Wherever you work, you loathe the word “committee.” Your mind drifts to images of unending meetings, pie charts and the inability to reach closure on an issue.
Unfortunately, “committee” is the appropriate term to describe backfields across the NFL. In Week 3, only four players cracked 100 rushing yards. What happened? Where did my three yards and a cloud of dust go?
I’ll check the “Way-back Machine” on my own time. Let’s get rolling on Week 4.
Exclude: Adrian Peterson, Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden, LeSean McCoy, Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Michael Turner, Arian Foster (unless the injury status changes, he’s in your lineup), Fred Jackson
Does Chris Johnson belong up here anymore?
Week 4 Heroes
Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG at Arizona: The workload split continues in New York (start Brandon Jacobs in the Flex or RB3 slot), but Bradshaw remains the predominant fantasy option. He took advantage of a great spot against the heretofore woeful Philadelphia run defense (86 yards on 15 carries) and has been active in the passing game (five receptions in back-to-back games). That role will not be diminished this week despite Mario Manningham’s return.
Arizona ranks 27th against the run (122.7 yards allowed per game). Eli is the top play among quarterbacks, and Bradshaw runs downhill to another fantastic fantasy day.
LeGarrette Blount, TB vs. Indianapolis: The Steelers failed to surmount any semblance of a running attack in Week 3, yet the Colts still rank 22nd in run defense (113.3 yards and 1.3 touchdowns allowed per game). Tampa Bay has yet to get on track in the passing game, and the Buccs will push to slow down the Colts’ pass rushers.
Blount logged a season-high 24 carries in leading the Buccaneers to a win in an ugly game against the Falcons. I expect a similar workload this week while trying to handle a dangerous (go back and look at the near-misses against the Steelers) Indianapolis team.
Ryan Mathews, SD vs. Miami: Mathews missed the Chargers’ Wednesday and Thursday practices, so he was bounced from the top slot on this list. He does still expect to play, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t shake my fist at the news.
Mathews has already amassed nearly 400 total yards, including 14 receptions and frequent touches inside the red zone. With Mike Tolbert also ailing, Mathews has taken full advantage of his opportunities (three total touchdowns and 21 carries in Week 3). Miami allows 104.7 rushing yards per game (only one touchdown), a clip of 4.1 yards per carry. Provided that these injury notes go to the wayside, he’s a fantastic play.
Jahvid Best at Dallas: The Minnesota run defense certainly did its job against the Lions in Week 3. Best was limited to 14 yards on 12 attempts, but continued to play a huge role in the passing game (five catches for 74 yards). I expect to see more of the same against a Dallas run defense that ranks second in the NFL (61.3 yards allowed per game). Tim Hightower (see below) did his best work on screens in Week 3 (five receptions for 39 yards with a touchdown).
Tim Hightower, WAS at St. Louis: Hightower logged another sizable touch count and put a flat tire in the Roy Helu bandwagon, if only for a week. He logged 19 touches against the Cowboys for 80 yards and will bulldoze his way through the bottom-ranked St. Louis run defense (174 yards per game).
Rashard Mendenhall, PIT at Houston: It’s gut-check time for the Pittsburgh running game. Mendenhall has averaged just three yards per carry through three weeks. I’m optimistic that the Steelers, despite injuries on the offensive line, get Mendenhall back in a groove against the middling Houston run defense that allows 4.8 yards per carry. The Steelers will need to pass to keep pace with the explosive Houston offense, but the speed options stretching the field open up running lanes.
Felix Jones, DAL vs. Detroit: His bum shoulder wasn’t a factor in Week 3. Jones placed among a handful of 100-yard rushers with his 115-yard effort against the Redskins. I don’t anticipate a huge ground effort against the Detroit front, but he’s going to active in the passing game on the edges.
Frank Gore, SF at Philadelphia: Fantasy owners will play the “wait and see” game with Gore this weekend against the Eagles. He’s been limited in practice this week, though all reports say that he’ll suit up. Follow the three-man tag-team chat on FOXSports.com Sunday morning and our radio yelling on FOX Sports Radio for updated injury information.
The Eagles rank 30th against the pass, ceding a ridiculous 4.9 yards per carry (131.3 yards allowed per game). Have Kendall Hunter at the ready, but Gore’s a solid gamble in an RB2 slot if available.
Steven Jackson, STL vs. Washington: Will you roll the dice? Jackson remains limited at practice this week, but he reportedly expects to take on a larger role against the visiting Redskins (11th against the run). I’m concerned about his quadriceps injury, of course. I’m staring squarely at the 4.8 yards per carry allowed by the Redskins through three weeks.
I showed no fear and picked the Rams to notch their first win at home. That pick was predicated on Jackson replicating the burst he showed in Week 1.
James Starks, GB vs. Denver: Ryan Grant performed well against the Bears, but sustained a bruised kidney in the process. As a result, his availability for Week 4 is in question. That puts Starks back into the lead role once again. The Broncos stopped Chris Johnson in Week 3 despite missing several defensive starters. Stuffing Starks isn’t the top priority for this middling run defense. Rodgers stretches the field and Starks rebounds from a terrible Week 3 performance (11 carries for five yards).
Week 4 Ninja Alerts
Cedric Benson, CIN vs. Buffalo: Benson is appealing his suspension, thereby putting him into a solid slot for Week 4 against the Bills. Buffalo ranks 24th against the run (115.7 yards and a touchdown per game).
I went upset special this week with the Bengals, and that only happens if Benson starts running downhill. Benson has amassed 58 rushing attempts through three weeks (tied for sixth in the NFL), though his totals of 59 and 64 yards in the past two weeks are hardly inspiring. Take the workload while it’s there.
Kendall Hunter, SF at Philadelphia: Hunter scored a touchdown in relief of Frank Gore last week to help the 49ers defeat the Bengals. He finished the game with 38 yards on 11 touches.
Gore expects to play this week, but think about your bench carefully. Hunter represents a strong insurance policy should a setback occur.
Steven Ridley, NE at Oakland: The New England backfield is a dangerous place at the moment. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead are slugging it out for touches, and Ridley emerged from the pack to post 50 total yards on seven touches in Week 3.
It would be a gamble, to be sure, as Ridley had touched the ball only twice in the Patriots’ first two games. Still, he was the team’s most effective runner last week and turned heads in the exhibition season. The Raiders allow 5.8 yards per carry (120.3 yards per game), and I expect to see Ridley in the mix for another 8-10 touches this week.
Jonathan Stewart, CAR at Chicago: Stewart nearly reached the 100-yard receiving mark again in Week 3, but had a 60-yard touchdown erased following an official’s review. He’s been the more effective tailback in what little the Panthers have been able to accomplish on the ground and remains an active part of the passing game for rookie Cam Newton. Stewart is no more than a Flex play, but he’s worth a look-see.
Week 4 Flop Alerts
Peyton Hillis, CLE vs. Tennessee: Hillis posted a strong effort against the Indianapolis run defense in Week 2 (94 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns) before missing Week 3 because of strep throat. He’s back at practice this week, but I remain reticent to endorse him against the Titans. Tennessee ranks eighth against the run, allowing just 3.1 yards per carry and 89 yards per game. The Titans will focus on shutting down Hillis, and I’m not so sure that Montario Hardesty doesn’t still log a sizable touch count.
Willis McGahee, DEN at Green Bay: Willis, I’d like to introduce B.J. B.J., this is Willis. That’s the theme of this one. The Packers have been susceptible to huge plays in the passing game, but the Packers’ run defense has been fantastic. Green Bay currently ranks first in the NFL, having allowed just 55 rushing yards per game (one touchdown). Of course, the Week 3 silliness employed by Chicago helps pull that average down in a hurry.
McGahee’s 2.9-yard rushing average hardly moves the needle for me. As porous as the Packers’ pass defense has been at times, the fact of the matter is this. You need to stand back and fire downfield to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers, so the run game disappears quickly.
Shonn Greene, NYJ at Baltimore: Beware Haloti Ngata. I don’t know that I need to say more than that.
I was encouraged to see Greene operate as a receiver out of the backfield (seven receptions in Week 3) and his recent workload (18 touches in Week 2 and 22 touches in Week 3) has my rapt attention. However, he’s yet to crack a four yard per carry average in a single game (he narrowly missed with 3.9 yards per carry against Oakland). New York may move the ball in the passing game behind improved play from Mark Sanchez. Nick Mangold may still be shelved, and I don’t trust Greene’s red zone role at this juncture.
Beanie Wells, ARI vs. New York Giants: Wells has been available for portions of Arizona practices this week. The Cardinals want to be cautious with Wells given his injury history, so there’s potential for a late scratch or a reduced workload. The Giants rank 15th against the run (103.3 yards allowed per game), but limit opposing runners to 3.6 yards per carry. I like what Wells showed us in the first two weeks of the season. I just don’t trust the hamstring injury or the matchup.
Mark Ingram at Jacksonville: Ingram scored his long-awaited first NFL touchdown last week in the shootout win over Houston. He’s a difficult play here this week against the Jaguars, a unit that has performed well against the run (83.7 yards allowed per game with a single touchdown).
I would not be surprised to see Ingram score again this week against Jacksonville. However, this game is about Drew Brees and the passing game. I’d step away from the split backfield (Sproles and Thomas still factor as receivers).
