Welcome to another edition of the Running Back Roundup. This column took last week off, so we have plenty to cover. Let’s get right to it.
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Arizona Cardinals last week vs. TB, this week @LAR
I covered the Adrian Peterson resurgence on Monday in my “10 Things We Learned” column (shameless plug, I know), but the long and short of it is that Peterson is back as a legitimate RB2 option. He out-touched Andre Ellington and Kerwynn Williams 26-to-three last week and should continue to hog the ball in games where the Cardinals are playing with a lead.
Peterson’s 134 yards and two scores last week obviously look impressive on the score sheet, but he also passed the eye test, showing his trademark burst and elusiveness that had been missing since the beginning of the 2016 season. AP is motivated to prove something right now, and as long as that is the case, it would be unwise to bet against him.
As for Ellington, who finished with zero yards in Week 6, all is not lost. The Cardinals jumped out to a 31-0 lead on Tampa Bay and had little use for their passing/third-down back.
But Peterson is not going to be used in passing down situations, and the Cardinals’ defense is not as good as it’s been in years’ past, so there will be times going forward where Arizona trails and Ellington is on the field for significant action. Still, with Peterson in the fold, Ellington is only a flex option and one that is best suited for PPR leagues.
Atlanta Falcons last week vs. MIA, this week @NE
The Falcons perplexingly gave Devonta Freeman just nine carries in a home game where they led 17-0 at halftime. Freeman wasn’t finding many running lanes outside of one 44-yard run, but that is still unwise, and the Dolphins ended up coming back to win the game. Tevin Coleman matched Freeman’s nine carries and vultured the team’s only rushing score.
But this running back situation hasn’t changed in any fundamental way; expect Atlanta to learn its lesson and feed Freeman in next week’s Super Bowl rematch with the Patriots. He and Coleman both remain starting-caliber fantasy assets in all leagues.
Baltimore Ravens last week vs. CHI, this week @MIN
With Terrance West (calf strain) likely out of the picture for several weeks, the Ravens’ backfield has simplified a bit for fantasy purposes, but it’s still tough to decipher. In Week 5, Buck Allen out-touched Alex Collins 25-to-12, but in Week 6 Collins came out ahead 15-to-13. Collins looks to be the more effective rusher, but Allen is getting all of the passing game work.
It’s unclear which back is the better bet to score in any given week. Add it all up, and Allen and Collins are nearly equal RB3/flex options in standard leagues, with Allen getting a slight edge in PPR formats.
Buffalo Bills last week BYE, this week vs. TB
The Bills were on a bye in Week 6, but in Week 5 it was more of the same for LeSean McCoy: 89 yards on 25 touches, but no TD. McCoy’s lack of scores still seems like a giant fluke, much like it was for Mark Ingram before he scored twice last week. So if you can pry McCoy away from a frustrated owner, you may be able to get a legit RB1 at a significant discount.
Carolina Panthers last week vs. PHI, this week @CHI
Jonathan Stewart would probably like to go back in time so that the last two weeks never happened. Over the last two games, he has carried the ball 26 times for a grand total of 17 yards, an absurdly-low 0.65 YPC. Stewart’s struggles are more than enough to take him out of RB2 consideration, even in non-PPR formats, and he could be coming to a waiver wire near you in many leagues.
That said, Stewart received between 12 and 18 carries every week from Week 1 to Week 5, and as long as the Panthers don’t lose faith in him, he should be good for 50-70 yards each week with a decent shot at a score, much like Frank Gore. Christian McCaffrey has been a complete non-factor on the ground (he hasn’t topped 16 rushing yards since Week 1), but he has managed to find the end zone through the air in each of the last two weeks.
When you also factor in his upside, he’s probably surpassed Stewart as the back to own in Carolina. Still, McCaffrey has only topped 65 yards from scrimmage once since Week 1, so he remains more of a flex option than RB2 in standard leagues.
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Chicago Bears last week @BAL, this week vs. CAR
With rookie QB Mitch Trubisky taking over in Chicago, expect Jordan Howard to see all the work he can handle as coach John Fox executes a conservative game plan. We got a glimpse of what that could look like on Sunday, as Howard received a whopping 36 carries on his way to 167 rushing yards. Running backs with the potential to top 30 touches don’t grow on trees, so Howard is locked and loaded as an RB1 right now.
Tarik Cohen, meanwhile, continues to come crashing down to earth as a low-upside fantasy option. Cohen did get a season-high 14 carries on Sunday, but it translated to just 32 yards.
Cohen is a passing game specialist on a conservative, run-first offense, which isn’t a great combination. He’s not even a particularly appealing flex option in PPR leagues at the moment.
Cincinnati Bengals last week BYE, this week @PIT
The Bengals were on bye in Week 6, but in Week 5 the team continued to try out Joe Mixon as its lead back with so-so results (15 carries for 51 yards and a TD). Mixon is averaging just 2.8 YPC through his first 67 career rushes, so he’ll need to step up his performance if he hopes to lock down the Bengals running back job for years to come.
But there’s little reason to think the Bengals will go back to Jeremy Hill or Gio Bernard. For now, Mixon is still a high-upside flex option with RB2 potential. Bernard is a low-end flex option in PPR leagues and Hill is unusable in all formats unless Mixon gets hurt.
Cleveland Browns last week @HOU, this week vs. TEN
Duke Johnson‘s streak of three straight games with a TD came to an end in Week 6, as he posted just 39 yards on eight touches. It’s hard to rely on any Browns player to score regularly, let alone the team’s passing-down back. That said, Johnson is pretty clearly Cleveland’s most talented and explosive skill position player, so the Browns should manufacture enough touches for him to sustain fantasy value as a high-floor flex option, especially in PPR leagues.
Isaiah Crowell has looked a bit better the last two weeks, rushing a combined 28 times for 118 yards (4.2 YPC). But Crowell has yet to score a touchdown this season, and his lack of scoring potential makes him a less appealing fantasy option than early-down grinders on better offenses. He’s just a low-end flex option in all formats.
Dallas Cowboys last week BYE, this week @SF
There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Ezekiel Elliott legal drama, at least as it pertains to whether his suspension will be served this season. Elliott was granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Tuesday by a U.S. district judge in New York, which will last until the court decides whether to grant Elliott a preliminary injunction. The court will rule on the preliminary injunction by October 30 at the latest, meaning Elliott will be free to play for one or possibly two more games before his fate is determined. If the preliminary injunction is granted, Elliott will likely play the entire season; if it is denied, his six game suspension will begin immediately.
With a decision fast approaching, Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden should both remain owned in all fantasy leagues. It’s unclear which one would serve as the lead back if Elliott is suspended, and they would likely form some kind of committee, but both have significant upside. Rod Smith has been floated as a third option to replace Elliott, but he is only a dart throw stash for those who miss out on Morris and McFadden.
Denver Broncos last week vs. NYG, this week @LAC
For the second time in three games, C.J. Anderson received less than 10 carries on Sunday night, and for the second time in three games, the Broncos lost. Anderson has 20+ carries in the Broncos’ other three games, all wins. Week 6 was easily Anderson’s worst rushing performance of the season (nine carries for 17 yards), but the bigger takeaway is that Denver seems to be quickly abandoning the run when they fall behind on the scoreboard.
Luckily for Anderson, that shouldn’t happen too often with one of the league’s best defenses holding opponents in check. He’s still on the RB1/2 borderline and could be a decent buy-low option.
Anderson’s lack of carries hasn’t resulted in more work for Jamaal Charles or Devontae Booker. Broncos coach Vance Joseph is committed to keeping Charles on a “pitch count” despite how effective he’s been, and his touches have actually dropped a bit the last couple games. Based on his explosive upside, Charles still has some value as a stash in case Joseph changes his mind, but it’s quite possible Booker is the one who would see more opportunities if something happened to Anderson.
Detroit Lions last week @NO, this week BYE
Ameer Abdullah‘s big Week 4 (20 carries for 94 yards and a red zone TD) is beginning to look like a high water mark rather than a sign of things to come. In the two games since then, he’s carried the ball just 24 times for 85 yards and no scores.
The Lions are not a run-heavy team, so Abdullah may have trouble maintaining RB2 value even if he continues to see goal-line carries, which isn’t a given. He’s best viewed as a high-floor flex option. Theo Riddick remains uninvolved in the running game, but he has managed to collect 45 receiving yards in each of the last two games, putting him back on the flex radar in PPR leagues.
Green Bay Packers last week @MIN, this week vs. NO
Aaron Jones was a waiver wire darling in Week 5, stepping in for an injured Ty Montgomery to rush 19 times for 125 yards and a touchdown. But Montgomery returned in Week 6, resulting in a fairly even — and largely ineffective — timeshare between Jones (14 touches for 42 yards) and Montgomery (11 touches for 31 yards). To make matters worse, QB Aaron Rodgers went down with what looks like a season-ending broken collarbone, severely sapping the scoring upside for both Green Bay running backs.
With Rodgers out and a committee in place, it is difficult to see how Jones or Montgomery achieve RB2 value, even though the Packers may try to run the ball more with Brett Hundley under center. If either Jones or Montgomery is able to gain a stranglehold on touches, they could emerge as a low-end RB2, but even then any chance of game-changing value probably went out the window when Rodgers went down.
Houston Texans last week vs. CLE, this week BYE
Lamar Miller continues to be the definition of a boring-but-useful RB2. Outside of his massive Week 4 performance, he looks like a back who will consistently put up 80-90 combined rushing/receiving yards each week. Deshaun Watson‘s emergence also improves Miller’s TD scoring outlook, so insert him into your lineup with confidence.
D’Onta Foreman had his best rushing performance of his young career on Sunday (12 carries for 59 yards), and he is averaging 5.8 YPC over the last two games. Foreman is still a high-upside bench stash with a bit of flex appeal for the bye weeks.
Indianapolis Colts last week @TEN, this week vs. JAX
Marlon Mack has generated a lot of headlines with his big-play ability in recent weeks, but Week 6 proved that this is still Frank Gore‘s backfield. Gore out-touched Mack 12-to-2 and was quite effective with his limited opportunities, piling up 67 yards.
Mack is impressively tied for second in the NFL in runs of 20+ yards, but he’s also had 12 of his 27 carries go for zero or negative yards. The Colts seem to prefer Gore’s “Steady Eddie” approach, at least for now.
In addition, short-yardage specialist Robert Turbin suffered a season-ending arm injury late in Sunday’s game, which could lead to more goal-line opportunities for Gore. With Turbin gone and Andrew Luck closing in on a return, Gore’s arrow is pointing up as an unsexy RB2/3. Mack is well worth a stash for his upside but isn’t a reliable flex play right now.
Jacksonville Jaguars last week vs. LAR, this week @IND
Over the last two weeks, Leonard Fournette has carried the ball 49 times for an unfathomable 311 yards and three scores, erasing any doubt that he is a top-10 fantasy option at running back. Fournette owners were likely holding their breath as he went down with what looked like a potentially-severe foot injury, but it seems as though Fournette dodged a bullet and he is expected to play in Week 7.
That said, foot injuries have been an issue for Fournette in the past, and the latest injury scare is a further reminder that Chris Ivory is a great high-upside stash in fantasy leagues. Ivory, who tends to be good for 40-50 yards each week when Fournette is healthy, is also a serviceable flex option during the bye week crunch. He surprisingly caught nine balls for 74 yards and a TD in Week 6.
Kansas City Chiefs last week vs. PIT, this week @OAK
Kareem Hunt had a game to forget on the ground in Week 6 (nine carries for 21 yards), and has now rushed for less than 4.0 YPC in back-to-back weeks and failed to score for three consecutive weeks. Yet even in a down game, Hunt compiled 89 receiving yards to continue his streak of at least 100 scrimmage yards in every game this season. He is still easily a top-five RB.
Charcandrick West took a nasty hit and is now in the concussion protocol, so he is very unlikely to play on Thursday with the Chiefs on a short week. That makes Akeem Hunt the Kareem Hunt handcuff of the moment, although the Chiefs also resigned C.J. Spiller. With the backup job in flux, none of West, Akeem Hunt, or Spiller needs to be owned right now, unless you simply want to take a temporary flier for the Thursday night game.
Los Angeles Rams last week @JAX, this week vs. ARZ
After a down game in Week 5, Todd Gurley posted his third 100-yard game in his last four contests in Week 6, rushing 23 times for 116 yards. With the Rams’ passing game beginning to struggle a bit, expect them to keep riding Gurley in the weeks to come. He’s a clear top-10 RB. Malcolm Brown remains his handcuff for those who are so inclined.
Los Angeles Chargers last week @OAK, this week vs. DEN
After struggling with a knee injury for several weeks, Melvin Gordon has come roaring back as a clear-cut RB1. Over the last two games, he has a whopping 60 touches for 313 yards and four TDs.
Those are league-winning numbers if he’s able to keep them up. His slow start to the season now seems like a distant memory.
Branden Oliver has missed the last couple of games with a hamstring injury and appears to have lost the top backup job to rookie Austin Ekeler. Ekeler won’t see enough action to sniff flex value, but he does have some appeal as a lottery ticket in case Gordon’s knee problems resurface.
Miami Dolphins last week @ATL, this week vs. NYJ
Like Gordon, Jay Ajayi appears to be over the knee injury that hurt his production for several weeks. Ajayi piled up 26 carries for 130 yards on Sunday and remains on the RB1 radar as Miami’s clear bellcow. Damien Williams has clearly surpassed Kenyan Drake as the number two running back, which gives Williams some stash appeal as a handcuff/lottery ticket.
Minnesota Vikings last week vs. GB, this week vs. BAL
Jerick McKinnon burst on the scene in Week 5 following Dalvin Cook‘s season-ending injury, and in Week 6, McKinnon proved that he is not just a one-week wonder. Over the last two games, McKinnon has 43 touches for 243 yards and three scores.
Latavius Murray remains in the picture for now, but the carry split should continue to swing towards McKinnon as long as he continues to outplay Murray and solves his fumbling issues (three in the last three games). McKinnon is proving he has the ability that many fantasy owners were hoping he’d show last season, and his talent and favorable team context make him a solid RB2 with RB1 upside if he keeps getting 20+ weekly touches.
New England Patriots last week @NYJ, this week vs. ATL
We knew coming into the season that the Patriots backfield was going to be difficult to evaluate for fantasy purposes, and Bill Belichick hasn’t disappointed. While it looked earlier in the season like Mike Gillislee and James White were the two New England RBs to own, Dion Lewis has now led the team in standard league scoring for three straight weeks. But Lewis has been far from a workhorse over that stretch, never topping 11 touches or 63 yards from scrimmage. Gillislee appeared to get benched for a fumble in Week 6, but Lewis was given carries even before that happened.
At this point, it is hard to trust any of the Patriots’ RBs as more than a flex option. White seems to have the most stable role as the team’s main pass-catching back, but he hasn’t scored or topped 100 yards yet this season. Lewis has slightly overtaken Gillislee as the best bet for early-down and goal line work, but that could change at a moment’s notice (Lewis should still be added in fantasy leagues). And Rex Burkhead should be back soon to further muddy the picture.
New Orleans Saints last week vs. DET, this week @GB
Hopefully you took my advice and bought low on Mark Ingram, because he looks like he could be an RB1 from here on out. The fact that Ingram hadn’t scored a touchdown through his team’s first four games was nothing more than a fluke, and on Sunday he crossed the goal line twice while piling up 150 yards from scrimmage. Adrian Peterson wasn’t taking a ton of carries away from Ingram to begin with, but now that Peterson is in Arizona, Ingram has a clear path to 20+ carries and goal-line work in one of the league’s best offenses.
Alvin Kamara isn’t quite as well set up for success as Ingram, but he can still make an impact in fantasy leagues, especially PPR formats. The Saints running back situation is now looking quite a bit like Atlanta’s, which means Kamara has a conceivable path to the weekly RB2 value that Tevin Coleman has put up. Coleman is the exception to the rule among backup RBs, to be sure, but at the very least Kamara is now a high-upside flex option, even in standard leagues.
New York Giants last week @DEN, this week vs. SEA
Just when it seemed like no Giants RB was worth considering in fantasy leagues, Orleans Darkwa exploded for 22 touches and 130 yards against a Broncos team that ranked first in the NFL in rushing defense. Darkwa was quite good in Week 5 as well (eight carries for 69 yards and a touchdown), and could benefit from coach Ben McAdoo relinquishing play-calling duties. The Giants haven’t consistently run the ball in years, so some caution is advised here, but Darkwa has at least earned RB3/flex consideration and should be owned in all leagues.
Wayne Gallman had a decent game himself in Week 5 (16 touches for 82 yards) before playing second fiddle in Week 6, and could work his way back into the lead back conversation if Darkwa falters. Gallman isn’t a must-own, but he also isn’t the worst stash while we see what happens over the next couple weeks.
New York Jets last week vs. NE, this week @MIA
Matt Forte returned from a turf toe injury in Week 6, splitting carries with rookie Elijah McGuire while operating as the clear passing-down back. Bilal Powell missed the game with a strained calf, but will likely return to action in a week or two. McGuire looked good in his first three appearances for the Jets, and seemed like a legitimate candidate to compete for the lead back job after compiling 131 yards and a score in Week 4. But with Forte and Powell hurting, McGuire has run the ball 21 times for just 42 yards over the last two weeks.
This backfield remains in flux, but Powell looks like the most bankable fantasy asset at the moment, provided he recovers from his injury fairly quickly. He has RB2 potential if he can regain lead back duties. Forte likely tops out as a mediocre flex option, and could still be gradually phased out as the season moves along. McGuire can probably be dropped in most fantasy leagues when Powell returns, although it is possible that he regains relevance later in the year.
Oakland Raiders last week vs. LAC, this week vs. KC
The Raiders’ offense has gone in the toilet the last several weeks, and Marshawn Lynch simply does not have enough left in the tank to be a top-tier fantasy asset without ample scoring opportunities. Lynch has not received more than 13 carries in a game since Week 1, and he is not a significant factor in the passing game. It’s good for Lynch that David Carr returned quickly from his back injury, but Lynch is still just a low-end RB2 at best right now.
Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington continue to share the backup job, and with the Raiders’ offense struggling, neither is a must-own in fantasy leagues.
Philadelphia Eagles last week @CAR, this week vs. WAS
LeGarrette Blount hasn’t received more than 16 carries in a game this year, but he’s been surprisingly effective when given the opportunity, averaging 5.6 YPC. However, the Eagles are a pass-first team, and the rushing touchdowns Blount piled up in New England haven’t been there so far in Philadelphia. He can be expected to put up about 70 yards most weeks with a decent chance at a touchdown, which keeps him in the RB2/3 conversation.
The Eagles’ passing back also projects to have solid value, and that role should go to Wendell Smallwood, who expects to return from a knee injury this week. Smallwood has the potential to be a weekly flex play or even an RB2 if he can be active in the passing game and mix in with Blount between the tackles and at the goal line. With Smallwood returning, Corey Clement and Kenjon Barner don’t need to be owned.
Pittsburgh Steelers last week @ KC, this week vs. CIN
For the second time in three games, Le’Veon Bell piled up over 35 touches and over 180 yards on Sunday. With Ben Roethlisberger struggling, the Steelers are as reliant on Bell as ever, and he’s more than up to the task. He is as good a bet as anyone to finish the year as the top RB in fantasy. James Conner is a lightly-used backup, but he is a smart stash for Bell owners and non-owners alike.
San Francisco 49ers last week @WAS, this week vs. DAL
It has been an eventful couple weeks in San Francisco. With Carlos Hyde seemingly being held back a bit due to a hip/oblique injury, reports surfaced that the team was shopping him. And coach Kyle Shanahan only added fuel to the fire by telling reporters that “there’s not much of a difference” between Hyde and backup Matt Breida.
It’s an interesting subplot, but NFL trades involving players of Hyde’s caliber are rare. Hyde is much younger than Adrian Peterson, and he doesn’t sit third on the team’s depth chart, either. The price for Hyde would presumably be high, and it’s unclear that any team would be willing to pay it.
The bigger question is how effective Hyde can be. Over the last two weeks, he has just 21 carries for 39 yards, although his struggles have been somewhat masked by two touchdowns and 54 receiving yards over that span. Breida has run more effectively than Hyde of late, but he hasn’t topped 10 carries in a game yet this season (Hyde played more than three times as many snaps as Breida on Sunday). For now, consider Hyde an RB2 and Breida an appealing stash.
Seattle Seahawks last week BYE, this week @NYG
Unless coach Pete Carroll changed his mind over the Seahawks’ bye week, this backfield looks like it has devolved into a full-blown four-way committee following the loss of impressive rookie Chris Carson, sapping the fantasy value of everyone involved.
In terms of the early-down between-the-tackles role, the Seahawks gave Eddie Lacy nine carries and Thomas Rawls eight carries in Week 5. After the game, Carroll indicated that Lacy and Rawls have an “equal status” on the team. The third-down, passing-game role is similarly murky, with J.D. McKissic serving that function in Week 5 but C.J. Prosise due back for Week 7. For now, none of the four is anything more than a dicey flex option, with Rawls and Lacy the slightly more desirable ones.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week @ARZ, this week @BUF
Doug Martin hasn’t had a blowup game since he returned from suspension, but he is looking great and has clearly regained the starting job from Jacquizz Rodgers. Over his first two games of the season, Martin has 29 touches for 146 yards, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion. Rodgers has a total of eight touches for 22 yards over that time span.
Martin isn’t a true bellcow — Charles Sims has maintained his role as the passing-down back — but he is running effectively and could have some big games ahead. Consider Martin an RB2 with RB1 upside, while Rodgers is a logical handcuff and Sims is a subpar flex play in PPR leagues.
Tennessee Titans last week vs. IND, this week @CLE
The Titans’ Week 6 stat line is a good example of how stats can sometimes be deceiving. Someone who did not watch the game might see that Derrick Henry went for 131 yards on 19 carries — compared to just 40 yards on 12 carries for DeMarco Murray — and assume that Henry took over lead back duties once and for all. But Henry’s numbers were inflated by a 72 yard touchdown run in the game’s final minute when the Colts’ defense went all out to stop him from getting a game-clinching first down, which opened the door for a big play.
That’s not to say that Henry’s explosiveness didn’t also play a role in the TD, but this backfield remains very much an even committee for now. Murray did most of his damage in Week 6 though the air (four catches for 47 yards), and also appeared to sit out some plays due to a couple hard hits, which might have allowed Henry to get more work. On Tuesday, coach Mike Mularkey reportedly said that the near-even split between the two backs was a “good model” and that Henry was the designated fourth-quarter back.
Both backs clearly benefited from the return of Marcus Mariota, who opens up the offense even when he is limited to being a pocket passer. If this game is a sign of things to come, it’s conceivable that both Murray and Henry could get into the RB2 conversation, and either has RB1 potential if he can get a stranglehold on lead back duties and the Titans offense continues to improve. For now, Murray remains the slightly better weekly bet despite Henry’s big game.
Washington Redskins last week vs. SF, this week @PHI
Rob Kelley‘s ankle injury has lingered longer than initially expected, so he was forced to miss the Redskins’ first game after their Week 5 bye. Between Kelley’s various injuries, Samaje Perine was given a month-long opportunity to impress as the team’s main early-down back, but he did not take advantage of it. Kelley looks like a good bet to return to the early-down role in Week 7, which would put him back on the low-end RB2 radar.
Meanwhile, Chris Thompson somehow managed to have his second 100-yard receiving performance in his last three games. He also got 16 carries in Week 6, which speaks volumes about the team’s lack of faith in Perine but is unlikely to continue once Kelley returns. Boosted by three plays of 49 yards or more this year, Thompson is currently on pace to become the fourth player ever to receive 100 carries and produce over 1,000 receiving yards. It remains to be seen how many touches he’ll get with Kelley back in the fold, but it is very hard to bench a player who is producing like Thompson is right now. He’s a high-variance RB2/3 until proven otherwise.
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Andrew Seifter is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @andrew_seifter.
