NFL Plug and Play, Wait and See, Drop - Week 2
Plug and Play: Buck Allen RB
Allen surprisingly played 33 of 66 snaps against the Bengals in week 1, posting 21 carries for 71 yards. Allen's share of the snaps and touches was a surprise, but it was largely due to Danny Woodhead's hamstring injury, which just caused him to hit IR. Woodhead is expected to return week 11, but, given his injury history, it's hard to know how much can be expected out of him later this season. Either way, Allen should be a solid option at least while Woodhead remains out. His skill set doesn't necessarily mirror that of Woodhead's, but he should get his snaps moving forward. Terrance West will be the primary back in Baltimore, but look for this to be pretty close to a timeshare (Allen out snapped and out carried West Week 1), with Allen getting more chances in the passing game. Also, West has had hard times holding onto his job in his previous stops in the NFL, so don't be shocked if Allen challenges him for even more touches. As it stands right now, Allen can be a solid plug and play flex option in most formats.
Wait and See: John Ross WR
Ross didn't seem like he had much of a chance to play this week, but reports came out Thursday morning that he will indeed play in the Bengals' Thursday night matchup with the Houston Texans. At this point, Ross isn't expected to contribute much for the Bengals until he gets his feet under him. However, the big play potential for Ross is still extremely enticing, and it's highly encouraging that he is healthy enough to suit up on Thursday night. If you own him in a deeper league, he's worth holding onto as a stash for now. Wait and see at least how the Bengals deploy his speed over the next 2-3 weeks and decide if you think he's worth holding onto or not. If he doesn't play much or is injured again, then it would be time to cut ties with him. For now, holding onto him as a lottery ticket could turn out to be very beneficial.
Drop: Danny Woodhead RB
It's incredibly depressing when a player like Woodhead struggles so mightily with injuries every season. He's so likable and has carved out such a solid niche and skill set in the NFL, but he simply can't stay on the field. He suffered a grade 3 strain of his hamstring on Sunday, an injury severe enough to send him to IR. He is expected to return Week 11 when he is eligible to be activated off of IR, but it's hard to count on Woodhead so far down the line, especially when he's just as likely to get hurt when he comes back. He's a High Injury Risk according to Inside Injuries, and at this point he's a bad bet to finish the season healthy. Also, given his solid but somewhat limited role in the Ravens' offense, it doesn't make sense to use up a roster spot on him for 9 weeks while you wait for him to come back. It's definitely sad, but Woodhead is a drop at this point in most formats.
