With premium players like Breece Hall, De’Von Achane, and DeVonta Smith going down with injuries, the waiver wire has never been more stacked with potential talent.

The question is, though: Are their backups worth the start?

Braelon Allen – Start

After Breece Hall’s Week 3 injury against the Lions, Braelon Allen received all touches at RB. 

Even with Hall around, Allen sits at 17th in third-down play-time percentage.

Although the Chicago Bears have only allowed one quality game to a running back so far (Chuba Hubbard in Week 1), they are allowing the second-most yards per carry (5.1) this season.

Their biggest success comes from limiting backs in the passing game, with their nine receptions allowed to running backs being the third-fewest.

With Allen having not being much of a threat out of the backfield anyway, that should not be a problem for him.

With a favorable matchup in front of him, Allen ranks high as an RB2 and FLEX play until Hall returns.

Ollie Gordon – Sit

Gordon was easily the most waivered player coming into this week after De’Von Achane’s season-ending ACL injury.

Gordon received all the RB snaps after Achane went down and finished with 14.5 fantasy points.

People have been talking about his potential bell-cow usage, but Jaylen Wright is off the injury report after missing last week.

In a game against the Jets last season, where Achane left in the second quarter with a rib injury, Wright received the most carries of his career (24), finishing the game with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. He doubled Gordon’s snaps and routes as well.

On top of this, ESPN’s current depth chart for the Dolphins lists Wright as the RB1 and Gordon as the RB2.

This is all without mentioning his matchup: Brian Flores.

The Vikings are fourth in rushing yards allowed, ninth in stuff percentage, first in EPA/rush, second in rushing yards over expected, and allow the 10th-least amount of light boxes, not to mention their 68% blitz percentage.

This is a team Flores has a complicated history with; he’s going to show nothing but his best.

Plus, with Achane’s limited production with this current Dolphins offense, Gordon looks like a stash for now.

Dontayvion Wicks – Sit

With DeVonta Smith ruled out, the Eagles’ $12.5 million signing this offseason gets a chance to prove himself.

The problem is, he’s facing one of the most prolific pass defenses in the NFL.

The Rams will be without their two most dominant pass rushers, Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald, which could give Jalen Hurts plenty of time to operate.

The Eagles’ pass production has been anything but consistent in recent history, and it’s continued so far with Hurts throwing for just 153 yards and an interception last week against one of the league’s worst passing defenses.

Now, without his WR1 who’s been on the field 94.3% of the time, it’s not going to be easy.

I believe rookie Makai Lemon has much more to benefit from in this situation than Wicks regarding this matchup, as the Rams allow the ninth most points to slot receivers.

Darren Waller – Start

Waller signed a one-year contract with the Panthers after his solid production in limited time for Miami last season.

In the eight games he appeared in, he averaged 11.1 fantasy points.

So far this year, he’s averaging the same.

As for his matchup, the Bengals are 13th in points allowed to tight ends but have allowed the fourth most targets.

The Bengals are one of six teams that haven’t allowed a tight end touchdown this season, but with Waller’s knack for the end zone over the past two years, along with potentially no Jalen Coker, I wouldn’t be surprised if he finds a way in.

Waller is a must-start this week unless you have one of the premium options at the position.