Is Lions running back Craig Reynolds a viable fantasy play for Week 3?

Among the litany of injuries for the Detroit Lions in Week 2 was a thigh injury for running back David Montgomery, though it looked like it could have been far worse. Montgomery was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday's final injury report, but if he does happen to play he will naturally be pretty limited.

After Montgomery left the game against Seattle, Craig Reynolds saw the field a lot. According to Pro Football Focus, Reynolds played just three fewer snaps than Jahmyr Gibbs after Montgomery left the the game and got all the carries on first and second down.

With Montgomery himself saying he might miss a couple weeks, Reynolds has landed on the fantasy football waiver wire radar heading into Week 3. Not as a primary add to consider, but as someone to note and maybe stash as the Lions don't seem compelled to give Gibbs a lot more work just yet.

When called upon to take a bigger role in the Lions' backfield late in the 2021 season, Reynolds had a couple nice outings in Week 14 (11 carries for 83 yards; two catches for 16 yards) and Week 15 (26 carries for 112 yards, one catch for five yards). So he is someone, with a bigger role, who could make fantasy owners go "hmm...".

Detroit Lions Fantasy Football: Is Craig Reynolds a viable option for Week 3?

Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons, even in a not-great matchup fantasy football-wise, looks like a "wheels up" game for Gibbs. But there still seems to be room for Reynolds, or maybe Zonovan Knight, to get a notable level of work.

In naming him as a last-minute Week 3 waiver wire pickup, Kate Magdziuk of PFF outlined what Reynolds' role could look like on Sunday.

"Though Gibbs should see an uptick in opportunity with Montgomery’s injury, don’t be surprised if Reynolds sees 12-plus carries to send him into flex-worthy territory for Week 3."

As of Saturday afternoon, Reynolds is rostered in 12.1 percent of ESPN leagues and 2 percent of Yahoo! leagues. If Montgomery is inactive on Sunday, and the odds of that are good, there may be some late uptick in his ownership as fantasy owners eye some sneaky potential.

Reynolds may get toward double-digit carries on Sunday behind Gibbs. He could theoretically get a lot of work close to the goal line in Montgomery's stead, and thus have a fair chance to score.

Outside the very deepest of fantasy leagues, Reynolds is nothing more than a flex option flier this week on the hope he sees notable work (volume/goal line role). Hopefully there aren't many fantasy owners in that kind of position already, Montgomery owner or not and no matter who has already been lost to injury.