Godwin

Igwebuike

Igwebuike had been on the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, so the Steelers had to put him on the active roster after signing him. Igwebuike has appeared in 30 career games, with one start. He has 21 carries for 122 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also has returned 39 kicks for 1,006 yards. With both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren healthy, Igwebuike is just roster depth.

This is particularly notable considering both Kenneth Walker and DeeJay Dallas are listed as game-time decisions, which could leave the primary duties in the hands of Travis Homer. Igwebuike would likely serve as an emergency back behind Homer and Tony Jones if both Walker and Dallas can’t go.

He was joined by (deep breath): Tevin Coleman, Nate McCrary, Abram Smith, La’Mical Perine, Godwin Igwebuike, and Marlon Mack. Sources have told us that LaMichael James was unavailable. The 49ers seem likely to add someone to their backfield mix behind Jeff Wilson while Elijah Mitchell recovers from his injury, and whoever that back is will have some break-in-case-of-emergency fantasy value in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

Igwebuike was tendered as an ERFA, as were Scott Daly, Jack Fox, Mark Gilbert, JuJu Hughes, Tom Kennedy, Tommy Kraemer, Jessie Lemonier, Matt Nelson, Riley Patterson, Anthony Pittman, Bobby Price, and Brock Wright. He will compete with Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson for RB3 duties in 2022.

Swift looked like he had a real chance to play but will now be targeting a Week 17 return when the Lions face the Seahawks. The Lions will now form a committee around Craig Reynolds, Jamaal Williams, and Godwin Igwebuike. Reynold and Williams are in play as RB2 fill-in options.

It’s about time. Reynolds has thoroughly impressed over the past two weeks with Jamaal Williams (COVID-19) and D’Andre Swift (shoulder) sidelined. He has 195 yards on 37 rushing attempts over those two games. In Detroit’s upset win over the Cardinals in Week 15, Reynolds continually made something out of nothing, often bulldozing Arizona defenders and breaking out of arm tackles for extra yardage. He’s an intriguing waiver add in the Lions’ run-heavy offense.

Igwebuike again took a backseat to Craig Reynolds, who had an eye-popping 26 rushes against the Cardinals. Igwebuike looks to be the team’s preferred pass-catching back but that won’t matter much in an extremely run-heavy Detroit offense. Igwebuike is nothing more than emergency running back insurance.

Reynolds has been a revelation since seizing the Lions’ starting gig last week against the Broncos. He has 37 to rushing attempts for 195 yards over those two games with Jamaal Williams on the COVID-19 list and D’Andre Swift out with a shoulder injury. No other Lions back saw more than five rushes against the run-funnel Cardinals. Reynolds slipped through arm tackles and ran aggressively from start to finish. A workhorse role in the run-heavy Detroit offense makes Reynolds an intriguing waiver wire add if he’s still available in your league. If his workload holds up next week against Atlanta, he’ll have a good shot at a touchdown.

Williams will miss a second straight game on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Lions did not active Williams off the list on Saturday. Detroit’s backfield will likely be split between Craig Reynold and Godwin Igwebuike, with Jermar Jefferson sprinkled in. Reynolds led the backfield in touches last week against the Broncos.

Swift never looked likely to play against the Cardinals, and it’s entirely possible we’ve seen Swift’s last action of the season. The Lions will now form a committee with Craig Reynold and Godwin Igwebuike. Neither player is a good desperation play. However, if Jamaal Williams is cleared from the Covid list, he would be a worthy RB fill-in.