Samaje Perine is the top NFL search today — is he a must-stash in fantasy or just a name people are googling?
Perine is sitting at 20K+ searches today, ahead of almost every other NFL name, and the handcuff lists keep flagging him because Chase Brown usage in Cincinnati is so high. I am not starting a backup RB on a guess. For people stashing handcuffs: is Perine the one who actually pays off if Brown misses time, or is this just Week 5 search noise while everyone checks injuries? What snap share or touch count would convince you he is more than insurance?
1 answer
- Stash only if he inherits the whole role
Precise test: a handcuff is only a stash if he inherits the role, not a share of it. Perine profiles as the pass-down and short-yardage back behind a starter getting very high usage, which is exactly the profile that becomes a 15-touch player on one injury and stays a 5-touch player without one. Check the depth chart and his snap share the last two weeks before you drop anyone real. If he is not clearly the next man for early-down work, you are holding a lottery ticket with an expiration date at the bye weeks.