THE FANTASY FIXX
Carrying the Load: Week Five
With so many teams employing the dreaded running back by committee, it becomes difficult to determine if there are any featured backs left and even trickier to decide is if either committee-back is truly worth a weekly start. These are never easy questions to answers, but with a little research, the proof is always in the numbers.
While his numbers have not been solid this season, make no mistake at least for the time being Kevin Smith is the featured running back in Detroit. His 93 touches ranks fourth this season and his three rushing touchdowns have kept him a decent fantasy start this season.
Running out of option in your backfield, consider a back like Ricky Williams. Over in Miami, while Ronnie Brown takes the brunt of the load running the ball, Williams is still seeing his fair share of work with 61 touches this season.
Thus far is this early season, we haven’t seen the production you would expect from an elite runner, but there’s no question Steven Jackson is getting all the chances to breakout. Through the first four weeks this season he leads all running backs with 103 plays. He’s had some good production this season, but faces a stiff test against the Vikings on Sunday. One important thing to note; if he stays healthy and keeps getting the rock, he’s eventually going to get numbers and better later than sooner.
The Busy man….
With so many teams employing the dreaded running back by committee, it becomes difficult to determine if there are any featured backs left and even trickier to decide is if either committee-back is truly worth a weekly start. These are never easy questions to answers, but with a little research, the proof is always in the numbers.
While his numbers have not been solid this season, make no mistake at least for the time being Kevin Smith is the featured running back in Detroit. His 93 touches ranks fourth this season and his three rushing touchdowns have kept him a decent fantasy start this season.
Running out of option in your backfield, consider a back like Ricky Williams. Over in Miami, while Ronnie Brown takes the brunt of the load running the ball, Williams is still seeing his fair share of work with 61 touches this season.
Thus far is this early season, we haven’t seen the production you would expect from an elite runner, but there’s no question Steven Jackson is getting all the chances to breakout. Through the first four weeks this season he leads all running backs with 103 plays. He’s had some good production this season, but faces a stiff test against the Vikings on Sunday. One important thing to note; if he stays healthy and keeps getting the rock, he’s eventually going to get numbers and better later than sooner.
The Busy man….
Last Sunday in his first start as a rookie running back Glenn Coffee saw plenty of opportunity with 31 touches. In his past two games Coffee has been the primary option in 57 plays and this week could see him featured as much against the Falcons 25th ranked run defense. Coffee has only averaged 64 yards on the ground the past two weeks, but Sunday he’ll see a defense that is allowing 4.7 yards per rushing attempt.
It’s still unknown if running back Jamal Lewis will be available on Sunday, but backup Jerome Harrison is seeing plenty of action in his absence. In Harrison’s past two starts for the Brown’s he’s had a total of 59 plays and totaled 237 yards of offense. With Lewis a big question mark, Harrison is in line to see plenty of work against the Bills 27th ranked run defense.
Despite the recent success of Raven’s running back Willis McGahee (7 total touchdowns) coming off the bench, normal starter Ray Rice continues to carry most of the load and be a safe option. This season Rice has seen 73 plays in four games and is averaging 107 yards of offense per game. With his six yards per carry average ranking him near the top in the league and 16 receptions this season, Rice’s great versatility makes it easier for the Ravens to put the ball in his hands.
Their time could be coming…
It’s still unknown if running back Jamal Lewis will be available on Sunday, but backup Jerome Harrison is seeing plenty of action in his absence. In Harrison’s past two starts for the Brown’s he’s had a total of 59 plays and totaled 237 yards of offense. With Lewis a big question mark, Harrison is in line to see plenty of work against the Bills 27th ranked run defense.
Despite the recent success of Raven’s running back Willis McGahee (7 total touchdowns) coming off the bench, normal starter Ray Rice continues to carry most of the load and be a safe option. This season Rice has seen 73 plays in four games and is averaging 107 yards of offense per game. With his six yards per carry average ranking him near the top in the league and 16 receptions this season, Rice’s great versatility makes it easier for the Ravens to put the ball in his hands.
Their time could be coming…
With his first career start expected this Sunday against the Patriots, rookie running back Knowshon Moreno looks primed for his time to come now. Normally splitting carries in the Denver backfield, Moreno has been limited to 64 plays in four games. With starter Correll Buckhalter sidelined, it appears the rookie is in line to see an increase in his workload this week.
It’s no secret that the Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has fallen for favor with fantasy owners, but despite his unimpressive start this season, something should be noted. Johnson ranks in the top 10 this season with 82 plays and in his last three starts he’s averaged 23 plays. If L.J. has anything left, he’s getting plenty of opportunity to show it and Sunday he’ll face the Cowboy’s 18th ranked run defense.
It hasn’t been a great start this season for running back Ryan Grant with only 257 yards rushing and a 3.8 yards per carry average. For the moment nothing has been attributed to his slow start, other than just not finding the holes. He may not be seeing the creases just yet, but Grant is getting plenty of opportunity to look with 78 plays this season. So long as the Packers keep feeding Grant the ball, he should eventually produce.
It’s no secret that the Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has fallen for favor with fantasy owners, but despite his unimpressive start this season, something should be noted. Johnson ranks in the top 10 this season with 82 plays and in his last three starts he’s averaged 23 plays. If L.J. has anything left, he’s getting plenty of opportunity to show it and Sunday he’ll face the Cowboy’s 18th ranked run defense.
It hasn’t been a great start this season for running back Ryan Grant with only 257 yards rushing and a 3.8 yards per carry average. For the moment nothing has been attributed to his slow start, other than just not finding the holes. He may not be seeing the creases just yet, but Grant is getting plenty of opportunity to look with 78 plays this season. So long as the Packers keep feeding Grant the ball, he should eventually produce.
The Most Utilized
Plays included running or catching the ball, as well as being the intended receiver of a pass. Here is the breakdown for fantasy running backs logging the most work (plays) and staying busy this season;
Through four weeks:
Top-30 Running backs (Plays)
Rk Player Team………………….Plays
1 Steven Jackson, RB, STL..……103
2 Fred Jackson, RB, BUF ……….…95
3 Cedric Benson, RB, CIN…….…..94
4 Kevin Smith, RB, DET………..….93
5 Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN….….92
6 Chris Johnson, RB, TEN………..90
7 Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAX.89
8 Matt Forte, RB, CHI……………...87
9 Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG……..86
10 Larry Johnson, RB, KC..…….….82
11 Ronnie Brown, RB, MIA………..80
12 Ryan Grant, RB, GB..………….…78
13 Clinton Portis, RB, WAS………..78
14 Steve Slaton, RB, HOU………….75
15 Ray Rice, RB, BAL..………………73
16 Glen Coffee, RB, SF…….……….69
17 Julius Jones, RB, SEA………….69
18 Michael Turner, RB, ATL………67
19 Joseph Addai, RB, IND.…………66
20 Jerome Harrison, RB, CLE……66
21 Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN...64
22 Thomas Jones, RB, NYJ………..64
23 Darren McFadden, RB, OAK.….61
24 Leon Washington, RB, NYJ…...61
25 Ricky Williams, RB, MIA.……….61
26 Reggie Bush, RB, NO…………….59
27 Darren Sproles, RB, SD………….59
28 Tim Hightower, RB, ARI………..57
29 Willie Parker, RB, PIT……………56
30 DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR…54
Plays included running or catching the ball, as well as being the intended receiver of a pass. Here is the breakdown for fantasy running backs logging the most work (plays) and staying busy this season;
Through four weeks:
Top-30 Running backs (Plays)
Rk Player Team………………….Plays
1 Steven Jackson, RB, STL..……103
2 Fred Jackson, RB, BUF ……….…95
3 Cedric Benson, RB, CIN…….…..94
4 Kevin Smith, RB, DET………..….93
5 Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN….….92
6 Chris Johnson, RB, TEN………..90
7 Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, JAX.89
8 Matt Forte, RB, CHI……………...87
9 Brandon Jacobs, RB, NYG……..86
10 Larry Johnson, RB, KC..…….….82
11 Ronnie Brown, RB, MIA………..80
12 Ryan Grant, RB, GB..………….…78
13 Clinton Portis, RB, WAS………..78
14 Steve Slaton, RB, HOU………….75
15 Ray Rice, RB, BAL..………………73
16 Glen Coffee, RB, SF…….……….69
17 Julius Jones, RB, SEA………….69
18 Michael Turner, RB, ATL………67
19 Joseph Addai, RB, IND.…………66
20 Jerome Harrison, RB, CLE……66
21 Knowshon Moreno, RB, DEN...64
22 Thomas Jones, RB, NYJ………..64
23 Darren McFadden, RB, OAK.….61
24 Leon Washington, RB, NYJ…...61
25 Ricky Williams, RB, MIA.……….61
26 Reggie Bush, RB, NO…………….59
27 Darren Sproles, RB, SD………….59
28 Tim Hightower, RB, ARI………..57
29 Willie Parker, RB, PIT……………56
30 DeAngelo Williams, RB, CAR…54
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