Every year in fantasy football, there are a couple of injuries to key running backs. The managers who happen to own or pick up that all important back up tend to be league winners. 2021 is different. It has exacerbated that issue to an extent rarely seen, but in a different way. There have not been many season ending injuries to the star tailbacks, but so many have missed a few weeks here, a few weeks there. That has allowed fantasy owners who are active in waivers and in-season management, to dominate.

Heading into Week 11 of the NFL season, there was more massive fantasy news that sent fantasy football managers scrambling to see if someone is available. This week Alvin Kamara was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Now obviously Mark Ingram is already owned in just about all fantasy football leagues. He filled in last week for Kamara and crushed it, posting over 100 yards from scrimmage to go with four catches and a rushing touchdown. No reason to think he won’t do it again this week.

What about the San Francisco 49ers? Starting tailback Raheem Mostert suffered a season ending injury in Week 1. That opened the door for rookie Elijah Mitchell. People who snatched him up have been very happy, as they gained an RB2 for nothing. Well, he was just listed doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars after breaking a finger.

Unlike Ingram, Jeff Wilson Jr. is available in the vast majority of leagues. Thankfully, I heard about the finger issue Monday night and claimed him days ago in three leagues. He might very well be a week-winner.

Also earlier Friday, the Seattle Seahawks announced that Chris Carson is done for the year. Those who picked up Alex Collins many weeks ago are smiling. Collins has not been great by any means, but he is a volume play and a low end RB2/Flex play for the rest of the season.

Stars like Christian McCaffrey and Saquon Barkley missed extended periods of time this season. Chuba Hubbard, while filling in for McCaffrey was a borderline RB1 for almost a month.

Meanwhile, Devontae Booker joined him as an automatic play from weeks five through nine. During that time, Booker averaged 16 fantasy points per game in PPR leagues.

Last week, Aaron Jones went down with a mild MCL sprain. He is out for a week or two. Enter AJ Dillon, who easily slides in as an RB1 while Jones is out.

When David Montgomery went down in Week 5 for the Bears, back up Khalil Herbert put up 20 PPR fantasy points the next two weeks. More RB1 numbers. Kansas City Chiefs tailback Clyde Edwards-Helaire was hurt in Week 5 and Darrell Williams has been providing RB2 numbers on a weekly basis.

Who can forget the best of them all, Mr. D’Ernest Johnson. He started the season third on the Browns depth chart. But injuries to Kareem Hunt and Nick Chubb thrust him into action in Week 7 vs the Broncos. He obliterated Denver for 146 yards rushing, on his way to 24 fantasy points.

He returned to the bench for a few weeks when Chubb came back. Then Chubb caught COVID-19, giving him another start Week 10 against New England. Fantasy managers who dropped him the prior couple of weeks were kicking themselves as he did it again, posting 23 fantasy points.

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Dan Fappiano ·

Brewers Brice Turang, Diamondbacks Blaze Alexander, Twins Alex Kirilloff, Rangers Cody Bradford

Dan Fappiano ·

Braves Travis d'Arnaud, Yankees Oswaldo Cabrera, Red Sox Kutter Crawford, Pirates Jared Jones

Dan Fappiano ·

The list goes on and on this season. There are many others that were single week fill-in’s that made a difference. Rhamondre Stevenson, Boston Scott, Boston Scott’s teammate Jordan Howard, etc. In reality, this season is less about league winners and more about week-winners.

Fantasy football managers who have been alert, active and attentive have reaped the rewards all season. From the looks of it, that is going to continue into the playoffs.