Every year in fantasy football, there is a guy who becomes a fantasy hero in the final couple weeks of the season. A couple of years ago, Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown went crazy down the stretch, knocked people (myself included) out of the playoffs, and won championships.
Last year, Kansas City Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon had eight receiving touchdowns in the final six weeks of the season to help people win championships.
Could Buffalo Bills RB Latavius Murray be that guy this year?
Should Latavius Murray Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 13?
Murray has become more involved in the Buffalo offense the last three weeks, as he has had nine, 10, and nine carries the past three weeks. The Bills have been much better running the ball recently, as they are showing they can truly pound the rock late in games. That hasn’t always been the case for the Bills, but it could be a huge factor for the team if they are going to go on a nice run and make the playoffs.
With that in mind, should Murray be signed off the waiver wire and brought to your team?
While it is nice to see him put up those numbers, you shouldn’t pick him up off the waiver wire. First off, the Bills have a bye this week, so there is no point in getting him on your team. If you are signing a guy off the waiver wire, you need someone who can contribute immediately.
Right now, the Bills are in a tough situation to make the playoffs. They are currently the No. 10 seed in the AFC, and they have two difficult games coming up. After the bye, the Bills will travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs and then host the Dallas Cowboys. Those are two of the best defenses in the league.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
If they are going to beat those teams, it will be because of QB Josh Allen and the passing game. If they are going to get anything from the running back in this game, it will be James Cook.
This season, Cook has 33 catches, while Murray has only 16. That versatility from the running back position will be huge in this game, and I expect Cook to be one of the most used running backs during that two-week stretch.
If you are going with a waiver wire running back right now, you are going for a Hail Mary type of situation — a guy who is capable of exploding for a 25-30 fantasy point performance in any given game with a high ceiling. That is the biggest issue with Murray right now. He is a solid running back who plays a big role on the team in real life, but his fantasy ceiling just isn’t high enough to sign him.
Trust the players you have on your roster, or look at someone other than Murray.
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