Ryan Williams' Injury: Don't Waste a Waiver-Wire Claim on Other Cards RBs

While those of us who have Arizona Cardinals RB Ryan Williams on our fantasy squads were unquestionably concerned when he left Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Rams with a shoulder injury, none of us was quite ready to read this news:

"

Cardinals announced RB Ryan Williams is out for season with a shoulder injury.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 8, 2012"

That stings, and the knee-jerk reaction is to immediately turn to the waiver wire to put in a claim for the man who will be replacing him in the Cardinals backfield.

Slow your roll for a second.

Williams wasn't exactly setting the world on fire as the Cardinals' primary rushing option, having carried the ball 58 times for 164 yards, a meager 2.8 yards per carry. That's more a statement on the sorry state of the Cardinals' ability to run block than it is a condemnation of Williams' ability, but we can agree that he was less than impressive thus far in 2012.

Less than impressive perfectly describes the players who are going to vie for his job. 

You've got Beanie Wells, the former starter who is dealing with a turf toe injury; LaRod Stephens-Howling, who is dealing with a hip injury and has a whopping yard gained on 12 carries this season; and the two-headed monster of William Powell and Alfonso Smith, who have combined for 33 carries, 112 yards and a touchdown over the course of their short careers.

In other words, nobody that Arizona is going to start at running back is someone that you want to pay any attention to.

Spend your waiver claim this week on the Packers' Alex Green or the Giants' David Wilson, if they are still available in your league.

Picking up one of the four backs who could replace Williams in Arizona will be just like having Williams on your roster—a disappointing transaction.