Zach

Zenner

The owner of three carries for -2 yards this season, Zenner has an outside shot at immediately slotting in as the Dolphins’ lead runner after Kalen Ballage was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. The ‘Fins have seemed disinclined to use Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskin. Whoever gets the call will not be a recommended FLEX option in fantasy leagues. This is a backfield to avoid if at all possible.

He’s no longer needed with David Johnson (ankle) and Chase Edmonds (hamstring) both back from injury. Zenner’s next team will be his fourth in a span of three months. He’s totaled 17 yards on five touches over 27 offensive snaps this season.

Zenner was hardly a factor, playing just 13 snaps and not seeing the field until Chase Edmonds (hamstring) was sidelined in the second half. He now joins Alfred Morris as the only healthy RBs on the roster with each of Edmonds, David Johnson (back, ankle) and D.J. Foster (hamstring) all banged up. Zenner possesses theoretical three-down ability and has enough size (5-foot-11 and 224-pounds) to handle a featured role, but Week 9’s brutal matchup against the 49ers, combined with the potential for plenty of Morris, make Zenner a thin fantasy option this Thursday night.

This comes after the Cardinals signed fellow veteran Alfred Morris Tuesday. It’s a sign the Cardinals are anticipating David Johnson (ankle) missing this week’s game against the Saints in New Orleans. Zenner, of course, was just cut by the Saints this week after serving as depth with Alvin Kamara (ankle) also sidelined.

Zenner made it six days in New Orleans. His release is an indication Alvin Kamara (ankle) will be good to go after sitting out in Week 7.

The Chargers didn’t make an effort to utilize a committee backfield, as Latavius Murray racked up 27 carries and six targets. Zenner isn’t on the fantasy radar as a pure backup with no real role in the offense at this time.

New Orleans also worked out Travaris Cadet before making this move, signs that lead us to believe Alvin Kamara (ankle) will truly be limited until the team’s Week 9 bye. Zenner most recently rushed for 10/51 with Detroit this preseason and closed out Week 17 with a 22-touch, 123-yard performance. Even if Kamara’s ruled out for Sunday, Latavius Murray is expected to take on the lion’s share of reps over Zenner. Murray needs to be universally rostered in fantasy leagues.

Those names aren’t going to move the needle in the Giants’ post-Saquon Barkley backfield. Zenner is probably the most capable at this stage.

It appears the Lions will be going with just Kerryon Johnson, C.J. Anderson and rookie Ty Johnson in the backfield. One of the Lions’ top reserve runners since 2015, Zenner never surpassed 88 carries in a season, though he did average 4.8 yards on 55 totes a year ago. Also a capable special teamer, Zenner figures to get another shot elsewhere.

Zenner received interest from the Vikings, but he’ll stay put as a backup option behind Kerryon Johnson. Zenner averaged 4.8 yards per carry last year, but the Lions will likely bring in more depth options to compete with the 28-year old despite showing some flashes late in 2018.