The Las Vegas Raiders had a pair of running backs post at least somewhat notable fantasy football showings in Week 5 in Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah, but are either one worth adding off the waiver wire in Week 6?
Mattison wasn't exactly productive with 60 scoreless scrimmage yards, but he did have 17 touches in the loss to the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, Abdullah made the most of his eight touches, finishing with 51 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.
While the Raiders' plan was to get Mattison more touches, the increased work for Abdullah came as a result of Zamir White's absence. The former fourth-round pick suffered a groin injury in practice that forced him to sit out. His status for Week 6 remains up in the air.
So, with the bye weeks upon us, is either Mattison or Abdullah worth an add off the fantasy football waiver wire?
Fantasy football waiver wire Week 6: Ameer Abdullah
Without the touchdown, we wouldn't even be talking about Abdullah, as 51 yards from scrimmage is hardly anything to write home about. Adding to that, his score came in garbage time when the game was already well out of hand.
Even if White sits out again in Week 6, Abdullah is going to continue to play second fiddle to Mattison. You simply cannot rely on that situation, especially when Las Vegas' rushing attack stinks to begin with.
Verdict: Leave Abdullah on waivers
Fantasy football waiver wire Week 6: Alexander Mattison
The Raiders were already planning on giving Mattison more work in Week 5, so the 17 touches may not have simply been because of White's absence. Now, he didn't do much with those 17 touches, but with the bye weeks here, grabbing a player who could give you 15 touches is a better bet than most.
Mattison is going to be touchdown-dependent per usual this week, and especially in a matchup versus a Pittsburgh Steelers defense ceding the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to backs. But Mattison has shown he has a nose for the end zone after scoring three times over Las Vegas' first three games.
When the bye weeks kick in and you're forced to make desperate decisions to fill in the hole in your lineup, it's important to target volume to give yourself the best chance possible to get some points.
It's more likely than not that Mattison won't post great production, but he's going to get the kind of volume that will give you a better chance than most dart-throw options on the waiver wire. He's certainly worth an add in Week 6.
Verdict: Grab Mattison off waivers
