Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Samaje Perine will return to his change-of-pace role behind Javonte Williams in Week 17, but he will be doing so with career-backup Jarrett Stidham under center instead of Russell Wilson. Perine was already a dicey fantasy proposition with Wilson starting, but he heads back to fantasy irrelevance with the Broncos shifting their focus to this offseason and starting a journeyman to preserve Wilson's health (aka lower his cap hit for an inevitable release after the Super Bowl). Perine is not a legitimate starting option in Week 17.
Week 16 vs. New England Patriots
Samaje Perine saw a small uptick in usage in Week 14, but last week he got a significant bump with a 38% snap share and 41% route participation last week. Of course, Perine only earned a single target to go along with six carries behind Javonte Williams on that workload. Perine lacks efficiency as a runner and only gets sporadic passing game use in a run-first offense. He is best left on benches as insurance for Williams as we get into the fantasy playoffs.
Week 15 @ Detroit Lions
Samaje Perine got five targets in Week 14, but he only saw one carry and was limited to playing 22% of the offensive snaps. Perine hasn't played more than 35% of his team's offensive snaps since Week 5. On such limited playing time and usage, Perine is not relevant to fantasy aside from being insurance against a Javonte Williams injury. Even then, Perine would likely split work with rookie Jaleel McLaughlin. Perine is waiver wire material at this point in the season.
Week 14 at Los Angeles Chargers
Samaje Perine was barely involved in the offense in Week 13 when he got one carry and two catches on two targets for only six total yards. Perine works as a chance of pace option behind Javonte Williams but has a virtually nonexistent floor for fantasy as he is only guaranteed a couple of opportunities on a weekly basis. The Broncos get a favorable fantasy matchup this week going against a poor Chargers defense, but Perine's usage is too sparse to consider starting him as we close out the fantasy season.
Week 13 at Houston Texans
Week 12 vs. Cleveland Browns
Samaje Perine had a nice PPR day in Week 11 when he caught all seven of his targets for 60 receiving yards. The targets and catches were season-highs for Perine, but he still only saw one carry in the running game as Javonte Williams continues to dominate touches out of the Denver backfield. Perine will benefit from negative game scripts, but the Broncos are 2.5 point favorites this week playing at home. Without any guarantee that he will replicate his target volume from last week against the Browns, Perine is not a good fantasy option unless you are truly desperate in a deep league.
Week 11 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Samaje Perine remains the third option in the Denver backfield. Javonte Williams saw 25 touches in Week 10, and rookie Jaleel McLaughlin got eight compared to just four for Perine. Perine will not be a worthy fantasy starter unless Williams goes down with an injury that causes him to miss time.
Week 10 @ Buffalo Bills
Samaje Perine is stuck in a timeshare with Jaleel McLaughlin backing up lead back Javonte Williams. Neither player is getting more than 20% of the offensive snaps behind Williams, meaning Perine is not a viable fantasy starter barring an injury somewhere else in the backfield.
Week 8 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Samaje Perine only played 23% of the offensive snaps in Week 7, totaling 41 scoreless yards on five touches. Perine is an ancillary option in the three-headed Denver backfield with Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin at this point, rendering him useless for fantasy purposes.
Week 7 vs. Green Bay Packers
Samaje Perine is now ensnared in a three-way committee in the Denver backfield, and in Week 6 he did not get a single carry while only recording two receptions on two targets. With Javonte Williams back healthy and rookie Jaleel McLaughlin showing off solid efficiency in the running and passing games, Perine looks like a distant third option for the Broncos and only played 15% of the snaps against Kansas City. In his current offensive environment, Perine simply does not project for sufficient usage to be considered in fantasy.
