackson in an eight-team format.

Favorable matchup this week against the Dallas Cowboys makes Schultz a recommended play over Colston Loveland in the short term. Also presented as a down-tier target from Brock Bowers in trade scenarios; the source suggests trading Bowers for Schultz plus Crystal Lave could make sense for teams with deep receiver-start requirements and shallow receiver depth.

The source identifies Davante Adams as an auto-start in week four, indicating he is a must-play option. However, his play has been negatively impacted by Puka Nacua's injury.

The source expresses concern about David Montgomery, noting he has been very inefficient and the source was worried about his explosiveness coming into the season as well as his receiving role; Woody Marks is expected to get an expanded opportunity, which further limits Montgomery's upside. Montgomery becomes 'slightly less appealing' with Marks expected to see increased work in Houston.

David Njoku acquired in trade for Tyler Warren, with the source characterizing this as a clear upgrade over Warren.

Achane is lost to a season-ending injury; losing him creates a major hole regardless of draft round (round one or two) and immediately puts a roster into a difficult position. The source indicates that missing Achane puts a team in a tough spot and suggests waiver wire pivots are available to address the loss.

Positioned as desperation depth at receiver; trade candidate for running back upgrades but source has had no luck getting deals done. Boston is viewed as a bench option rather than a starter, referenced as the fourth receiver option behind three startable receivers (St. Brown, JSN, and another).

DeVonta Smith is an auto-start if he plays; he missed practice on the day of discussion but remains a core fantasy asset when healthy and available.

DK Metcalf is the wide receiver two on the roster behind Luther Burden and ahead of Jalen Robinson. The source notes that receiver depth beyond the top three is almost non-existent, creating a significant roster construction problem that may warrant trading down from elite running backs or tight ends to acquire additional starter-caliber receivers.

In a trade discussion involving David McGomery and Drake London for Kenneth Walker, Flock Fantasy clearly prefers Walker, stating 'This is very easily Kenneth Walker for me,' implying London is a lower-tier asset in comparison.

Drake May has collapsed from QB2 in fantasy in his second NFL season (first as full-time starter) to looking like the worst quarterback in fantasy football; the source calls this 'absolutely brutal' and 'unbelievable.' The source expresses surprise that a roster is 2-1 while starting Drake May, implying he is a below-average starting quarterback; the source suggests upgrading at the position but notes the roster lacks the depth to afford a trade for a better QB. May is also positioned as significantly inferior to Tyler Shuck at the quarterback position.

In a 16-team tight end premium league (start six format), Garrett Wilson is acquired as part of a trade package to address wide receiver depth concerns; the receiving team has limited WR depth with only Wadd Godwin, Alec Pierce, and J Mo on the roster.

Kittle is proposed as a trade target in a package deal involving Travis Etienne and Colston Loveland; recommended as a pivot option in two receiver, one flex format to upgrade the tight end position.

George Pickens is an auto-start in week four; the source acquired him in a lateral move from DeVonta Smith, viewing the trade as relatively even value.

JK Dobbins has been averaging only five fantasy points per game, significantly lower than Jameson Williams' seven points per game, and faces a worse matchup, making him the inferior start this week.

Jamar Chase is identified as a must-start receiver in a two-receiver, one-flex format, ranked above Malik Washington in the depth hierarchy, indicating his elite status and guaranteed playing time. He is also mentioned as a potential trade target in hypothetical scenarios where teams would trade Jamir Gibbs and Drake May to acquire him alongside Josh Allen.

Jahmyr Gibbs provides significant roster flexibility due to his role and production, making him a valuable asset for team construction and depth management; owning Gibbs gives a team flexibility to backfill depth on the cheap.

The source suggests trading Barkley and McConkey for James Cook would be an 'absolute no-brainer win' for a non-PPR team. Additionally, the source recommends keeping James Cook rather than trading him away because the receiving team's running back room (Chase Brown, Ollie Gordon) is not strong enough to justify selling Cook; Cook's role and production are too valuable given the depth concerns.

Williams has been inconsistent with target volume, drawing only four targets in back-to-back weeks; the source notes that 'Jameson Williams and his target volume haven't been nearly as consistent' compared to alternatives like Devon Vele who gets steady 6+ targets per week. Despite averaging seven fantasy points per game (better than JK Dobbins at five), his inconsistent targets are a concern. The source personally prefers him over Devon Vele for this matchup given the favorable 51-point over/under game environment and is starting Williams himself this week, but acknowledges the call may be biased.

Javante Williams is presented as a down-tier target from Jonathan Taylor; the source suggests trading Taylor for Williams plus Parker Washington could make sense for a team with deep receiver-start requirements and shallow receiver depth.

In a trade discussion, Flock Fantasy evaluates JSN for Chris Lave and Christian Watson as a valuewise loss for the trading party; the source recommends trying to squeeze more value out of JSN before accepting the deal, indicating JSN is undervalued in this particular trade package.

Jaden Daniels is expected to miss the week, eliminating him from quarterback consideration. Earlier in the season, Daniels offered long-term upside at the quarterback position, providing a strong pairing with Tyler Shuck for a team's QB situation.

Flock Fantasy identifies Jaylen Waddle as an auto-start in week four and recommends him as a flex play in lineup construction; the source also includes Waddle as part of a recommended trade acquisition alongside Chase Brown and Dalton Goedert, suggesting he is a valuable piece in the deal.

With Travis Etienne on the IR and Rico Dowel injured, Jaylen Warren is positioned as a strong short-term play with elevated opportunity at running back, making him a valuable asset in the near term. The source recommends not trading him away now that Etienne is on IR; he can be played in the short term alongside Breece Hall. Warren is an auto-start at running back this week; the source predicts he will 'go nuts tonight,' indicating strong confidence in his performance. Warren should be played at running back rather than flex due to his Thursday night game, prioritizing his early-week slot.

Now listed as RB1 ahead of Olly Gordon on the official Miami depth chart; got in a full practice and was removed from the injury report. Should be rostered despite tough matchup against Minnesota Vikings this week; can be evaluated for starting consideration in following weeks.

Jeremiah Love is presented as an alternative down-tier target from Jonathan Taylor; the source suggests trading Taylor for Love could make sense for a team with deep receiver-start requirements, though notes that Love's team doesn't have a great receiver to pair with the deal.

Jonah Coleman is already on IR, which is relevant context for why RJ Harvey becomes a valuable handcuff if Dobbins also gets injured.

Elite RB stud and one of three absolute hammers on the team alongside Jamir Gibbs and Brock Bowers. Ranked eighth overall by the source; very rarely should such a talented player be moved, but in this league context with deep starting lineup requirements (three starting receivers) and shallow receiver depth, Taylor could be considered for trade-down scenarios including Taylor-for-Chase Brown-plus-Devonte Adams, Taylor-for-Jeremiah Love, and Taylor-for-Javante Williams-plus-Parker Washington. Recommended as a trade target acquisition; source suggests pivoting from Amon-Ra St. Brown (ranked 6th) to Taylor would make sense for roster construction. Identified as the best player in trade scenarios and recommended to hold rather than accept trades involving Saquon Barkley and Justin Jefferson. Auto-start in week four.

Jonathan Brooks is expected to return from injury, but the source expresses significant uncertainty about his fantasy value upon return, suggesting he may not be a reliable contributor despite the injury recovery.

Projected as a top 24 wide receiver in the New Orleans Saints offense. Initial two-month injury timetable suggested week 5 return, but if he does not practice next week, return could slip to week 6, 7, or even week 9 after the bye in week 8. High upside once healthy.

Josh Allen is identified as a highly desirable quarterback upgrade target. Flock Fantasy expresses strong desire to acquire him, noting that trading Bashell Tutin and Drake May for Josh Allen would be a good price even if the other team wouldn't accept it. In another trade scenario, acquiring Allen in exchange for Shuck, DeAndre Swift, and Mike Evans is evaluated as 'probably a fine deal and you win valuewise.'

Josh Jacobs is suspended, which creates uncertainty in the running back position and prevents the source from recommending trading away running backs in the near term.

The source suggests cutting Justice Hill in a trade scenario where you acquire an additional starter, implying Hill's roster value is low enough to drop for depth upgrades.

Justin Herbert is passed over in favor of Bryce Young at quarterback; the Chargers project to score only 18 points compared to the Panthers' 24-point projection, making Herbert an inferior play in weekly lineup decisions.

Did not practice; likely to be held out by Minnesota Vikings given their heavy favorite status in the game. Vikings may rest Jefferson to preserve him for the long run despite being heavily favored. Later in the episode, source notes Jefferson is out, creating a roster gap at wide receiver; source expresses hope that Jefferson plays in the short term to help fill the void left by Travis Etienne's IR status. Source also references Jefferson's 2025 season as having been negatively impacted by JJ McCarthy's poor quarterback play, describing McCarthy as 'the worst quarterback in football' who 'ruined' Jefferson's season. Jefferson's injury status is uncertain heading into the week; source recommends waiting for the practice report before making trades that would leave you dependent on Jefferson as your wide receiver 2. Missing practice this week, source cites as a reason to likely avoid starting him this week despite having other phenomenal options available. If Jefferson plays, he will likely still be limited to a certain extent due to missing practice that week, suggesting he may not be at full capacity. Source indicates that while Jefferson may be available at a discount due to injury concerns, the specific trade offer (Taylor for Jefferson, Barkley, and Rome Adun) does not provide sufficient discount to justify acquiring Jefferson.

Kendra Miller is recommended as a waiver wire pickup with significant upside in the New Orleans Saints backfield. While Alvin Kamara is expected to be the primary back (especially with ETN on injured reserve), the source notes 'there is very much a real chance that the more valuable player is going to indeed be uh Miller,' suggesting Miller has breakout potential and should be rostered as a handcuff or potential league winner over lower-ceiling options like Michael Pittman Jr.

Ranked ahead of Gibbs and Bejon by the source; positioned as a true top-end asset that must be held on to for dear life. The source regrets trading Walker away for Justin Jefferson and expresses growing regret about that decision every day. Walker is a heartbeat trade target if available—the source would trade St. Brown for him immediately. In trade comparisons, Walker is strongly preferred over David McGomery and Drake London.

McConkey is missing practice due to injury. In non-PPR format, the source notes the Chargers offense is 'so damn bad' and McConkey's ceiling is 'severely capped,' making him a candidate to trade away despite being a receiver.

Lamar Jackson is identified as a legitimate high-end QB1 even in an eight-team format, making him a worthwhile upgrade target in trade discussions; the source highlights him as part of a dominant fantasy team composition alongside elite players like Bejon, Jonathan Taylor, and Flowers Pickins.

Luther Burden is the wide receiver one on the roster, but receiver depth beyond the top three (Burden, DK Metcalf, Jalen Robinson) is almost non-existent, creating a significant roster construction problem that may warrant trading down from elite running backs or tight ends to acquire additional starter-caliber receivers.

Michael Pittman Jr. is recommended to be cut from rosters; while he might produce random usable spike weeks with a touchdown or two, the problem is the unpredictability of when those weeks will occur, making him a low-priority hold in a 10-team format. Flock Fantasy suggests he could be picked up as a waiver option if you cut Marvin Harrison, but if Pittman doesn't produce in his game, you can cut him and pick up Adonai Mitchell instead.

Michael Wilson is the WR2 on a team with depth at wide receiver, relevant to roster construction and trade discussions.

Currently injured, which significantly limits his trade value and marketability. The source notes it will be 'very tough to make that move right now while Mike Evans is injured' and recommends waiting for his health to improve before attempting to trade him away. Evans is positioned as a tradeable asset for teams needing running back help, but his injury status makes it difficult to execute such deals in the current market.

Ollie Gordon is the backup running back behind Chase Brown, indicating limited depth and production concerns in a weak running back room.

Parker Washington is presented as a receiver target to acquire in a trade-down scenario from Jonathan Taylor; the source suggests trading Taylor for Javante Williams plus Washington could make sense for a team with deep receiver-start requirements and shallow receiver depth. The source also identifies Parker Washington as an auto-start at wide receiver this week.

Nacua is reported as injured, affecting the team's overall receiver production and specifically impacting Davante Adams' play.

Described as 'horrendous' and 'unusable' in his current form. Mentioned as a potential waiver wire pickup, but the source notes Johnston has been unreliable. Could become relevant only if Ladd Maki suffers a serious injury requiring significant time off, which would move Johnston up the depth chart.

In a start-sit decision, the source recommends benching Rhamondre Stevenson in favor of Amari Hampton because both players' offenses are projecting out horribly this week; Stevenson is the worse play despite Hampton's poor efficiency.

The source recommends dropping either Tyreek Hill or Dantavian Wicks to pick up RJ Harvey as a handcuff; if Dobbins (described as one of the most injury-prone running backs in the NFL) were to go down while Jonah Coleman is already on IR, Harvey could become an absolute jam and provide significant value.

Described as 'extremely disappointing' with zero touchdowns through the first portion of the season. In non-PPR format, Barkley's lack of touchdown volume is a major issue; the source suggests the team's performance will improve once Barkley returns to scoring. At this point in the season, the source would easily prefer Chase Brown over Barkley, viewing that as a 'pretty big upgrade.'

Stefon Diggs is explicitly recommended against for this week's lineup; market projections have him at 10.5 fantasy points, lower than Jaylen Judkins' 11.5 points projection, and the source advises definitely not playing him in this matchup.

The source recommends cutting Tank Dell from injured reserve and replacing him with Travis ETN, suggesting Dell's roster spot is not worth holding given the injury situation and available alternatives.

In a trade scenario, Flock Fantasy characterizes the swap of McMillan for Saquon Barkley as a 'slight upgrade' for Barkley, indicating McMillan's modest value relative to Barkley.

Officially placed on injured reserve; will miss weeks 4, 5, 6, and 7 at minimum; bye week in week 8 means likely week 9 return at earliest. Major roster impact requiring immediate replacement. The source notes that pivoting off Etienne as a one and two roster option is nearly impossible; the speaker attempted to trade away Etienne in their league but was unable to find a deal, suggesting Etienne is a locked-in starter with limited trade flexibility. The source recommends prioritizing Etienne as an injured reserve pickup over Tank Dell, indicating he is a more valuable handcuff or backup option to hold.

In a 16-team tight end premium league (start six format), Trevor Lawrence is acquired as part of a trade package, with the source noting that Lawrence matters in this league format.

Presented as an alternative down-tier target from Brock Bowers in trade scenarios; the source suggests trading Bowers for Warren could make sense for a team with deep receiver-start requirements and shallow receiver depth. Also traded away to McBride, with the source characterizing McBride as a clear upgrade, indicating Warren is the inferior asset. Listed on roster as tight end but no strong projection provided.