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Jerick McKinnon is a fantasy football waiver wire pickup option for running backs. Target him as a free agent add off waivers for Week 6 of the 2021 NFL season.
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ANALYSIS: Veteran Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon should be slated for an increased workload over the next few weeks. The team's top running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (knee) suffered an MCL sprain this past week and he is likely to miss at least the next two games.
Edwards-Helaire's knee injury came in the third quarter of the team's Week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills. As a result of the injury, McKinnon went on to play a season-high 27 snaps in the game, which amounted to 31% of the team's offensive snaps. His previous season-high in snap percentage was just 12%, which came in Week 4.
Darrel Williams figures to be the team's primary back while CEH is out. Williams had consistently logged around 30% of the team's snaps through the first four weeks of the year, then saw that number bump up to 43% following the CEH injury in Week 5. However, we could see a scenario where Williams gets the bulk of the carries and McKinnon gets the majority of the passing downs work, the latter of which being the more alluring role in the Chiefs' offense. McKinnon has excelled as a receiver out of the backfield over his career, including last year when he caught 33 passes for 253 yards with the San Francisco 49ers.
Add McKinnon in PPR leagues of 12 teams or deeper. He has a great matchup against the Washington Football Team in Week 6. Washington has been gashed both on the ground and through the air. They've given up 407.8 yards per game this year, the sixth most in the league. McKinnon is no doubt a risky start in Week 6 (he's compiled just 29 yards over four touches so far this year), but he has sneaky flex appeal if you're in a pinch. Ideally, you can add him and keep him on your bench in Week 6. If he plays well this week, he could be deployed in a favorable Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
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