With Malik Davis out, the Cowboys need a new RB handcuff for Javonte Williams. Emari Demercado might be the answer for RB-needy fantasy managers.
At first glance, Demercado doesn't profile as a high-impact fantasy asset. He'll turn 28 in January and hasn't started an NFL game in three years. In fact, he's earned only two starts since graduating from Texas Christian University, where he mustered only 338 carries and 40 receptions.
His ridiculously sloppy goal-line fumble last October is both memorable and, from a fantasy perspective, inconsequential. Before then, he had coughed up the ball only once since graduating high school. In general, Demercado is a fundamentally sound running back who (and this is key) has three things going his way.
First,
he's currently the #2 RB behind Williams, giving him an opening for deep-league fantasy relevance and -- if Williams ever misses time -- strong spot-start value. Second, his career mark of 6.5 yards per carry is incredible and impossible to ignore. Third, he's established himself as a passing-down specialist with 50 catches, despite limited workloads.
On Friday night, he was unrostered in 99.2% of ESPN fantasy leagues. That percentage is steadily dropping. He might not help you win a title. But highly efficient, catch-friendly handcuff RBs in above-average offenses are hard to find. Demercado is worth rostering in most leagues.
For a deeper dive into Demercado's value, listen to this recent podcast episode.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Fantasy handcuff alert: is Emari Demercado a must-roster RB?
