Fantasy Fallout: Book it! Devontae a must-start with C.J. Anderson out
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Here are the fantasy ramifications of Denver Broncos RB C.J. Anderson missing multiple weeks with a knee injury:
On to the rookie
Anderson's absence is a revelation for those who stashed Devontae Booker in hopes he would eventually wrest the starting job from the incumbent. Booker has seen his snap count rise each week since the beginning of the season, and is coming off his best effort of the season last time out - racking up 83 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown in Monday's 27-9 win over Houston.
Booker is expected to see the majority of the work in the Broncos backfield for the foreseeable future, beginning with this weekend's game against the visiting San Diego Chargers. It's a favorable matchup for Booker, who was one of the lone bright spots for Denver in their previous meeting, piling up 46 yards on just five carries in the 21-13 defeat on Oct. 13.
If he's available on your waiver wire, scoop him up immediately; he's a top-10 option in all formats, and will likely be better than anyone you have in your RB2 or FLEX spot. Also make sure to lock him into every daily fantasy lineup you have, since he's likely at or near the minimum price across all sites. Booker is a no-brainer play in every fantasy configuration.
C.J. in limbo?
Anderson owners should be gravely concerned. If Booker continues to look solid - and with a 4.8 yards-per-carry average through seven games, that's a distinct possibility - Anderson may have seen the last of the Denver starting role. While Anderson under contract through the end of the 2019 season, the Broncos won't hesitate to turn to Booker as their No. 1 option.
If you own Anderson, it might be time to cut your losses another way, and offer him in a 2-for-1 deal for someone better or straight-up for 40-50 cents on the dollar. You're no longer going to be able to get anything of value for him, so unless you're okay riding out the storm in hopes he can return to relevance - either this season or next - you need to move him.
No changes elsewhere
It's business as usual for the rest of the Denver offense, which should be a strong play across the board against the visiting Chargers. Booker will keep the offense stable, which means no disruption for either QB Trevor Siemian or WRs Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders. And with Chargers WRs Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin hobbled, Denver could dominate this one.