10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Heading Into Week 7

Christine Michael, RB, Dallas Cowboys

ESPN Ownership: 30.5%
Yahoo! Ownership: 37%

Cowboys running back Christine Michael finds himself on this list less for what he's done on the field so far, and more for what he could do.

After trading for the former Seahawks tailback earlier this year, the Cowboys coaching staff has said they're finally ready to "take the reins off him" and give him a crack at the team's lead back job after underwhelming performances by Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden to start the season.

On the year, Randle and McFadden have each managed a below-average -0.05 Rushing NEP per attempt. To put this number into perspective, the average Rushing NEP per attempt for all running backs from the last 15 seasons since 2000 sits at about -0.03.

As our own Joe Redemann has said before, Michael's fit into the Cowboy's zone-blocking system -- which perhaps not coincidentally is the same system he excelled in at Texas A&M -- is a match made in heaven thanks to his vision and patience.

Beyond this, Michael gets the benefit of playing behind Dallas' elite run blocking unit. Indeed, this offensive line that has still managed to rank the Cowboys in the top-half of the league in rushing efficiency despite the lackluster performances of Randle and McFadden and the lack of a passing attack with injuries to Dez Bryant and Tony Romo.

While Michael failed to emerge as the heir apparent to Marshawn Lynch in Seattle, perhaps his trade to Dallas was the wake up call and opportunity he needed to make good on his potential and become the elite back Seattle expected when they selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.