Ryan Mathews (RB, PHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 77% of Fleaflicker Leagues

ANALYSIS: While owning Ryan Mathews has quite the “handcuffy” feel to it, he still has put forward two weeks out of six that would absolutely warrant playing him. One out of three isn’t preferable, but if you’re in a league with a bench spot that you aren’t extremely attached to, it would be advisable to grab Mathews.

The Eagles appear to have figured something out as far as their rushing attack goes. While DeMarco Murray is the main beneficiary of this moving forward, should something happen to him that will fall into Mathews’ lap. Sam Bradford is still trying to remember how to throw a football apparently, and some of his receivers aren’t helping out, but the offensive line appears to be gaining an identity. The New York Giants had boasted a good rush defense for 2015, until they went to Philadelphia and got lambasted last week. DeMarco Murray averaged five yards per carry (22 rushes for 109 yards), and Ryan Mathews chipped in with 4.4 YPC (nine rushes for 40 yards).

Ryan Mathews is pretty reliant on the home run given how many carries he gets right now. In these past two games where the Eagles have shown some life on the ground, Mathews is averaging around ten touches. Again, this is mostly about what he becomes if Murray is out, which is what was flashed with that Week 3 effort against the Jets. Be aware.