As the injuries pile up (along with the COVID lists), more running backs are being called on to see significant starts. And what we thought were running back committees have morphed into bell-cow situations. Below are a few examples of backfields going back and forth, what they looked like this week, and what to expect in the future.
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Baltimore Ravens
Player | Snap Count |
JK Dobbins | 54 |
Gus Edwards | 26 |
It only took a pre-game injury to Mark Ingram and an in-game injury to Gus Edwards for the Ravens to finally lean on rookie JK Dobbins who led the backfield with a season-high 54 snaps. Of those 54, Dobbins had a career-game with 15 carries for 113 yards and showed why many thought he would have been the lead back well before Week 8.
However, Gus Edwards was still tipped for the goal-line carries so don’t expect Dobbins to be the lead back again if Mark Ingram can’t go. For now, enjoy the two-headed monster that is the Ravens backfield as opposed to the three-headed one when Ingram returns. On the season, all three running backs are averaging 4.5 yards-per-carry or more which is great for the Ravens offense but a nightmare for fantasy teams.
Next Week: Ravens at Colts
Denver Broncos
Player | Snap Count |
Melvin Gordon | 36 |
Phillip Lindsay | 29 |
At long last, we get a full game with the new look Denver backfield and it looks exactly like we all expected. The signing of Melvin Gordon was curious at the time and will continue to be a thorn in the side of both Gordon and Lindsay’s fantasy owners. They had a nearly even split in snaps and carries this week with Gordon out-carrying Lindsay eight-to-six.
Of course, if money and guaranteed contracts weren’t a factor, Lindsay would be the pick. He turned his six carries into 83 yards – including a 55-yard run – and a touchdown while Melvin Gordon managed just 26 yards on his eight carries. It was almost the same story in the passing game as Gordon also led the backfield with seven targets, catching six of them for just 21 yards while Lindsay caught just one pass for three yards.
This trend won’t get any better for Gordon or Lindsay as they’re expected to keep splitting snaps as long as both are healthy.
Next Week: Broncos at Falcons
Indianapolis Colts
Player | Snap Count |
Jordan Wilkins | 39 |
Jonathan Taylor | 26 |
Nyheim Hines | 16 |
After a hot streak of five straight games of at least 60 rushing yards or a touchdown, the Jonathan Taylor train came to a screeching halt. He saw his least amount of carries in a game (11) since Week One and averaged just two-yards-per-carry. Meanwhile, third-stringer Jordan Wilkins took the lead in snaps and carries, turning his 20 carries into 89 yards and a touchdown. Now, Taylor did pop up on the injury report after the game so we can’t be sure he was pulled because of that or just poor performance but if the injury is lingering and Taylor is held back in Week Nine, Wilkins will get the nod. Granted, it’s not an ideal matchup as the Colts take on the Ravens but carries are carries.
Meanwhile, Nyheim Hines continues his role as passing-down back, finishing second on the team in targets (five), catching three of them for 54 yards and two touchdowns. Ironically, he seems to be the most consistent running back on the Colts as far as relative production. In the Ravens game next week, where Baltimore is favored, Hines might be the top back to own with the passing work coming his way.
Next Week: Colts vs. Ravens
Los Angeles Chargers
Player | Snap Count |
Justin Jackson | 41 |
Troymaine Pope | 25 |
Joshua Kelley | 21 |
As if we needed any less clarity in the Chargers backfield, enter Troymaine Pope and his 25 snaps which were good for second among Los Angeles backs. He was also second with 10 carries ( totaling 67 yards) and third on the whole team in targets with seven. What’s more frustrating all three Charger backs – Pope, Justin Jackson, and Joshua Kelley – looked great! All three averaged more than 4.5 yards-per-carry while Jackson turned his five targets into three receptions for 53 yards.
Fantasy players are hoping and praying for the return of Austin Ekeler so he can lead the backfield in snaps, carries, targets, receptions, and every other meaningful fantasy category.
Week Eight: Chargers vs. Raiders
New England Patriots
Player | Snap Count |
Rex Burkhead | 32 |
James White | 31 |
Damien Harris | 20 |
Despite Damien Harris finishing well behind Rex Burkhead and James White in snaps, it’s clear he’s the back to own when it comes to carries and scoring chances. He’s seen double-digit carries in three of his four games and notched his second 100-yard game in Week Eight. He also managed to score for the first time this season. Meanwhile, Rex Burkhead was well behind Harris in carries, 16-6, and well behind James White in targets, 4-1. Burkhead just can’t be trusted to see significant touches in either role.
Back to Harris, the return of Sony Michel is imminent so it will be interesting to see where Harris lies in the pecking order. Michel had only seen 26 carriers in three games before he was sent to injured reserve and New England may want to see what they have before sticking with Harris for good.
Next Week: Patriots at Jets
San Francisco 49ers
Player | Snap Count |
Jerick McKinnon | 35 |
JaMycal Hasty | 29 |
Tevin Coleman | 6 |
As the injuries pile up for San Francisco so, too, does the list of running backs that have taken a significant number snaps for them this season. This week, while Jerick McKinnon led the backfield with 35 snaps, it was actually rookie JaMycal Hasty who led the team in carries with 12. He wasn’t particularly effective as he gained just 29 yards but he did manage to punch one of those carries in for a score. Meanwhile, McKinnon acted as a strict passing-down back, only seeing three carries (for minus-one yard) but managing to catch all four of his targets, good for third on the team.
Lost in all this was Tevin Coleman who was seeing his first action in six weeks only to re-injure his knee. He appeared to be the running back du jour before the injury knocked him out of the game.
The 49ers play on Thursday this week which means less time for Coleman to recover. And remember that Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are still on injured reserve so look for a repeat of the McKinnon/Hasty combo as the 49ers continue to roll out their fourth and fifth options at running back.
Next Week: 49ers vs. Packers
Seattle Seahawks
Player | Snap Count |
DeeJay Dallas | 54 |
Travis Homer | 7 |
Much like the 49ers, the injuries have been piling up for Seattle which would partially explain why they only rolled out two running backs for their Week 7 game against the 49ers. And even then, it was only rookie DeeJay Dallas who seemed to be back there. He managed to see the most snaps of any Seahawks running back this season while acting as the de facto bell cow. He totaled 18 carries (only totaling 41 yards) and managed one score on the ground while seeing five targets, second-most on the team, catching all of them including another score.
It was a good day for Dallas (the player) but it may not last. Unlike the 49ers backfield, Seahawks running backs including Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde are not on the injured reserve and could return as soon as this week.
Next Week: Seahawks at Bills
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Michael Moore is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @DLF_Moore.