Each week during the 2014 season, we're going to take a look at five running-back-by-committee (RBBC) situations that you should keep a close eye on. Some will have big questions, while others might be noted due to their circumstances becoming clearer. Finally, we're going to focus more on the week ahead than look down the road.
And now, in alphabetical order ...
Cincinnati Bengals
Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill split the snaps down the middle at Tampa Bay, but Hill had 17 touches (13 carries, 40 yards; four receptions, 12 yards) to Bernard's 11 (10 carries, 49 yards; one reception, four yards). However, Hill made comments after the game suggesting that QB Andy Dalton was telegraphing run plays. On Monday, offensive coordinator Hue Jackson responded:
"Jeremy don't play quarterback. What Jeremy needs to do is run the ball. What Jeremy wants to do - I don't care if it's eight men or seven men - break tackles, OK? That's what running backs do. They break tackles and that's it. At the end of the day, his job is to run through somebody and come out the other side and go find a way to score, period. So all his drop-down, who did this, did what -- that ain't his call."
That stuff is fun to read, but it probably doesn't affect Hill's fantasy value. Both Hill and Bernard can be viewed as RB2 candidates in this week's game against the Steelers.
Cleveland Browns
Not much to see here. Isaiah Crowell continued his recent two-to-one touch advantage over Terrance West, and head coach Mike Pettine criticized West Monday for being "careless" with the ball. Roll with the Crow at Indy this week, and keep West on your fantasy bench (or cut him if you can grab something useful for your playoff run).
Indianapolis Colts
Speaking of Indy, Trent Richardson played 26 snaps to Dan Herron's 24 against the Redskins, but Herron ran eight times for 88 yards (and a 49-yard TD) and caught a couple of passes for eight yards, while Richardson had just 12 yards on eight carries.
Many in the Indy media have been singing Herron's praises since Sunday while piling on Richardson (again), but some are also pointing out Herron's two fumbles in his past two games. Herron looks to be an RB2 this week against the Browns' mediocre run defense, with T-Rich slipping into low-end Flexville.
New England Patriots
LeGarrette Blount (10 carries, 58 yards) had another nice game at Green Bay, which is good. Shane Vereen got four touches for 32 yards, which wasn't. Jonas Gray was basically invisible, and Brandon Bolden (!!!) had three carries for 17 yards and a TD.
Moving forward, we're guessing everywhere here. Gray and Bolden can't be used under any circumstances in Week 14. Blount and Vereen can be flexed, but Vereen has become a very risky play in standard leagues. The only guy you can trust even a little bit in this mess is the one who was on the Steelers two weeks ago. Damn you, Belichick.
New York Jets
The Jets ran the ball 49 times for 277 yards against the Dolphins on Monday night, with Chris Johnson (17 carries, 105 yards) and Chris Ivory (16 carries, 62 yards) leading the way. Will it happen again this week, when the Jets visit the Vikings' 24th-ranked run defense?
As much as the Jets will try to repeat their strategy of keeping the ball out of Geno Smith's hands, it's hard to imagine that the Vikes won't load up against the run (earlier and more aggressively than the Dolphins did) and dare Smith to beat them. Ivory has been a better back than Ivory this season, but his workload has been so inconsistent that he only qualifies as a desperation flex option.
BONUS TEAMS
If DeAngelo Williams (fractured hand) can't play at New Orleans in Week 14, Jonathan Stewart will be worthy of flex consideration ... Latavius Murray (concussion) is hoping to be cleared to play against the 49ers this week, and if he is, he'll be the man in the Raiders' backfield (with a bad matchup, unfortunately).
