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After Week 1 concluded, two NFC West running backs, the Rams’ Darrell Henderson Jr. and the 49ers’ Jeff Wilson Jr., who both started the season number two on their respective teams’ depth charts, are among the hottest waiver wire pickups. Wilson is the top trending player on Sleeper, with 1.5 million adds since Sunday. Henderson is also amongst the top-15 adds and would have been higher if he weren’t already on so many rosters.
Wilson won the Niners’ backup RB job in the preseason, and now he has moved up to No. 1 on the depth chart after Elijah Mitchell injured his MCL against the Bears. Henderson was the Rams starting running back for most of 2021, as Cam Akers missed 17 weeks with an Achilles tear, but Henderson was expected to be relegated to the No. 2 role with Akers back. Instead, Henderson out-carried Akers by a margin of 10 and caught five more passes against the Bills.
Should you add either of them to your fantasy team? Read on to find out.
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What Did Darrell Henderson Jr. Do In Week 1?
Henderson took 13 carries for 47 yards and added five catches for 26 yards against the Bills in Week 1. Despite not finding the end zone, Henderson’s 7.3 points in standard scoring and 12.3 in PPR would have made solid contributions in a flex spot. If the Rams get their offense in gear, Henderson should have some opportunities to score touchdowns.
Cam Akers only carried the ball three times and was not targeted once in the passing game. It is hard to predict if this distribution of work in the backfield will continue going forward. No one should be surprised if Akers is the lead back next week or if the role alternates from week to week.
Rams coach Sean McVay indicated in the preseason that he would treat both RBs as starting caliber. The Rams only ran the ball 18 times in all against the Bills. If those carries were split 50-50, neither of their RBs would be starting options. But the Rams should run the ball more in games they are winning; last season, they averaged 25.7 carries per game. Plus Henderson has the receiving work.
What Did Jeff Wilson Jr. Do In Week 1?
Wilson carried the ball nine times for 22 yards and caught two passes for eight yards against the Bears in Week 1. Most of his carries came after Mitchell left the game. Those numbers are not exactly inspiring, especially on a team that might have trouble scoring points if QB Trey Lance continues to struggle. The 49ers are a run-heavy team, and Wilson could see more action with Mitchell out of the picture for the next eight weeks or so. But the Niners have many talented RBs and WRs and a QB who can run the ball.
Each of the other 49ers ball carriers averaged significantly more yards per carry than did Wilson in Week 1. Deebo Samuel resumed his role as a dual-threat wide-back. Rookie RB Jordan Mason suited up but didn’t take any carries, and fellow rookie Tyrion Davis-Price didn’t suit up, but he might going forward. The 49ers also added Marlon Mack to their practice squad. Wilson will quickly lose his job if he keeps averaging just 2.4 YPC going forward.
Should I Pickup Darrell Henderson Or Jeff Wilson Off The Waiver Wire?
Both running backs could be quality additions for a team with a hole at the position. Akers owners would certainly benefit from adding Henderson as a handcuff—or keeping Akers as Henderson’s handcuff. Owners of teams with Mitchell or other injured running backs like Najee Harris could use Wilson.
Between the two, Henderson is the better pickup. He averaged more yards per carry than Wilson in Week 1, more last season, and more in his career. He also is targeted much more frequently as a receiver than Wilson.
Henderson will be one of his team’s top-two backs no matter what. Wilson will have to share carries with Lance, Samuel, and maybe Mason and Davis-Price. Last season, Wilson saw double-digit carries five times. He had just one really good fantasy showing: 110 yards and a TD against Atlanta in Week 15. Besides that, his best game was 56 yards. He never had more than three catches and never more than 12 receiving yards.
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