My Zamir White Experiment
Alright, let’s talk about Zamir White and my fantasy team this past season. It wasn’t some master plan, believe me. More like stumbling into something that actually worked out.
So, the draft comes and goes. Honestly, Zamir White wasn’t really on my radar. Maybe a super late-round flyer in a deep league, but in my main league? Nah. He was just Josh Jacobs’ backup, right? That’s what I figured, like most folks.
Fast forward through the season. My running back situation was, well, messy. Injuries piling up, guys underperforming. You know the drill. Then, the news hits: Jacobs is out. Hurt. My first thought wasn’t even White, gotta be honest. I was scrambling, looking at the waiver wire mess.
Taking the Plunge
I saw White’s name sitting there. Available. My gut reaction was skeptical. Rookie backups, especially on teams like the Raiders were last year, can be fool’s gold. But I looked closer.
- Jacobs was definitely out for a bit.
- The Raiders didn’t have many other options.
- Sometimes, you just gotta roll the dice, especially late in the season.
So, I put in a waiver claim. Didn’t even have to spend much FAAB, surprisingly. Got him. Okay, step one done. Now, the real question: do I actually start this guy?
Watching and Waiting (Briefly)
The first game Jacobs missed, I was nervous. Starting White felt like a huge gamble, especially with playoffs potentially on the line. I checked the snap counts, the touches, everything I could find after that game.
He got the work. That was the key. They weren’t messing around with a committee too much; they fed White. He looked decent too. Ran hard. Wasn’t spectacular, maybe, but he was getting volume.
The Payoff
So, the next week, playoffs started for me. My opponent looked tough. I needed points. I looked at my lineup, looked at Zamir White, and thought, “What the heck.” I slotted him into my RB2 spot.
And man, did it pay off. He delivered. Got the carries, got the yards, even punched one in, I think. He wasn’t just a fill-in; he was a legit starter those last few weeks.
Here’s the simple takeaway from my little Zamir White adventure:
- Sometimes opportunity is all that matters, especially at running back.
- Don’t overthink waiver pickups late in the season. If a guy’s getting volume, give him a shot.
- He definitely helped me make a push, ended up being a solid addition when I needed it most.
Will he be the guy next year? Who knows. Jacobs might be back, they might draft someone. But for that stretch run last season? Picking up Zamir White was one of the better moves I made. Just goes to show, sometimes you find value where you least expect it.
