Fantasy football: top 10 waiver wire Week 1 pickups

6. Wendell Smallwood

For all the noise made this offseason about LeGarrette Blount’s signing in Philadelphia and the training camp battle between Donnel Pumphrey and Corey Clement for the backfield, Wendell Smallwood could end up being the most important player in this Eagles backfield. Darren Sproles will have a vital PPR role, but the team won’t want him to have another career high in carries as he did in 2016. The team needs an explosive runner to use on early downs, and Smallwood might be that man.

Blount, despite being the big name, has thoroughly underwhelmed so far as an Eagle. That said, what were we expecting? He’s been a perfect fit for New England, but thrived in a straight-ahead rushing attack that often had a fullback leading the way. In Philly’s preseason games, he’s been asked to run zone plays, stretches and draws. Perhaps the offense will adapt when he get to “real” games, but perhaps he’s just not a good fit?

Running backs coach Duce Staley raves about Smallwood, and after missing some time over the summer, he looked both spritely and powerful on his four rushing attempts in the last game of the preseason (he gained 28 yards). At the very least, Smallwood will eat into a large chunk of Blount’s carries, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he ended up with a majority. On an ascending offense, he’s someone you want to own.