Entering the season, the pecking order in the Green Bay Packers‘ backfield appeared fairly straightforward. Free agent addition Josh Jacobs would be the clear lead back, while third-round rookie MarShawn Lloyd would be the high-upside handcuff.
Instead, undrafted second-year pro Emanuel Wilson has emerged as Jacobs’ clear top backup through three weeks, due in part to Lloyd ending up on injured reserve.
With that being the case, we take a look at the case for fantasy football managers to add Wilson to their roster this week.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats courtesy TruMedia.
Should Emanuel Wilson Be Added on the Fantasy Waiver Wire in Week 4?
Wilson has taken advantage of the injury to Lloyd, who will be out at least three more games on injured reserve with an ankle injury. It all culminated on Sunday with a career-high 25 offensive snaps and the first touchdown of Wilson’s career.
Keep that ball!
Emanuel Wilson scores his first NFL TD 🙌
📺: #GBvsTEN – Sunday on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/0TW8INVcwc— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
Wilson actually outperformed Jacobs quite decisively on Sunday, rushing 12 times for 50 yards (4.2 yards per rush). In contrast, Jacobs had 14 rush attempts for 43 yards, or 3.1 yards per rush. On the season, Wilson leads all Packers running backs with 5.0 yards per rush, while Jacobs is at 4.5.
Coupled with his four catches for 37 yards, Wilson has quietly been one of the more efficient running backs so far on a per-touch basis. Wilson ranks 15th among running backs in fantasy points per touch (0.97), sandwiched between Kyren Williams and Travis Etienne Jr. Jacobs is averaging 0.51 fantasy points per touch, which ranks 34th at the position.
Now this doesn’t mean that fantasy owners should expect a near 50-50 timeshare in backfield touches like we saw on Sunday. Prior to that game, Wilson had 11 touches the first two weeks combined.
Additionally, Jacobs is the clear goal-line option, as he has taken all six running back carries from the 10-yard line or closer this season (Malik Willis also rushed once for a TD from the 5-yard line on Sunday).
However, Wilson is certainly worth adding in deeper leagues as a speculative running back option. It’s possible that his superior efficiency to Jacobs earns him a higher share of touches, and he would become a very valuable lead back if Jacobs misses time.
The Packers have blocked well this season, averaging the seventh-most yards before contact per rush. Jordan Love’s impending return should also raise the Packers’ offensive ceiling and create more passing-game opportunities for Wilson.
Over the long term, Lloyd’s eventual return casts a monkey wrench in Wilson’s rest-of-season value. In his only game played in Week 2 vs the Colts, Lloyd received seven touches, while Wilson received five.
That doesn’t mean that Lloyd would immediately usurp Wilson on the depth chart, given his status as a rookie who has missed significant time; however, it’s possible the Packers view Lloyd as their preferred backup to Jacobs.
Consequently, Wilson is not a running back worth breaking the FAAB bank over unless Jacobs comes down with an injury in the near future. However, given Matt LaFleur’s willingness to give meaningful touches to multiple running backs every week, Wilson has value in deeper leagues, particularly for Jacobs’ managers.