A big name running back is set to serve a suspension this week, opening up ample fantasy opportunity for his two evenly situated backups. No, I’m not talking about Ezekiel Elliott, whose legal saga will continue for at least one more week. It’s Marshawn Lynch, who absurdly decided to run onto the field and shove a referee on Thursday night.
Beast Mode’s suspension is just one of the many stories to follow in Week 8 of the Running Back Roundup. There’s also Aaron Jones‘ resurgence, Latavius Murray‘s resurrection, messy four-way committees in Seattle and New England, and a possible changing of the guard in Indianapolis.
But before we get started, a quick programming note: As we pass the midpoint of the fantasy season, this column will no longer cover all 32 teams. I’m going to begin honing in on the RBBC situations that are truly in flux each week, rather than spending time covering backfields that remain completely stable (Falcons, Chiefs, Rams, Bills, etc.). If you don’t see a team listed below, my take on that backfield from last week’s Running Back Report is still valid.
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Arizona Cardinals last week @LAR, this week BYE
Following a massive performance in his first game in the desert, Adrian Peterson put up a dud in Week 7, managing just 13 touches for 33 yards in a blowout loss to the Rams. Much more concerning than Peterson’s stat line, however, is the loss of QB Carson Palmer. As I explained in my “10 Things We Learned” column on Monday, the Cardinals will likely lean on Peterson with Palmer out, but he can expect to see stacked boxes, fewer scoring chances, and early deficits that force the team to abandon the run. Peterson should still be considered a low-end RB2 based on expected volume, but the upside is gone.
Andre Ellington missed Week 7 with a quad injury, but could be back after the team’s Week 8 bye. However, with Palmer out and Peterson hogging touches, Ellington is now an undesirable flex play, even in PPR leagues.
Baltimore Ravens last week @MIN, this week vs. MIA
The Ravens’ offense is flat-out bad, draining the fantasy value of Baltimore running backs regardless of how touches are split. The touch split is fairly even, but should continue to slightly favor Buck Allen over Alex Collins, based on Allen’s receiving role and the likelihood that the Ravens will frequently trail their opponents on the scoreboard. Allen and Collins are both nothing more than RB3/flex options, with Allen the clearly better play in PPR leagues. Even that fringe value could go out the window if Terrance West is able to turn this into a three-way committee when he returns from his calf strain.
Chicago Bears last week vs. CAR, this week @NO
As I predicted last week, the Bears rode Jordan Howard and their defense against Carolina while employing an incredibly conservative game plan with rookie QB Mitch Trubisky under center. Howard carried the ball 21 times for 65 yards, while Trubisky dropped back to pass just seven times. It remains to be seen whether Howard can maintain RB1 value in such a low-scoring offense, but he is a high-end RB2 at worst based on the workload he will receive.
On the other hand, Tarik Cohen‘s fantasy value continues to plummet. Cohen’s skill set is a poor fit for the Bears’ offensive philosophy at the moment, and while he did break off a 70 yard catch in Week 7, it was his only touch of the game. He isn’t a trustworthy flex option, even in PPR formats.
Cincinnati Bengals last week @PIT, this week vs. IND
Joe Mixon owners are still waiting for the breakout game, and he never had a chance for one in Week 7. Mixon topped 4.0 YPC for the first time all season, but he was given just seven carries. Chalk it up as an outlier and expect Mixon to return to the 15-18 carries (plus a few catches) that he had in the three games prior to the team’s bye week. He’s still a high-upside flex option with RB2 potential, while Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill are off the fantasy radar.
Green Bay Packers last week vs. NO, this week BYE
This was quite an eventful week for Aaron Jones‘ fantasy fortunes. Following the loss of Aaron Rodgers, it looked like Jones was destined to be part of a low-upside committee with Ty Montgomery. But Jones busted off a 46-yard touchdown run on the Packers’ opening drive of Week 7 and never looked back, piling up 138 yards on 20 touches while Montgomery managed just five touches for 15 yards.
Brett Hundley did not look good, so Jones’ fantasy outlook is not completely rosy. But if he can continue to dominate touches in the Green Bay backfield, he can at least maintain some RB2 value even if the Packers’ offense struggles. Shell-shocked Montgomery owners should hold on to him for at least one more game to see if he can work his way back into a more even timeshare, but he won’t be a reliable flex play when the Packers come out of their bye.
Indianapolis Colts last week vs. JAX, this week @CIN
Marlon Mack out-snapped Frank Gore 32-to-22 in Week 7, and Mack outgained Gore 66-to-34. Is this a changing of the guard? With Andrew Luck likely out for the season and the Colts sitting at 2-5, it’s possible the team hands the backfield over to Mack, but it’s far from certain. This game was a 27-0 blowout, and many of Mack’s touches came after the game was already out of reach.
Until Mack out-snaps Gore in a competitive game, Gore remains the slight favorite for weekly touches. That said, Mack certainly possesses game-breaking upside that Gore lacks at this point in his career. For now, consider Gore and Mack both RB3/flex options, with Gore possessing the higher floor and Mack holding the higher ceiling and more conceivable path to RB2 value.
Jacksonville Jaguars last week @IND, this week BYE
With Leonard Fournette sitting out with an ankle injury, Chris Ivory got his chance to start and scored a quick touchdown. But from there it was T.J. Yeldon (nine carries for 122 yards and a TD), not Ivory, that impressed in the Jaguars’ backfield.
Fournette is fully expected to return after Jacksonville’s Week 8 bye, and he’s set up for a great second half carrying the load for the NFL’s best rushing offense. But Ivory’s role as Fournette’s handcuff is no longer set in stone — it will be very interesting to see if Yeldon remains a game day inactive when Fournette is back, and how the backup snaps are split between Ivory and Yeldon if both are active in Week 9. Neither Ivory nor Yeldon is a must-own through the team’s bye week, but each has plenty of upside if he can establish himself as Fournette’s clear handcuff.
Minnesota Vikings last week vs. BAL, this week @CLE
After two huge weeks from Jerick McKinnon, Week 7 was Latavius Murray‘s time to shine. Murray piled up 18 carries for 113 yards and a TD, even though McKinnon out-snapped him 35-to-31. As I said in Monday’s column, McKinnon is still the preferred own for his explosive upside, but the Vikings’ offense is good enough to support two viable fantasy RBs. As long as the workload is split relatively evenly, McKinnon remains on the RB2 radar and Murray is a legitimate RB3/flex option.
New England Patriots last week vs. ATL, this week vs. LAC
With Rex Burkhead finally healthy, the Patriots employed a true four-way committee on Sunday night. The final snap count was 26 for Dion Lewis, 23 for James White, 13 for Burkhead, and 13 for Mike Gillislee. Lewis was the most productive back, compiling 14 touches for 82 yards. White only had 47 yards, but he found the end zone for the first time this season. Burkhead and Gillislee had 42 and 31 yards, respectively.
There’s no sugar-coating that four-way committees are bad for fantasy value, but the Patriots’ offense is so good that it is an exception to the rule. As long as Lewis and White remain New England’s lead rushing- and passing-down backs, respectively, they will be legit RB3/flex options. Burkhead and Gillislee aren’t really playable right now, but this backfield is subject to change at a moment’s notice, so they are reasonable enough stashes at the end of your bench.
New York Giants last week vs. SEA, this week BYE
Now that’s the inept Giants’ backfield we’ve come to know in recent years. One week after Orleans Darkwa improbably put up 130 yards against Denver’s league-best run defense, he was given just 12 touches (for 48 yards) in Week 7 against a Seattle D that has been subpar against the run. Darkwa was actually out-snapped 22-to-21 by Wayne Gallman, who had an even quieter game (seven touches for 29 yards).
For now, Darkwa is still the marginally better fantasy play than Gallman, but even Darkwa is just a dicey RB3/flex option until the Giants prove that Week 6 wasn’t a statistical outlier.
New York Jets last week @MIA, this week vs. ATL
The Jets’ backfield was completely healthy for the first time in almost a month in Week 7, and the carry distribution looked a lot like it did to begin the season. Bilal Powell (11 touches for 83 yards) and Matt Forte (12 touches for 82 yards) split rushing and receiving work almost evenly, while Elijah McGuire (three carries for seven yards) returned to being a total non-factor.
If any RB can take over this backfield it is probably Powell, but Forte doesn’t look to be going away anytime soon. Both are RB3/flex options for now, while McGuire can be safely dropped until the next Powell/Forte injury strikes.
Oakland Raiders last week vs. KC, this week @BUF
The Raiders’ backfield is in flux as we head into Week 8. Marshawn Lynch does not look like the RB he once was, and his foolish decision to run onto the field and push a referee has resulted in a one-game suspension, opening the door for Jalen Richard or DeAndre Washington to seize this backfield.
Richard and Washington have split the backup job evenly for the last two seasons, and neither has stood out in their limited opportunities, but Lynch’s absence will allow them a chance to show what they can do. If either Richard or Washington has a big game in Week 8, it’s quite possible Beast Mode doesn’t get his old job back. The theoretical upside of Oakland’s offense ensures that any Raiders RB receiving 15+ weekly touches would be on the RB2 radar.
Philadelphia Eagles last week vs. WAS, this week vs. SF
Week 7 saw Wendell Smallwood return from a two-game absence due to a knee injury. Smallwood re-assumed his hybrid rushing/passing back role, but managed just 10 touches for 39 yards. Like Smallwood, LeGarrette Blount was ineffective on the ground, rushing 14 times for just 29 yards. Corey Clement did not see much action, but did manage to haul in a nine-yard touchdown catch.
Carson Wentz has firmly put the Eagles’ offense on his shoulders, throwing for at least three TDs in three straight games. Philadelphia’s pass-first mentality should ultimately benefit Smallwood, although it remains to be seen whether any RB can achieve consistent RB2 value in this backfield. Smallwood and Blount are both reasonable RB3/flex options for now, with Smallwood having a clear edge in PPR, while Clement is not a must-own player as long as he’s third on the depth chart.
Seattle Seahawks last week @NYG, this week vs. HOU
The Seahawks employed a three-way committee between Eddie Lacy (12 touches for 43 yards), Thomas Rawls (12 touches for 52 yards), and J.D. McKissic (five touches for 33 yards) in Week 7. It likely would have been a four-way committee if C.J. Prosise hadn’t re-injured his ankle on his first offensive snap of the game. Even if Prosise misses more time, no Seattle RB can be considered anything more than a dicey flex play as long as this committee approach remains in place.
Tennessee Titans last week @CLE, this week BYE
As I mentioned last week, Derrick Henry‘s huge Week 6 stat line was a bit deceiving. He found the sledding much tougher against the Browns in Week 7, getting bottled up for just 24 yards on 15 touches. DeMarco Murray, who looked like he might miss the game, was the better performer this time, putting up 76 yards on 21 touches.
The Titans’ backfield continues to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but Murray remains the slightly better weekly bet than Henry for now. Consider Murray a low-end RB2 and Henry a boom-or-bust flex play and high-upside stash.
Washington Redskins last week @ PHI, this week vs. DAL
Rob Kelley (nine touches for 30 yards) finally returned from his various ailments in Week 7, but Chris Thompson (12 touches for 64 yards and a TD) remained the Redskins’ most productive fantasy back. Samaje Perine was active but didn’t register a single touch.
Washington coach Jay Gruden has repeatedly touted Kelley’s ability and steadfastly refused to increase Thompson’s workload, so it will be interesting to see if Kelley gets more work in the weeks ahead. Regardless, Thompson has at least 100 yards or a score in five of his six games this season, and has to now be considered the best fantasy back in Washington until proven otherwise. Thompson has forced his way into RB2 consideration, even in standard leagues, while Kelley is an RB3/flex and Perine is waiver wire fodder.
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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.
