Wayne

Gallman Jr.

It’s tempting to read into this as being about Ken Walker’s health, but with DeeJay Dallas also hurt and Tony Jones receiving carries last week, the team is likely covering for multiple depth options. Travis Homer also missed last week’s game, but was not injured in-game, at least. Darwin Thompson and Godwin Igwebuike are also on Seattle’s practice squad. Gallman had been with the Chiefs practice squad up until they signed Melvin Gordon.

The team also worked out Wayne Gallman. The Steelers are likely looking at competition for Anthony McFarland. The former fourth-round pick is reportedly on the roster bubble this summer. Should Najee Harris miss time, Benny Snell would handle much of his rushing work, but the bruising back isn’t much of a pass-catcher. That role would go to McFarland or a potential free agent signing.

Corey Clement also worked out for Baltimore. With J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards both opening training camp on the PUP list, the Ravens are simply in need of some bodies at running back right now. Both players can come off the PUP list at any time. Mike Davis was signed as a free agent during the offseason and should get the first crack at the starting job if neither back can play in Week 1. If that happens, expect Baltimore to roll with their pass-heavy script from 2021 until one of the younger backs returns.

Minnesota placed Alexander Mattison on the COVID-19 list at the same time. With only Kene Nwangwu available behind Dalvin Cook, the Vikings needed to bring in a veteran as insurance. Nwangwu has struggled with pass-protection and route concepts as a rookie, leading to him seeing most of his reps on special teams. Coming off a 27-carry, 205-yard game, expect Cook to play nearly every snap for Minnesota in their Week 15 game against the Bears.

It is not a huge surprise after Gallman was a healthy scratch in favor of Qadree Ollison last week. He could show back up on the practice squad as organizational depth.

Gallman is the odd man out to make room for Qadree Ollison, who was unavailable in Week 12 due to a non-COVID illness. Cordarelle Patterson is still expected to lead Atlanta in touches heavily over Mike Davis and Ollison.

Davis split the RB2 role with Wayne Gallman, who produced three more yards on one fewer carry. He hasn’t topped 20 rushing yards in four weeks and has one outing with more than 50 yards on the year. Davis can be dropped in all formats.

We hope you listened to Arthur Smith when he said the Week 10 usage was tied to the size of the blowout. Any speculation that Gallman had seized the backfield looks hilarious in hindsight. Qadree Ollison and Wayne Gallman trading big carry totals in blowouts is the fantasy waiver wire battle that nobody needed.

Gallman set season highs across the board with his 52% snap share and 15-55 rushing line. “We know we have to play Thursday, so that’s why you saw a heavy dose of (backup quarterback Josh) Rosen and Gallman and the other guys,” Smith said. Cordarrelle Patterson also sprained his ankle. With C-Patt questionable to face New England Thursday, we could see a lot of Mike Davis and Gallman. And it sounds like Davis is still ahead on the depth chart despite his poor play.

Pelissero added that it “could be a couple weeks for one of this season’s most electric players.” Paterson is still being evaluated but with the Falcons playing on Thursday, his odds of suiting up look very slim. The Falcons listed him as limited in practice Monday but that’s just an estimation of his status as Atlanta didn’t actualy hold practice. He has been one of the few bright spots on an otherwise lackluster offense, posting 776 yards and seven scores while playing a mix of receiver and running back. Mike Davis and Wayne Gallman would split the backfield with Patterson sidelined but betting on anything more than RB5 production from either player seems unwise.