Time is now for Gus Edwards as Chargers’ RB1

Popular ideas aren’t always the smartest ideas. Sometimes the masses are just flat-out wrong. And there are other times that, even when they’re right, they don’t have the best plan to get to that right place. 

Going against the grain can conjure second-guessing and even ridicule from the gallery. How dare you think differently! Don’t you know the masses are never wrong? 

Only, sometimes they are. For example — prepare yourselves, because this could be divisive — handcuffing running backs rarely works out. 

That’s right. It is a popular strategy. On the surface it makes sense. If you have the real-world backup to an RB on your fantasy roster, presumably if your guy gets hurt, you don’t have to scramble to find a solution — that solution is already on your roster. 

Except, even if you plan and prepare with this insurance scheme in mind, it doesn’t always work out. Take a look at some examples from this season. 

If you handcuffed Travis Etienne with Tank Bigsby, that didn’t work out on either front. When Etienne went down, Bigsby was a bust, and he too has been hurt much of the season, and neither has been very good anyway. 

If you handcuffed Isiah Pacheco, who did you have? We’re pretty sure it wasn’t Kareem Hunt, who wasn’t added by the Chiefs until after Pacheco’s injury. Zach Charbonnet was OK filling in when Kenneth Walker was down, but nothing great. Many have gone unused altogether. 

There is one that is about to work, but chances are, even if you handcuffed this backfield, you likely cut the cuff at some point between the draft and now. 

That player is Gus Edwards. In fact, when you drafted, you might have drafted Edwards expecting him to be the No. 1 for the Chargers to start the season, then cuffed him to J.K. Dobbins. Turns out, Dobbins was the Alpha. 

If you held onto Edwards, or recently acquired him, congrats. Now you get to use him. 


J.K. Dobbins #27 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts after scoring the go-ahead touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Inglewood, California.
J.K. Dobbins celebrates after scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the Chargers’ Week 11 win over the Bengals. Getty Images

Dobbins, who has a long track record of injuries, is doubtful for Sunday with a knee problem. Coach Jim Harbaugh has been elusive, saying Dobbins would “miss some time.” 

It is annoying when you have to try to code-break injury info, but we translate that to likely mean more than just one week. Dobbins’ injury history amplifies that feeling. And with him out, Edwards will get the bulk of the work. 

To be clear, what you’re chasing here is the volume, because Edwards is not nearly as dynamic as Dobbins. Last week, with Dobbins sidelined in the first half, Edwards got nine carries. He gained just 11 yards, but he did score a touchdown. 


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That sounds awful, but the Chargers were trailing for much of the game against the Ravens, and Baltimore doesn’t have a bad run defense for fantasy purposes. Thus, we expect better efficiency, perhaps rising to mediocre. 

The Falcons should offer easier sledding, and the Chargers are unlikely to fall far behind like they did last week. We like Edwards good enough to use him ahead of Etienne, Nick Chubb, Javonte Williams or any Commanders RB if Brian Robinson Jr. doesn’t play. 

So, rejoice. A handcuff is about to be rewarded. Even if that strategy didn’t really evolve as planned.

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