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RBBC Review: Week 1

RBBC Review: Week 1
Danny Woodhead

Despite two Week 1 TDs from Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead is the RB to own in San Diego

Over the past several years, the running back position has become one of the most difficult to manage in fantasy football. Gone are the days of taking RBs with your top three picks and watching them all get 15-to-20 touches per game. The game has changed and there are only a handful of backs that fit that bell cow description. Today’s NFL sees teams run the ball less frequently, use running back by committees, and employ third down specialists, all of which affect the position in fantasy football. That’s before we even factor in injuries.

All this combines to make the running back position one worth monitoring. Picking up a backup off the waiver wire suddenly elevated to the starting job can be the difference between winning and losing your fantasy league, even if that running back only plays a handful of weeks. Examples of this last year include Charcandrick West, Spencer Ware, Jeremy Langford, Darren McFadden, and so on. It’s vital to keep tabs on all running back by committees and handcuffs worth owning. This article will give you a weekly update on all the most pressing RBBC situations.

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Atlanta Falcons
It’s time to panic if you’re a Devonta Freeman owner and don’t also own Tevin Coleman. Actually, you should be worried even if you own both. This situation looks like a full-blown committee and it’s unclear if we will get any clarity in the weeks to come. Freeman out-snapped Coleman 36-32 but managed just 40 total yards on 15 touches. Coleman, meanwhile, exploded for 117 yards on 13 touches. What’s most alarming is the fact that Coleman got 95 of them as a receiver, which was the role Freeman was expected to have to himself. Going forward both should be considered flex options for Week 2.

Baltimore Ravens
The only clarity that was gained here was Buck Allen being a healthy scratch. In 12-team leagues, he can be safely dropped, although he is a name to keep in mind in PPR leagues later this year. Justin Forsett got the start and out-snapped Terrance West 37-27. He managed 41 yards on 10 carries and added three catches for 15 yards. West received 12 carries for 32 yards while adding a catch for six yards. This is a backfield to avoid and both Forsett and West should be considered low-end flex options for now.

Seattle Seahawks
Christine Michael was good, not great, Sunday. A major reason for the optimism heading into Week 1 was the potential for positive game script in the second half as the Seahawks were 10.5 point favorites. Instead, Seattle had to make a late-game comeback to get the win. Michael was still effective and out-snapped Thomas Rawls 52-22. He turned 17 touches into 71 yards. Rawls was used while on the field and turned 15 touches into 58 yards. If you need a running back to start next week it’s Michael. If you are looking for the guy come the end of the season it’s likely Rawls.

San Diego Chargers
Now is the time to sell high on Melvin Gordon. Yes, he scored two touchdowns, but he was on the field for just 23 snaps compared to 50 for Danny Woodhead. Complicating matters is the Keenan Allen injury, which could slow down the entire offense. Woodhead took over in the second half and led the team in rushing for the day with 16 carries for 89 yards. Gordon had 14 carries for 57 yards. Gordon stole the headlines with the touchdowns but even in standard leagues Woodhead is the back to own moving forward.

Tennesse Titans
DeMarco Murray owners can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now. He dominated snaps and was on the field for 50 of them compared to just 21 for rookie Derrick Henry. Murray rushed 13 times for 42 yards but also caught five passes for 35 yards and had two receiving touchdowns. Murray is an RB2 for now. Meanwhile, it was a disappointing day for Henry owners. He carried the ball just five times for three yards. He caught two passes for 41 yards but one was a somewhat fluky 29-yard gain. The passing involvement is encouraging but he is not even a flex option right now.


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Brendan Tuma is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Brendan, follow him @toomuchtuma.

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