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Los Angeles Chargers running back Joshua Kelley is the primary backup to Austin Ekeler and even though he doesn't have a solid workload and history of fantasy production, he's on the fantasy radar heading into Week 16.
The fantasy football playoffs are here, so fantasy managers still alive and fighting for a title should consider all possible options for Week 16 and Week 17 to cover all bases.
Is Kelley worth picking up off the waiver wire? Let's find out.
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What Did Joshua Kelley Do In Week 15?
Against the fierce Tennessee Titans run defense, Kelley rushed 10 times for 24 yards and a touchdown and caught one of his two targets for seven yards. Ekeler exited the game briefly with an arm injury, and Kelley got a full workload on a scoring drive.
Ekler is fine and will play in Week 16 against the Indianapolis Colts, but it was nice to see Kelley deliver when called upon.
Should I Pickup Joshua Kelley Off the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Football?
Although Kelley is not startable in any league if Ekeler is at full strength, he could be worth stashing for fantasy managers who end up making it to the championship round in Week 17.
Low-end WR4s are still hanging by threads on a ton of fantasy rosters, and most of those guys have no real chance to crack starting lineup in Week 16 or Week 17. If something were to happen to Ekeler against the Colts, Kelley would immediately be the top waiver add heading into Week 17, and he'd likely be ranked as a top-10 fantasy running back against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17.
Again, there's a great chance Kelley won't be startable before the season ends, but stashing high-upside handcuff running backs could be the difference between winning and losing a fantasy title if an injury happens. Kelley is the clear-cut RB2 for a great Chargers offense and you don't want to miss out on him if he's suddenly thrust into a starting role.
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