Devontae Booker (RB, DEN) - Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14-Team PPR Leagues

OWNED IN: 3% of Leagues

ANALYSIS: Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker was included among the suggested roster additions in last week’s column, in anticipation of the expanded workload that he would receive if Royce Freeman’s ankle issue forced him to the sideline in Week 8. However, even after it became apparent that Freeman would miss Denver’s Week 8 matchup with Kansas City, the uninspiring numbers that he had amassed through seven games (51 rushing yards/177 total yards) was a significant factor in his ownership rising by only 2%.

After Booker’s performance against the Chiefs, interest in utilizing him as a flex option should increase significantly. He took advantage of the additional touches to establish new season highs in rushing (78), and total yards (101), while averaging 8.7 YPC on the ground.  Even though Phillip Lindsay garnered a larger percentage of the overall workload (21 touches/13 touches), Booker accomplished enough to warrant adding him - with the caveat that his value remains elevated only as long as Freeman is unavailable.