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RBBC: McKinnon emerges for Vikes

Published Oct. 14, 2014 2:26 p.m. ET

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John Halpin

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.

Week 7 byes: Eagles, Buccaneers

And now, in alphabetical order ...

Baltimore Ravens

Welcome back, Bernard Pierce! Pierce wasn't especially effective on Sunday, carrying 15 times for 32 yards and a touchdown, and getting the ball plenty BEFORE the Ravens took a 187-point lead over the Buccaneers. The Ravens host the Falcons' 28th-ranked run defense this week, so you can consider Pierce flex-able. His teammate, Lorenzo Taliaferro, can't be trusted but can be dropped after a two-carry, 29-year effort.

(Note: The Falcons have allowed 12 touchdowns on the ground, and no other NFL team has given up more than seven. The Falcons' D is loathsome and offensive ... yet I can't look away.)

While Pierce's return to fantasy relevance is nice, THE MAN in this backfield is Justin Forsett, who ran 14 times for 111 yards at Tampa. Forsett has been fantasy's eighth-best running back so far this season, and his receiving skills (23 receptions) make him extra valuable. As mentioned here previously, the small Forsett will never be a true lead back, but there aren't many of those around any more, anyway. With 15-18 touches per game, he's a solid fantasy RB2.

Buffalo Bills

Head coach Doug Marrone said that Fred Jackson got most of the second-half playing time on Sunday because the Bills "got behind in the passing game" and wanted Jackson on the field for his blocking skills. Still, C.J. Spiller was in the game for 12 snaps – TWELVE! So much for drafting Spiller in Round 3 of a few fantasy drafts, huh?

Unless this situation changes, the Bills will not appear in next week's RBBC update, because there's no longer a committee. Jackson had just 43 yards from scrimmage on his 14 touches, but he did score on a one-yard run. He's firmly in the RB2 range for Sunday's matchup with the Vikings' 20th-ranked run defense.

Indianapolis Colts

Ahmad Bradshaw was fantasy's No. 13 RB in Week 6, and Trent Richardson was No. 25. As noted here last week, no matter how much of a plodder T-Rich has become – he ran 17 times for 41 yards and a score last Thursday against the Texans – he still gets the ball enough in most weeks to be a low-end RB2 or flex option. The Colts host the 29th-ranked Bengals' run defense this week, and even if you think the ankle-twisting Burficts will improve, Richardson is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry now, and he's still been pretty good for his fantasy owners.

As for Richardson's teammate, the always-astute Mike Clay of Pro Football Focus pointed out on Twitter last week that Ahmad Bradshaw's rate of five touchdowns on 21 receptions is unlikely to continue. I thought Bradshaw was an interesting sleeper entering the season and think he could remain pretty good, but if someone in your league thinks he's going to keep producing like a top-10 fantasy back, you should offer up a trade.

Minnesota Vikings

Jerick McKinnon outsnapped Matt Asiata 46-16 against the Lions in Week 6, and had 82 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said Monday that "one has to assume" McKinnon is the Vikings' primary back at this point. 

It wouldn't be a shock if Asiata had a part-time role (50 percent?) this week at Buffalo. However, the Vikes are 2-4 and struggling, so why waste time on a mediocre talent like Asiata? They'll probably roll with McKinnon, and you should too, even against the Bills' league-best run defense. McKinnon is owned in just 13.7 percent of FOXSports.com leagues, and you should run to the free-agent pool immediately to see if he's still available.

St. Louis Rams

Ten touches for Zac Stacy, nine for Benny Cunningham and six for Tre Mason Monday night against the 49ers. Tuesday's St. Louis Post Dispatch noted Mason's solid performance (five carries, 40 yards) and said that we should "expect to see him more." We've got another three-headed monster, ladies and gentlemen! And we hate three-headed monsters when they're fantasy backfields.

Unless Jeff Fisher makes this situation very clear during the week, none of the Rams' backs should start for their fantasy owners in Week 7. I'm not sure I'd pick up Mason in a 12-team league, unless I was a bit desperate. He's still far from certain to get a fantasy-worthy workload.

BONUS TEAM

New England Patriots

With Stevan Ridley out for the season due to a knee injury, the Pats will use Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden and rookie James White to handle backfield duties. Vereen figures to get a bit busier, and might start earning his RB2 draft slot.

If Vereen doesn't see a big role change in terms of carries, Bolden is probably the first man up as the Pats' primary ballcarrier, as he's bigger (220 pounds) than White (205). However, Bolden plays a lot on the Pats' special teams (per beat writer Mike Reiss), so we shouldn't just expect him to get 15 carries Thursday night against the Jets. As I wrote in today's blog post, I'd rather place a small bid on White than a big one on Bolden, since there's a lot of uncertainty here.

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