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Fantasy Football Week 11 Start or Sit: Branden Oliver

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The San Diego Chargers‘ backfield has been eviscerated by injuries for the large part of the season. In the first month of the year Danny Woodhead was placed on IR and Ryan Mathews went down with an injury forcing him to miss the last seven games. The third running back, Donald Brown, has missed three of the last four games with a concussion.

The injuries were, at least initially, a blessing in disguise because it revealed a hidden gem in undrafted rookie Branden Oliver. Oliver emerged as a force in Week 5 against the New York Jets with 114 yards on the ground and a touchdown en route to a 29-point fantasy performance. He followed it up with a 101-yard, one touchdown, 18 fantasy point performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week 6.

Oliver became a crowd favorite in San Diego very quickly. His running style with a low center of gravity and quick feet along with his performances reminded fans of longtime Charger Darren Sproles. Oliver is 5-foot-8 and, like Sproles, he wears the No. 43. He was able to eradicate the issues that the injuries presented.

The Chargers play the Raiders again this Sunday, who Oliver had so much success against in Week 6. Unfortunately for Oliver’s fantasy owners, he has fallen off the map and appears to be falling further down the Chargers’ depth chart with Mathews set to return this week.

It appears teams have figured Oliver out as he has not rushed for more than 40 yards since Week 7. With Mathews back on the field presumably as a starter, Oliver will immediately lose carries. Brown will likely see his share of carries as well which will make it difficult for Oliver to see even half of the 26 carries he had against Oakland five weeks ago.

If you own Oliver in your fantasy league, you should keep him on your bench or look for an alternative option. It’s obvious that he has talent and is capable of being a productive running back, but the Chargers’ backfield is too crowded for the first time in two months. With that said, Oliver should be sitting in Week 11.

Patrick Puzzo is a Fantasy writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @patrickpuzzo_24, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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