For a two-week stretch in his first stint replacing Ryan Mathews earlier this year, Chargers running back Branden Oliver looked like a legitimate standout in Fantasy, rushing for 100 yards in back-to-back games with some receiving yards to boot. But he faded in the weeks thereafter, making it easy for the Chargers to go back to Mathews when he returned from a shoulder injury in Week 11.
Unfortunately, in the two weeks since Mathews went down with what may be a season-ending ankle injury, Oliver hasn't regained his form from those two 100-yard games, averaging 39.5 rushing yards and 36.0 receiving yards.
One difference is that Donald Brown, who was second on the depth chart coming into the year, is healthy now and cutting into Oliver's production. The two actually had a combined 20 carries Week 16 at San Francisco, but Brown got seven of them. As much the issue, though, is that the Chargers aren't playing from ahead as often as they were earlier in the season. The turn actually began in Week 7, which was also when Oliver's production slipped.
Obviously, if you're still in the hunt for a championship in your league but have major issues at running back, you won't find too many players who are their team's primary ball carrier on waivers this time of year. But Oliver shouldn't be a priority for any Fantasy owner right now, whether or not Mathews returns for Week 17.