Welcome to the ninth installment of our weekly look at fantasy’s most aggravating subject, the Running Back Committee. To the chagrin of many fantasy owners, the Titans have officially become part of this weekly review.
Week 9 Byes: Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, Vikings
COMMITTEES (8)
Carolina Panthers
Options: Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams
Outlook: Stewart had 13 carries for 49 yards against the Vikings, while Williams had seven for 26. We’ll say it again: Stewart is the superior back.
Cincinnati Bengals
Options: Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott
Outlook: With Benson finally serving his one-game suspension, Scott gained 76 yards on 22 carries against the tough Seahawks’ run defense, and that’s not a bad day. He was slowly starting to eat into Benson’s workload before the suspension, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens when Benson returns this week against the Titans’ 27th-ranked rushing defense. For now, Benson is still a fantasy start and Scott isn’t, but there’s a chance things could change at some point. Benson is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry.
Green Bay Packers
Options: James Starks, Ryan Grant, John Kuhn
Outlook: Starks has clearly been more productive than Grant, averaging 73 yards per game on 14.4 touches to Grant’s 46.8 yards on 10.7 touches. However, neither one of them has been scoring, with Starks owning the duo’s only touchdown. Unless one of them becomes the clear lead back – and until Kuhn stops vulturing any non-Aaron Rodgers touchdowns – Starks is a low-end fantasy start, with Grant belonging on the bench in most cases.
Houston Texans
Options: Arian Foster, Ben Tate
Outlook: Foster had a huge day against the Jags, carrying 33 times for 112 yards and a score. Tate notched only five carries, and while he’ll be a slightly bigger part of the gameplan on some days, you can’t count on him. The Texans’ entry won’t appear here next week, and will stay out until Tate gives is a reason to put it back in.
Kansas City Chiefs
Options: Jackie Battle, Dexter McCluster, Thomas Jones
Outlook: Battle clearly established himself as the Chiefs’ lead back against the Chargers, carrying 19 times for 70 yards and a score, while McCluster and Jones combined for 10 yards on 11 carries. If you haven’t been starting Battle already, get him in there this week against the Dolphins. He’s not great, but not a lot of guys get 19 carries these days.
New England Patriots
Options: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Kevin Faulk, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead
Outlook: The Law Firm carried just five times for nine yards against the Steelers. That was partly due to a nagging toe injury that had him listed as questionable, partly due to Faulk’s 2011 debut, and partly due to a pass-heavy attack necessitated by the Pats playing from behind. Green-Ellis is still their lead back, and this might be a good time to buy him low from a jittery owner. Faulk’s return to the Pats’ offense figures to hurt Woodhead’s already limited value.
San Francisco 49ers
Options: Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter
Outlook: Hunter’s usual handful of carries was less than that against the Browns, as he had three carries to Gore’s 31. Remember earlier in the season, when some people thought Hunter was going to take the job, or at least half of it? Gore is a horse.
Tennessee Titans
Options: Chris Johnson, Javon Ringer
Outlook: On behalf of hundreds of thousands of fantasy owners, I’d like to let Johnson know that he’s ruined my season. Made it completely unenjoyable, feeling like I wasted time preparing for any draft that had me picking him (it happened twice). Thanks, CJ-less-than-a-K.
The thought here last week was that if Johnson was ever going to break out, it would be against the Colts. Instead, he had 34 yards on 14 carries, while Ringer ran 14 times for 60 yards. After the game, head coach Mike Munchak said:
“I think every game will be different … I just think it depends on the flow of the game, how it’s going. I don’t think we’re consciously trying to decide by series who’s playing. We know we’re a work in progress as a run game.”
However, on Monday, Munchak declared that Johnson was still his starting tailback. What’s going to happen here? Probably some sort of timeshare, with Johnson being a little busier than Ringer. The Titans host the Bengals and their second-ranked run defense in Week 10. You can still start Johnson, but manage your expectations. I’d hesitate to start Ringer just yet.
INJURY ISSUES (13)
Arizona Cardinals
Options: Beanie Wells, Alfonso Smith, Chester Taylor, LaRod Stephens-Howling
Outlook: Wells submitted a strong performance with 22 carries for 83 yards and a score against the Ravens on Sunday after being listed as questionable due to a knee injury. This isn’t a committee, but Wells indicated after the game that his knee would probably be “an all-year thing.” Don’t bench him, but keep the injury in mind so any absences don’t surprise you.
Cleveland Browns
Options: Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya
Outlook: Hillis was scratched Sunday due to a hamstring injury, and Hardesty left early with a calf strain. That left the duties to Ogbonnaya, who had 61 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches. The Browns hope that the day-to-day Hillis will be back this week, but Hardesty “will miss games,” according to the team. I wouldn’t run to the waiver wire to pick up Ogbannaya, who was on the Texans’ practice squad a few weeks ago, but there’s always at least some value in being the last man standing.
Dallas Cowboys
Options: DeMarco Murray, Felix Jones
Outlook: Nice job by the Cowboys giving Murray just eight carries against the Eagles. He gained 74 yards, but they decided to forgo yardage and points by keeping the ball away from their best back against a below-average run defense. Anyway, Jones might be back this week, and if he is, look for he and Murray to share the workload. I’d bet on Murray getting the slightly bigger piece of the pie. The Cowboys host the Seahawks, who are allowing the fewest yards per carry (3.2) in the league, so don’t get your hopes too high.
Denver Broncos
Options: Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno, Lance Ball
Outlook: McGahee’s status for Week 9 is TBD after surgery to repair his broken hand early last week. Moreno had a solid day against the Lions in McGahee’s absence, getting 74 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches. If McGahee is out again, Moreno is worth a start against the Raiders’ middling run defense. Just remember that Tim Tebow is likely to steal any Bronco back’s chances at short-yardage touchdowns. At least until he gets benched, anyway.
Detroit Lions
Options: Jahvid Best, Maurice Morris, Keiland Williams
Outlook: With the Lions’ bye coming, we’ll likely have to wait until next week to know if Best is ready to play again. The stats from Week 8 show that Morris and Williams basically split the workload, but much of Williams’ work came after the outcome was decided. For as long as Best is out, Morris is the guy to start.
Indianapolis Colts
Options: Joseph Addai, Delone Carter, Donald Brown
Outlook: Addai was active in Week 8, but only as an emergency option. He’s expected to be ready to go against the Falcons, which means that Brown’s modest playing time should feel the impact.
Miami Dolphins
Options: Daniel Thomas, Reggie Bush
Outlook: Thomas is a nice back, but he needs to stay healthy. He missed his third game of the season, opening the door for Bush to run for 103 yards against the Giants. If Thomas is back for this week’s game against the Chiefs, he’ll probably get more carries than Bush, as he’s averaged nearly 19 carries per game.
New Orleans Saints
Options: Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory
Outlook: With Ingram out due to a heel injury, Sproles and Thomas figured to get most of the work against the Rams. But the Saints didn’t figure to get blown out, and the touch count was 12 for Sproles, 11 for Thomas and six for Ivory. This backfield is as crowded as any, but remember that Ingram is the best runner of the bunch. He won’t get the ball enough to be a lead fantasy back, but can still be started as a RB3/flex play when healthy.
New York Giants
Options: Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs
Outlook: Jacobs had just four carries for 10 yards against the Dolphins after missing a couple of games. However, the foot injury that Bradshaw suffered could be a factor this week. Stay tuned, because Jacobs could become a factor.
Oakland Raiders
Options: Darren McFadden, Michael Bush
Outlook: McFadden suffered a sprained foot in Week 7, but has had a bye week to rest it. If he’s back, Bush returns to his role as a goal-line vulture who doesn’t get the ball enough to be a fantasy starter. McFadden didn’t practice Monday, so you’ll have to track his progress all week.
San Diego Chargers
Options: Ryan Mathews, Mike Tolbert, Curtis Brinkley, Jordan Todman
Outlook: Mathews suffered a groin injury late in Monday’s game against the Chiefs, and his status for Week 9 is TBD. With Tolbert inactive, Brinkley played well in relief of Mathews, but reportedly got a concussion during the overtime period. Tolbert is likely to return in Week 9, but won’t be a strong fantasy play if Mathews is active.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Options: LeGarrette Blount, Kregg Lumpkin
Outlook: Blount is expected to return against the Saints after missing two games due to a knee injury. Play him if you have him, because with Earnest Graham done for the season, Blount is THE MAN.
Washington Redskins
Options: Ryan Torain, Roy Helu, Tashard Choice
Outlook: Good grief. Torain’s expected fantasy impact was short-circuited by a Redskins’ offense that went pass-heavy after falling behind early against the Bills. Heck, even the offensive linemen complained about the approach following the game, even though they probably should have kept quiet after letting their quarterback get sacked nine times.
Torain ran just eight times for 14 yards against the Bills, while Helu tallied only three receptions for 20 yards. I have no idea what Mike Shanahan’s plan is for this week against the 49ers, but nothing would surprise me. However, you probably can’t start Helu until you see him have a productive game OR hear Shanahan say he’ll get a big share of the workload. As for Torain, he’s a high-risk, high-reward fantasy guy, with the likelihood for reward getting smaller all the time. Oh, and if you don’t think the ‘Skins claiming Choice on Monday will factor into this equation at some point, you obviously aren’t familiar with the dastardly, fantasy-hating genius running this team.
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