Andre Williams' Updated Fantasy Outlook After Rashad Jennings' Injury

New York Giants running back Andre Williams is beginning to show signs of fantasy relevance as the team's backup rusher, and the rookie could break out in a big way after seeing Rashad Jennings go down in Sunday's contest.

Jennings was productive on 10 carries for 55 yards against the Falcons on Sunday, but he left the game with a knee injury.

On Monday following the game, Kimberly Jones of NFL Network and Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News provided a synopsis of Jennings discussing his knee injury:

That injury opened the door for Williams to show what he can do, and he wasted no time continuing the Giants' success on the ground. He had 20 carries for 65 yards, scoring his second touchdown of the season late in the third to cut the Falcons' lead to 20-17. He also had two catches for 18 yards, as the Giants rallied back to a 30-20 victory.

Running Back	Att	Yards	Avg	TD
Andre Williams	20	65	3.3	1

Losing Jennings—the league's second-leading rusher—for an extended time would be brutal for the Giants, who have used his downhill running style to inject life into an offense that started 2014 on a sour note. Seventh-year pro Peyton Hillis is an experienced option in the backfield, but the rookie Williams has surpassed him both in reps and on the team's depth chart. 

It's not hard to see why. One of the nation's best rushers in college, Williams took 15 carries for 66 yards and a score in his first extended duty in Week 4 against Washington.

Moving forward, he is almost certain to get the brunt of the Giants' carries if Jennings doesn't get back to top shape. He has blossomed over the last few weeks, and his youth, speed and tough running style bring an extra step and a punch to the Giants offense.  

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Even if Jennings makes a quick recovery, Tom Coughlin and Co. won't shy away from evening the workload a bit with Williams to keep their main workhorse healthy and add another dimension to their run game. That's especially so after the performances Williams has posted as of late.

Regardless of Jennings' injury situation, it's about time to check the waiver wire to see if you can nab Williams and insert him into the starting lineup when signs point to him getting a heavy workload.