Alright, let’s talk about my little adventure with Zamir White in fantasy football last season. It’s funny how these things happen, you know? You start the season with one plan, and then injuries just throw everything sideways.
Spotting the Opportunity
So, my main running back situation was looking okay, but then the news hit: Josh Jacobs was going to miss time. Classic. Panic mode starts setting in, just a little bit. You gotta react fast in fantasy, right? I immediately pulled up the waiver wire on my league’s site. Scrolling through the usual suspects, the backup running backs, the guys who might get a chance.
My eyes landed on Zamir White. I remembered the Raiders drafted him, heard he was a tough runner, kind of a grinder. Didn’t see a ton of him before this, because, well, he was sitting behind Jacobs. But now? Jacobs was out. Opportunity knocking, big time. That’s often half the battle in fantasy – just getting the touches.
Making the Move
Okay, decision time. Do I burn a waiver claim on him? How much FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) should I drop? This is always the tricky part. You don’t want to overspend, but you also don’t want to miss out on a potential starting running back.
I checked out what some folks online were saying, just quick reads, nothing too deep. Seemed like he was the clear next man up. No weird committee situation expected right away. So, I decided to go for it. Didn’t go completely crazy with the FAAB bid, but put in a solid amount. Enough that I felt pretty confident I’d get him unless someone else was really desperate.
Woke up the next morning, checked the waivers… success! Got him. Felt pretty good about it, like I’d snagged a potential lottery ticket.
Watching the Games
Now came the real test: actually watching him play. You can read all you want, but seeing it on the field is different. First game he started, I was glued to the Raiders updates.
- Checked his carry count constantly.
- Looked to see if he was getting goal-line work.
- Was he catching any passes? (Spoiler: not really his game, but worth checking).
Honestly? He looked alright! He wasn’t flashy like some guys, didn’t have breakaway speed all the time. But man, he ran hard. He got the volume, which is king in fantasy. The Raiders just kept feeding him the ball. Wasn’t always super efficient, you know, yards per carry wasn’t amazing sometimes. But the sheer number of touches? That racks up points.
The Results and Reflection
So, how did it end up? For those few weeks Jacobs was out, Zamir White was actually a solid RB2 for my team. Didn’t win me the championship single-handedly or anything, but he filled a huge hole. He gave me consistent points when I desperately needed them.
Was picking him up the right move? Absolutely. It was one of those waiver wire wins that feel great. Cost me a bit of FAAB, but the production I got back more than justified it. Once Jacobs came back, White went back to the bench, naturally. But for that stretch? He was my guy.
It just goes to show, sometimes you gotta trust the opportunity over just the name recognition. Watching the injury reports and grabbing the next man up can really pay off. Definitely keeping that strategy in mind for next season.
