Should I Pick-up Dexter McCluster or Thomas Jones to replace Jamaal Charles?

Lets face it, if you just lost Jamaal Charles for the season, your fantasy team is probably hurting and you are going to have to make some high risk/high reward moves to try and get back on top in your league.  Losing a top 5 pick in Week 2 is a difficult blow to overcome.  You probably can no longer play it safe and hope for the best if you want a shot at the title.

The first move you need to make is picking up Dexter McCluster.  To date, McCluster has not seen much action as a true running back.  He weighs only 170 lbs, just slightly more than your average Sunday Morning Legend contributor/arm-chair quarterback, giving rise to durability concerns.  He has also been living in the shadow of Charles, who took most of the outside the tackles carries that will likely be McCluster’s bread and butter.  However, McCluster is an electric playmaker with game changing ability.  Going forward, Kansas City will likely need this if they have any chance of salvaging this season.  It is also the perfect time for KC to give McCluster an increased workload to learn what he can do.  As an added bonus, McCluster is already a solid receiver, making him a good option in PPR leagues.

KC’s safe option is Thomas Jones, an ancient castoff (33 years old, drafted the same year as Shaun Alexander and Jamal Lewis!!) that lacks McCluster’s electric/game changing ability.  He might be a reasonable fantasy start in the short run, but he is not going to salvage KC’s offense and he certainly will play a little role in KC’s future.  I do not think he has enough left in the tank to salvage a fantasy season for Charles’ owners.  He might keep you in the middle of the pack, but who plays fantasy football to be in the middle of the pack?

For More Pickups of the Week Check Out:

Pick-Up Eric Decker?  Quick Thoughts

Pickup Cam Newton, Now!! — I Repeat and Reiterate.

Should you Pick-Up Denarius Moore?

Pick-up David Nelson?  Quick Thoughts

Michael Vick Injury Replacement — Pickup Ryan Fitzpatrick