Fantasy football managers are constantly searching for that next breakout player who can provide value from the waiver wire. The running back position remains one of the most volatile in fantasy football, with injuries and coaching decisions creating opportunities for lesser-known players to emerge.
When reports surface about potential role changes in NFL backfields, fantasy football owners must quickly assess whether these situations represent genuine opportunities or merely temporary noise. Making the right waiver wire decisions can be the difference between a successful season and watching from the playoffs sideline.
Should Bam Knight Be a Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Add in Week 7?
Rostered: 13%
Last week, Michael Carter clearly led the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield, touching the ball 23 times. Yet, inexplicably, we got a random Sunday morning report from Adam Schefter that the Cardinals planned on featuring Bam Knight as the lead back this week.
Sure enough, it proved to be true…kinda. Knight did start and played more, but the touch count wound up being relatively close. Carter had nine carries, just two fewer than Knight’s 11. Carter wound up with more yards because he caught two passes for 30 yards, but that was more of a product of Emari Demercado getting hurt, forcing Carter into the passing-down role.
This is not going to be a situation fantasy managers can trust on a weekly basis. But Knight clearly has a meaningful role and needs to be added. Whether he can be started next week remains to be seen.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.5
Cardinals Backfield Analysis: Key Takeaways for Fantasy Football Managers
The Cardinals’ backfield situation perfectly illustrates why fantasy managers must stay vigilant on the waiver wire throughout the season. While Knight showed promise in his expanded role, the unpredictable nature of this committee approach makes it difficult to rely on either back consistently.
The close touch distribution between Knight and Carter suggests this will remain a week-to-week guessing game rather than a clear hierarchy. Carter’s involvement in the passing game adds another layer of complexity, especially if Demercado returns healthy. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should absolutely add Knight given his newfound opportunity, but expectations need to remain tempered.
This scenario serves as a reminder that not every waiver wire pickup needs to become an immediate starter. Sometimes the value lies in securing depth pieces before they break out completely. Knight represents exactly this type of speculative add that could pay dividends if the situation clarifies in his favor or injuries create more opportunity.
The moderate aggressiveness rating reflects the uncertain nature of this backfield moving forward. Smart managers will monitor snap counts and usage patterns closely over the next few weeks to determine whether Knight can emerge as the clear leader or if this remains an unpredictable committee that’s best avoided in fantasy lineups.