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As fantasy football managers prepare their lineups for Week 7, injury situations will shape their decisions and separate the winners from the losers. Several players are dealing with injuries that carried over from game action in Week 6.
Let's check in on injuries for the Los Angeles Rams running backs ahead of their Week 7 Sunday afternoon game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Is Kyren Williams on track to play in Week 7? Should I pick up and start Zach Evans? Below, we attempt to answer these key questions.
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Is Kyren Williams Playing In Week 7?
Williams suffered an ankle injury during Week 6 versus the Arizona Cardinals. It was a tough development for the running back, the Rams, and Williams' fantasy managers considering he has broken out to the tune of 456 rushing yards, 105 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns through just six games this season.
Nevertheless, managers will be without the breakout running back for a little while. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Williams has been diagnosed with a sprained ankle. The injury isn't enough to warrant a stint on injured reserve, but he's still expected to miss at least one game.
Is Zach Evans Starting In Week 7?
Over the past few weeks, an injury to Williams would have left Ronnie Rivers in position to draw a spot start. However, Rivers (knee) also suffered an injury in Week 6 versus the Cardinals. According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Rivers has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 PCL sprain. He will likely land on injured reserve, holding him out for four to five weeks.
With both Williams and Rivers sidelined, the next man up in the Rams' backfield is rookie Zach Evans. The 22-year-old rushed four times for 10 yards last Sunday and was the only healthy running back on the Rams' roster heading into Tuesday. Although the team has since added Royce Freeman and Myles Gaskin to its active roster, the fact that Evans has been on the 53-man roster while Freeman and Gaskin were on their respective practice squads offers insight into the pecking order of the Rams backfield for Week 7.
At this rate, we should expect Evans to operate as the Rams' top running back as they take on the Steelers. He might not see the same workload that propelled Williams to fantasy dominance, but he should still lead the backfield in snaps and opportunities.
Should I Start Zach Evans For Fantasy Football?
With a vastly expanded role on tap, Evans immediately becomes an appealing option in fantasy football. The Ole Miss product was a beacon of efficiency in college, averaging 6.9 YPC over three collegiate seasons. He showed impressive burst and has enough speed to make big plays happen, especially against a Steelers defensive front that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.
Evans' increased workload and home-run ability are two factors that put him on the fantasy radar for Week 7. Even if his time as the Rams' top back lasts just a week or two, fantasy managers will want to capitalize on this opportunity to add value to their lineups. Evans is worth snagging off the waiver wire and ranks as a high-end fantasy RB3 ahead of Sunday's contest.
Unless you are incredibly stacked at running back (which would be a miracle with the latest injuries and bye weeks), you should feel comfortable inserting Evans into your starting lineup.
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