Just when you thought you'd seen it all: two waiver-wire free agents crop up on the Touches Report. The good news is both are worth picking up - one to play right away and one to stash on your bench and wait for. And one other thing - Ogbannaya is pronounced "Obben-aya." I like to think of it as "Open eye-ah" like I'm opening my eyes. Open-eye-ah. You laugh, but it's helped. Now to the Touches.
Touches analysis
The Michael Bush train keeps a-rolling. I'll say the exact same thing I said last week: when Darren McFadden's out, Bush is a No. 1. When McFadden returns, Bush is a must-flex. He's done it too much and carried the load for too long in D-Mac's absence to be shunted aside once McFadden returns. He'll still get his chances.
So much for worries that Felix Jones would cut into DeMarco Murray's workload. He topped 100 yards from scrimmage in a tough matchup against a very good Redskins defense, with 25 carries and six receptions out of the backfield. Expect Jones to do what he did Sunday - spell him just a couple of times during the game. Murray's production will be unaffected by Jones' presence.
So much for worries, part 2: Frank Gore was just fine coming off injury, and while he didn't top 100 yards rushing, he still saw his normal number of carries. He's just fine, and Kendall Hunter's fantasy value has decreased once again. But considering Gore's injury history, don't waive Hunter but keep him stashed - if something happens to Gore, Hunter will be the man.
If he's out there, pick up Chris Ogbonnaya. If you have him, play him. As long as Montario Hardesty is out. Ogbonnaya's yardage and fantasy points are increasing every week, and he's shown he has the talent to break a couple of long runs, something Hardesty hasn't shown he can do. Ogbonnaya is talented and should be a flex must-start, and even a weaker No. 2 for you. The only reason I'm not absolutely over the moon about him is because the Browns offense struggles too much to get in the end zone, though I do love he had eight red zone carries against the Jaguars.
Joe McKnight's time may be here. Filling in for an injured Shonn Greene, he saw just about every touch out of the backfield against the Broncos. Rex Ryan has said he wants to use him more but McKnight also has to hold onto the football to earn that trust. So what do you do? If you have a roster spot, pick up McKnight. It will be a time-share as long as Greene is healthy. Don't forget when LaDanian Tomlinson comes back he may see some time, but eventually McKnight will get a ton of opportunities.
See Jason Smith on NFL Fantasy Live, airing Sundays at 11:30 a.m. ET on the Red Zone Channel, and Tuesday-Friday on NFL Network at 2 p.m. ET and 12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. He writes fantasy and other NFL pith on NFL.com daily. Talk to him on Twitter @howaboutafresca. He only asks you never bring up when the Jets play poorly.
