Fantasy Football 2013: Top 10 Week 4 Waiver Wire pickups

8. Johnathan Franklin-RB-Green Bay Packers (1.1%)

Probably the biggest single surprise of the week was the sudden emergence of Johnathan Franklin. Franklin was one of the Packers rookie backs that got a lot of buzz after the draft, but he struggled in preseason and didn’t do anything the first two weeks.

All of the sudden, though, Franklin burst onto the scene this week against the Bengals after James Starks left with an injury leaving Franklin just about the only healthy back in green and gold. Franklin seized his opportunity rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown while also catching three passes for another 23 yards. The only negative from Franklin’s breakout was a crushing fumble that ultimately cost Green Bay the game.

Franklin and the Packers are on a bye this week, but the reason he’s down this far on the list is that his role is so undetermined. He is definitely behind Lacy and Starks, but could find a role since the Packers prefer to rotate backs. Franklin could be a nice third-down back giving Aaron Rodgers another weapon, or he could return to his bench role. We really won’t know for sure until week 5 when Lacy and Starks are likely to be active.

Obviously with a bye, Franklin can’t help you this week, but if you can afford the roster space he is ownable in most leagues as running back depth since he did show he can be a playmaker when given the opportunity.