As we told you last week, you always want to back up your starting running back in case an injury occurs. Hopefully you listened, because two more injuries happened in Week 13.
Marion Barber left with a dislocated pinkie toe on Thanksgiving against Seattle. And Ryan Grant left with a sprained thumb Sunday against Carolina.
The severity of each injury is unknown heading into Week 14, but you want to add their backups now. And no matter what happens, hold onto them for the rest of the season.
Tashard Choice, who is only owned in 5 percent of leagues on CBSSports.com, entered this season as the No. 3 running back in Dallas behind Barber and fellow rookie Felix Jones. But when Jones hurt his hamstring in Week 7, Choice was elevated to No. 2. The move became official when Jones was placed on injured reserve with a torn ligament in his toe.
When Barber got hurt against the Seahawks, Choice saw his first extended action of the season with 11 carries for 57 yards and one catch for six yards. Barber might not miss Week 14 at Pittsburgh, but Choice is a good insurance policy.
In Green Bay, Brandon Jackson (16 percent) is a running back we liked coming into this season following Grant's holdout. But Jackson's playing time was limited until Grant hurt his thumb against the Panthers.
Jackson had a season-high 11 carries for 80 yards and one catch for six yards. Grant's thumb injury appears to be minor, but Jackson could again play an important role in Week 14 against Houston.
Some other running backs worth adding this week include LeRon McClain (61 percent), Cadillac Williams (50 percent), Darren Sproles (38 percent) and Lorenzo Booker (8 percent).
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Tashard Choice has shown promise and could see more touches in Week 14.
(US Presswire)
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McClain has become the best running back in Baltimore with
Willis McGahee struggling and not playing Sunday at Cincinnati. Coach John Harbaugh said McGahee will still be a factor this season, but McClain is the one getting the majority of touches right now.
Williams scored his first touchdown Sunday against New Orleans and will share carries with Warrick Dunn down the stretch. And Booker has assumed the No. 2 role in Philadelphia with Correll Buckhalter (knee) hurt, which is an important position with Brian Westbrook less than 100 percent.
Sproles could be an intriguing option with the Chargers falling out of playoff contention at 4-8. With LaDainian Tomlinson struggling, San Diego could decide to shut him down and give Sproles the majority of touches at some point in the next four weeks.
In case you haven't noticed ... It's time to add some members of the Ravens passing game. Joe Flacco (49 percent) continues to shine as the second-best rookie quarterback behind Matt Ryan. Flacco had 280 passing yards and two touchdowns Sunday at Cincinnati and now has 11 touchdowns and two interceptions in his past seven games. The two interceptions came in Week 11 against the Giants. Flacco has helped revive Mark Clayton (15 percent) and Todd Heap (37 percent). Clayton had five catches for 164 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals and has seven catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games. He also has three touchdowns in his past five games. And Heap had four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown against Cincinnati and now has three touchdowns in his past five games. All three players are worth adding.
Each Monday we will highlight players who might be available in your league and whether you should consider picking them up off waivers based on their recent performances. The players chosen are based on the percentage of ownership in CBSSports.com leagues.
Add 'Em
Davone Bess, WR, Miami
Owned: 12 percent of leagues
Week 13: Caught six passes for 84 yards at St. Louis.
Analysis: We had him as an avoid last week when Greg Camarillo (knee) was lost for the season, but the Dolphins made an effort to involve him in the plans in St. Louis, so we changed our opinion. Bess now has 11 catches for 171 yards in his past two games and could finish the season strong with a favorable schedule against Buffalo, San Francisco, Kansas City and the Jets. Consider Bess a No. 4 Fantasy option with upside down the stretch.
Shaun Hill, QB, San Francisco
Owned: 33 percent of leagues
Week 13: Completed 14-of-23 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions at Buffalo.
Analysis: Hill went into Buffalo and did just enough to win, and he's been doing enough to start for many Fantasy owners the past five games. Since coming into the game in Week 8 against Seattle, Hill has eight touchdowns and three interceptions, and he also ran for a touchdown. He is trying to win a job for next season, and he should excel in the final four games against the Jets, Miami, St. Louis and Washington.
Domenik Hixon, WR, N.Y. Giants
Owned: 29 percent of leagues
Week 13: Caught five passes for 71 yards at Washington.
Analysis: It appears as though Plaxico Burress will be out for the year following the gun shot wound he sustained over the weekend. When Burress has been out, Hixon has shined. In three games in place of Burress this season, Hixon has 15 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown. You should also add Amani Toomer (35 percent), who had five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against the Redskins and now has three touchdowns in his past five games. Eli Manning will rely on these two receivers with Burress out.
Avoid 'Em
Daniel Graham, TE, Denver
Owned: 5 percent of leagues
Week 13: Had six catches for 59 yards at the Jets.
Analysis: Graham posted season highs for yards and catches against the Jets, but he's not about to take over for Tony Scheffler. And Graham still has to share the ball with plenty of talented receivers in Denver, so don't consider him anything more than a red-zone target. It appeared like the Broncos' game plan was to attack the Jets with their tight ends, and Graham played well but is not worth adding. The only Fantasy value Graham would have going forward is if Scheffler got hurt.
Dane Looker, WR, St. Louis
Owned: 0 percent of leagues
Week 13: Had six catches for 52 yards against Miami.
Analysis: Even with Torry Holt on the downside of his career and Donnie Avery still looking like a rookie, don't give Looker a look. He does have 10 catches for 98 yards in his past two games, but the Dolphins secondary is bad, which is why he played well Sunday. The Rams offense is pathetic right now, and adding their third receiver would be a wasted roster spot. If Looker played elsewhere, maybe he could be a good Fantasy wide receiver, but now is not the time to add him.
Brandon Stokley, WR, Denver
Owned: 18 percent of leagues
Week 13: Had two catches for 44 yards and a touchdown at the Jets.
Analysis: Stokley found the end zone Sunday, but this was his first touchdown since Week 6 against Jacksonville. The Broncos have too many weapons to count on Stokley, and he only has 14 catches for 148 yards in his past five games. Jay Cutler is playing well, but Stokley just doesn't get enough targets to be considered a viable Fantasy option going forward.
Others to monitor ...
John Carlson, TE, Seattle
Owned: 46 percent of leagues
Week 11: Had six catches for 105 yards at Dallas.
Analysis: Carlson has played well at times this year, but he set a career high in yardage against the Cowboys. If you need a tight end, add him now because Seattle faces poor pass defenses in New England, St. Louis, the Jets and Arizona the rest of the way. And in keeper leagues, Carlson could be a starting option heading into next year. Matt Hasselbeck likes using his tight end, especially with all the wide receiver woes in Seattle, and Carlson is a talented player.
Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh
Owned: 53 percent of leagues
Week 13: Had four catches for 60 yards at New England.
Analysis: After missing three games with an injury, Miller has returned with eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in his past two games. He's capable of being a No. 1 Fantasy option, especially if he plays like this. Hopefully it can continue, and the Steelers should be throwing plenty in the final four games against Dallas, Baltimore, Tennessee and Cleveland. Miller has always been a favorite target for Ben Roethlisberger.
Zach Miller, TE, Oakland
Owned: 46 percent of leagues
Week 13: Had five catches for 79 yards against Kansas City.
Analysis: Miller has become the best receiver for the Raiders, but he hasn't scored a touchdown in eight straight games. And since he still plays for Oakland, you never know what the plan is going to be or how it will be executed. But Miller does have at least 40 yards in each of his past four outings and has a great matchup in Week 14 at San Diego. The last time he faced the Chargers in Week 4 he had five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.
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