Friday
Edition
October
25th, 2013
David’s
Daily Digest
Week 8: Ground Gainers
After looking at matchups this week and watching what has
been happening thus far this fantasy football season, it's safe to say the
running back position has been less than spectacular. There are only a handful
of safe rides (such as Jamaal Charles,
LeSean McCoy, & Adrian Peterson) each week, with most
of the other options leaving their owners guessing.
These are a couple of my favorites for week 8 that I believe
fantasy owners can ride with confidence.
Through seven weeks running back Frank Gore has been very reliable, averaging 78 yards on the ground
per game with 5 rushing touchdowns. Gore’s 547 yards rushing this season ranks
4th in the league. This week the 49ers visit the Jaguars (ranked last against
the run) who allow over 150 yards per game on the ground at a 4.6 yards per
carry clip. Their 9 rushing touchdowns allowed this season are tied for most in
the league making Gore a very attractive fantasy play this Sunday.
Like Gore, running back Darren
Sproles faces a favorable matchup on Sunday when he lines up against the
Bills. The Bills defense is ranked 28th against the run and allow an average of
4 yards per carry this season, but more importantly for Sproles their secondary
is poor; ranked 21st versus the pass. Sproles is a versatile back just as
effective in the pass game as he is in the run game. With tight end Jimmy Graham limited or sidelined this
week, Sproles will not only tote his share of the rock, but will see 10+
targets once again on Sunday; last week he was targeted 12 times.
In the same matchup running back Fred Jackson is looking at a pretty tasty matchup himself. While
the Saints have been pretty good on the defensive side of the ball this season,
they are still allowing the 13th most fantasy points to opposing
running backs. Jackson is also looking more like a solo act with C.J. Spiller not practicing much this
week and doubtful for Sunday. Jackson is the 15th leading rusher in
the league with 380 yards and has also added 215 yards receiving with 25
receptions. He’s a solid flex and low RB2 in PPR leagues this week.
In New England, week 8 could be the week for running back Stevan Ridley to finally shine. Slowly
but surely over the past couple of weeks fantasy owners have been seeing hints
with Ridley averaging better than 4.5 yards per carry in his last three starts.
Over the same course of time Ridley has carried the ball 42 times and rushed
for 199 yards with three rushing scores. This week Ridley gets the Dolphins
defense that allows the 5th most fantasy points to opposing running backs including
five rushing touchdowns. Ridley should get plenty of chances to produce this
Sunday.
That's
my take for Week 8 running backs.
~David
Ortega
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