The 2015 season has been close to the worst yet for running back by committee (RBBC). There are not too many lead backs who carry the ball 20-30 times a game anymore. Fantasy owners are stuck with running backs who share carries, so they have to gamble each and every week. Injuries, poor performances and the emergence of new backs are the main cause for RBBC, but don’t worry because we’re going to be able to tell you which backs to start, sit, add, and drop to never pick up again. Here is a summary of all RBBC coming into Week 6.
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Arizona Cardinals – Chris Johnson/Andre Ellington/David Johnson
I think you can start any of these running backs after Week 5. Chris Johnson is the lead back and will be getting most of the carries. David Johnson will see most of the goal line carries, like he did against the Lions scoring two touchdowns on three carries. Andre Ellington came off an injury last week and still exploded for a 63-yard touchdown. It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals implement Ellington into the offense. I’m assuming he’ll have similar carries to David Johnson, if not more, but will have upside due to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. With the Cardinals playing an iffy Steelers defense this week, I believe you can start any of these backs with confidence, though temper expectations considering the committee approach.
Atlanta Falcons – Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman
There is not much of committee in Atlanta anymore. After Freeman exploded for another monster game against the Redskins, recording 153 rushing yards off of 27 carries and a touchdown, Coleman doesn’t have much of a chance of becoming the starter like he was at the beginning of the season. I know Coleman is coming off an injury but he only had two carries on Sunday, which means the Falcons still have a lot of faith in Freeman. Continue to start Freeman as an RB1, while Coleman can stay on your bench for now.
Cincinnati Bengals – Giovani Bernard/Jeremy Hill
Giovani Bernard dominated the game as the Bengals lead back against the Seahawks on Sunday. Bernard had 15 carries for 80 yards along with 21 receiving yards on five catches. Hill only had eight carries for 13 yards. When Hill had his three-touchdown day against the Chiefs he only had nine carries to Bernard’s 13. It’s really hard to say who is going to get the bulk of the carries every week in Cincy. I would still start both every week, but with caution. Keep in mind this week they are playing a tough Bills rush defense, favoring Bernard.
Cleveland Browns – Isaiah Crowell/Duke Johnson
This backfield is pretty well a committee right now until either Crowell or Johnson explodes for two or three good games in a row. Crowell had 13 carries for 49 yards with two receptions for 38 yards, while Johnson had nine carries for 22 yards with six receptions for 55 yards in their Sunday afternoon win against the Ravens. Right now these two backs are pretty even, so either of them are good FLEX plays every week, especially in PPR leagues with Johnson.
Dallas Cowboys – Joseph Randle/Darren McFadden/Christine Michael
Now that Randle could lose his starting job to Christine Michael, this backfield is a gamble. We’ll get more information through their bye week, but the only back you can trust as of now is McFadden. Now that Dunbar is out for the season, McFadden could be a stud in PPR. He had nine catches against the Patriots for 62 yards. I would start McFadden at FLEX in PPR leagues and for Michael and Randle wait to see if one of them are named the starter before their Week 7 game against the Giants.
Denver Broncos – C.J. Anderson/Ronnie Hillman
Hillman and Anderson are splitting carries, but I don’t think you can trust either of them right now. First of all, this offense is not as powerful and explosive as it has been the past few years. Second of all, neither of these backs are good enough to produce RB2 numbers or FLEX numbers with eight to 10 carries a game. Hillman has scored twice and Anderson hasn’t scored. Even though they are playing a Browns defense that Justin Forsett exploded on last week, it’s hard to say which one will breakout, if one of them does at all. Keep both of these guys on your bench for now.
Detroit Lions – Ameer Abdullah/Joique Bell/Theo Riddick/Zach Zenner
This backfield is bad news and has been ever since Abdullah’s good Week 1 performance. Bell has been injured for two straight weeks now but looks like he’ll be returning this week in the Lions matchup against the Bears. Don’t play Bell this week, but play Abdullah at FLEX. The Lions might not be playing from behind against the Bears in this game, which means they might be able to develop a run game. Zenner can stay on your bench for now, as he doesn’t get enough touches. Riddick is a PPR option considering the number of targets and receptions he receives.
Kansas City Chiefs – Knile Davis/Charcandrick West/Spencer Ware
This is probably the newest and most interesting RBBC entering Week 6. Sadly Jamaal Charles is out for the season with a knee injury, and now there is no clear starter in Kansas City. After last week’s loss to the Bears, West was expected to get the start in Week 6, resulting in the mad grab to claim him on waivers. After the Chiefs signed Ware from the practice squad, there is no telling who will get the bulk of the carries. On the Chiefs depth chart Davis is listed as their starting running back but he has not done much this season as Charles’ backup. This week you can’t trust any of these RBs, because I don’t even know if Andy Reid knows who is going to get the biggest work load. After this week there will hopefully be a starter in Kansas City, so for now leave all three of these RBs on your bench. My guess is that West will get the start this week, due to Davis’ lack of production and Ware being signed from the practice squad just this week, but I still do not think he is worth a start against the Vikings.
Miami Dolphins – Lamar Miller/Jonas Gray/Damien Williams
Miller has been an absolute bust this season, even after Joe Philbin promised the RB would see more touches this year. Now that Philbin is gone, and Dan Campbell is the new HC for the Dolphins, we could hopefully see a change in Miller’s touches. Gray and Williams have not had too many touches this season, and I do not see why they will unless Miller gets injured. This coaching change could make or break Miller’s fantasy season.
New England Patriots – Dion Lewis/ LeGarrette Blount
Lewis had a good game last week putting up 93 all-purpose yards and one touchdown, while Blount had 74 rushing yards. So pretty solid week for both backs, which means that the committee will continue. It’s always hard to say which back will do better week in and week out because of them being in a Belichick offense. Blount will get goal line and short yardage work while Lewis will be the receiving back and get early down work as a runner. You can start either of these guys every week because they both put up good numbers, just in different ways.
New Orleans Saints – Mark Ingram/C.J. Spiller/Khiry Robinson
This week proved that the only back you can trust is Ingram. He gets most of the carries and gets pretty much all of the goal line work. Spiller had one good week due to one good play, and he is a gamble if you play him. Robinson has no fantasy relevance, and he is most likely on the waiver wire in most leagues. Ingram has a nice matchup this week against the Falcons, so start him with confidence.
New York Giants – Rashad Jennings/Andre Williams/Shane Vereen
This backfield is hard to judge each and every week. No one can tell who will get the goal line touches, considering Vereen had a tw- yard catch for a touchdown last week. Vereen had a great week last week but, you can’t trust him or the other two because of their inconsistency. I would stay far, far away from this backfield if you can.
Philadelphia Eagles – DeMarco Murray/Ryan Mathews/Darren Sproles
Murray voiced his frustration last week and was heard by Chip Kelly. He had 20 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. Matthews had a great week against the Saints recording 73 yards on just eight carries and a touchdown. Murray and Matthews are starting to break away from Sproles in touches and production, so if the Eagles offense continues to play like this you can continue to start Murray and Matthews.
San Diego Chargers – Melvin Gordon/Danny Woodhead
Gordon continues to get the touches but is still not producing the numbers he was predicted to coming into the season. Woodhead has made the most of his touches, especially his receptions. Even though Gordon had more receptions then Woodhead last game I still think Woodhead has better value right now. Woodhead is a FLEX starter in PPR leagues and Gordon is still an RB2/FLEX in 12-man leagues.
Tennessee Titans – Bishop Sankey/Dexter McCluster/Terrance West/Antonio Andrews
The best thing you can do is to STAY AWAY FROM TITANS’ RBS. They have not been good or consistent, which is a bad mix. Not one of the backs had over 10 carries in their loss to the Bills on Sunday. Sankey had early production but since then, McCluster, Andrews and Sankey have been splitting the carries. I just can’t see how you trust this backfield any week, with the lack of talent and consistency there is no reason why you should start any of these backs unless you are in a 12-man league or deeper. Maybe it changes when Cobb returns from injury.
Washington Redskins – Alfred Morris/Matt Jones/Chris Thompson
This backfield is getting tricky. Morris is the boring starter and will most likely end up with the most fantasy points of the bunch by the end of the season. Jones has a lot of upside and had more carries then Morris last game against the Falcons. He is very skilled and could possibly take the starting job from Morris is he puts up big numbers and Morris continues to put up sub par stats. Right now, I wouldn’t start any of these backs, but stash Morris and Jones.
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Ryan Sura is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Ryan, check out his archive and follow him @RyanSura18.