Should I Pick Up Samaje Perine After His Week 11 Performance? Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Outlook

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has operated as the team's backup to Joe Mixon since 2019.

Perine is perhaps most well-known for his performance in Super Bowl LVI instead of Joe Mixon. Perine was famously stuffed by the Rams on third-and-one with Cincinnati desperately trying to keep their final drive of the game alive.

Despite the unsuccessful run in the Super Bowl, Perine should be on fantasy managers' radars heading into Week 12. Should fantasy managers be adding Perine off of waivers ahead of Week 12? Let's dive in and take a look.

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What Did Samaje Perine Do In Week 11?

Perine shredded the division-rival Steelers, catching four passes for 52 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 30 yards on 11 carries.

Samaje Perine is the first Bengal running back to have 3 receiving touchdowns in one game 💪@Samajp32 | #RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/IKPLcG3l3b

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 21, 2022

The veteran tailback scored on receptions of 29, 11, and six yards in the important win over Pittsburgh.

Samaje Perine is this week's fantasy RB2...

and would be the fantasy WR3 with just his receiving stats.

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) November 21, 2022

Of course, Perine saw more work than usual as starter Joe Mixon was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the third quarter. In all, Perine wound up playing on 69.7% of the snaps, a season high.

Should I Add Samaje Perine Off the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Football?

The Bengals have not been shy about using Perine, even when Mixon is healthy. In fact, two of Perine's three receiving touchdowns in Week 11 came in the first half before Mixon was ruled out with his concussion.

Despite operating as a backup for much of his career, Perine has been a reliable pass catcher over the years.

“Did he get there? TOUCHDOWN!!”

Greg Gumbel calls Samaje Perine’s THIRD TD of the day for the @Bengals💨

📺 CBS | Paramount+pic.twitter.com/pH0t8HEy8b

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 21, 2022

Whether Mixon clears the league's concussion protocol in time to suit up against the Titans in Week 12 remains to be seen, but Perine should definitely be on fantasy gamers' radars regardless. Perine saw all but two running back carries after Mixon departed, with Trayveon Williams handling those.

If Mixon does not play, Perine will operate as the team's lead back against Tennessee in Week 12. The Titans have a solid run defense, but fantasy managers would still be able to pencil Perine in as an RB2 for that contest. Those rostering Mixon in fantasy should be putting in aggressive FAAB bids for Perine's services for this week's waiver run.

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