Kenneth

Farrow

Farrow rushed for 192 yards on 60 carries for the Chargers as a rookie in 2016, but he has not appeared in a regular season game since. The runner helped his stock by finishing third in rushing yards in the AAF. Farrow is much-needed depth for a roster which only had Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage at running back.

We are blurbing Farrow because Melvin Gordon is handling massive workloads, and Farrow is his direct backup after Dexter McCluster recently suffered a fluke injury. An undrafted rookie out of Houston, Farrow is a decisive, downhill one-cut runner with some passing-game chops. He’s an intriguing fantasy stash.

Farrow is set to start for Melvin Gordon (knee, hip) after taking over for the injured back during last week’s game. “Last week’s experience of playing more is really going to help him down the road,” McCoy said. “Just with confidence, being in the huddle more with Philip, the speed of the game and the way we were going to change things at the line of scrimmage.” As long as Farrow can avoid any mistakes in pass protection like the one which cost Philip Rivers a strip-sack last week, he should dominate the backfield work against Oakland, making him a solid RB2.

RotoGrinders.com Daily Slant: Coming out of college, Farrow graded highly in pass protection. He’s also an excellent receiver, as he demonstrated last week, catching 6-of-6 targets. He’s a great PPR option Sunday in a nice spot; Oakland ranks 26th in rush DVOA and 23rd against receiving running backs specifically (per Football Outsiders).

Gordon is sounding like a player unlikely to be available this week. Gehlken notes that Farrow struggled in pass protection in Sunday’s loss to Carolina, while the Bolts might feel more comfortable with journeyman Hillman in a blitz-pickup role. The Chargers also have Andre Williams stashed on their practice squad.

Ronnie Hillman has taken over as San Diego’s feature back. Farrow had seven carries for 26 yards and three catches for 19 yards before leaving the game.

He missed a series or two with a shoulder injury. Farrow has just 45 yards on ten touches early in the fourth quarter.

He missed some time with a shoulder injury in the second half, but did return to the game. Farrow has not been the answer in San Diego’s backfield in the absence of Melvin Gordon (knee, hip). If Gordon is healthy, he will return to the Chargers’ every-down-back role for Week 17 against Kansas City.

Farrow missed Week 16 time due to the injury, but he returned to play through it, albeit ineffectively. An undrafted rookie out of Houston, Farrow averaged 3.2 yards on 60 carries in 2016, also struggling with ball security and in pass protection. He’ll have to compete to earn back his roster spot in 2017.

He out-touched Ronnie Hillman 17 to 7, but Farrow fumbled twice -- losing one -- and was inefficient on his carries for the second straight week. Ideally, the Chargers will get back Melvin Gordon (knee, hip) for Week 16 against the Browns. If Gordon can’t come back, Farrow will be a shaky flex option.

Farrow is an UDFA out of Houston. With Ronnie Hillman a healthy scratch, Farrow was an every-down player after Gordon went down. The early news on Gordon’s injury has been surprisingly positive, but he’s 50-50, at the absolute best, for Week 15. Farrow would likely cede some passing down work to Hillman were Gordon to sit against the Raiders, but would be an immediate plug-and-play RB2. Farrow will probably be the top waiver wire add of the week.