It’s officially handcuff season as we inch closer to the end of the fantasy regular season. Rather than rostering a second tight end or a fifth and sixth receiver, add backup running backs in the event of an injury to the player ahead of them on the depth chart. Players who should be on your radar are Zack Moss, Rico Dowdle, Tank Bigsby, Joshua Kelley, Ty Chandler, Kenneth Gainwell, Tyjae Spears and Antonio Gibson.
Sam Howell, QB, Washington Commanders: It’s time to give the second-year pro some credit after a third consecutive 300-yard pass game. He also threw for eight touchdowns and just two interceptions during that stretch, in addition to some production as a runner. The schedule gets tough during the fantasy playoffs, but you can start Howell with confidence next week against the Giants.
Devin Singletary, RB, Houston Texans: Dameon Pierce missed another game due to injury and may have lost his grip on the starting role. Singletary racked up 161 yards on 31 touches in the Texans’ upset of the Bengals, by far the best performance by Houston on the ground this season. Singletary needs to be rostered, but temper your expectations with this running game. It’s only the fourth time this season that the Texans have eclipsed 100 rushing yards, but the Cardinals’ suspect defense is up next, making Singletary a solid FLEX option.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens: The undrafted rookie showed off his blazing speed once again this week on a 39-yard score but had just three more touches throughout the game. He’s available in better than 50 percent of leagues and John Harbaugh said after the game that Mitchell needs more touches.
Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans: The Texans’ receiving corps has battled injuries the past two weeks and Brown has taken advantage of the uptick in opportunities. He reeled in seven of eight targets for 172 yards against the Bengals, showcasing his big-play ability. Brown also had 153 and a score last week, giving him back-to-back top-10 fantasy performances.
Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals: It’s the third week I’m listing the Cardinals tight end, as he’s still available in nearly 50 percent of leagues. He finished with 131 yards, a career high, and has 28 targets the last three games. There’s no excuse for McBride to still be this widely available with his recent usage.
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