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'll focus more on the week ahead than look down the road.
Week 4 byes: Cardinals, Bengals, Browns, Broncos, Seahawks, Rams
And now, in no particular order ...
Baltimore Ravens
Bernard Pierce was a late scratch in Week 3 due to a thigh injury, so Justin Forsett and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro were forced to carry the load against the Browns. Forsett was his usual, pesky self, with 11 carries for 63 yards along with four receptions for two yards. Taliaferro was the revelation, running 18 times for 91 yards and a score. We've talked about Taliaferro recently on the Fantasy 15 podcast, but this was his first chance to really step up, and he did just that.
What will happen in the likely event that Pierce returns this week? Probably some sort of timeshare, very possibly followed by the Ravens' realization that Taliaferro is a better runner than Pierce. If your fantasy bench is built to stash someone, Taliaferro would be a good guy to grab right now (he's owned in just 0.8 percent of FOXSports.com leagues). The guess here is that he gets enough work for flex-worthiness in Week 4.
Buffalo Bills
Smarter football people than me have been repeating some version of this phrase since last season: The Bills need to use C.J. Spiller more "in space." The between-the-tackles version of Spiller is once again a boring fantasy asset, with 204 yards from scrimmage and a TD on 44 touches (37 carries, seven receptions). Spiller is RB24 in FOXSports.com fantasy scoring so far, and while that's not terrible, you always feel like he could be so much more.
Spiller is sharing work with Fred Jackson, who ranks 10th in running back points. Jackson had a nice day against the Chargers in Week 3, carrying six times for 34 yards, and catching eight passes for 78 yards and a third-quarter TD. For the season, Jackson has 38 touches to Spiller's 44.
No matter how much we want things to change here, they're probably not going to. Consider Spiller no more than an RB2, and Jackson on the lower end of that spectrum toward flex territory.
Detroit Lions
Reggie Bush and Joique Bell pretty much shared the work and the snaps again in Week 3, with Bush adding six receptions to his 12 carries (99 total yards and a rushing TD) versus the Packers. Some people want to favor Bell (15 rushes, 33 yards vs. Green Bay) in this committee because of his more versatile running style and goal-line potential, but let's remember that Bush had more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage last season. He's still explosive, and he'll continue to get the ball in situations that cater to his talents - "in space," you might say. Bush is a solid, mid-range RB2 until further notice.
Bell is a better between-the-tackles runner than Bush, but the Lions host the Jets this week. This may be an oversimplification, but the guy running INTO that ferocious Jets' front seven will probably have a long day.
Indianapolis Colts
Can you tell anything from a game that was 30-0 at halftime? Yes - that the winning team is going to keep giving the ball to Trent Richardson. T-Rich ran 14 times (five in the first half, nine in the second) for 57 yards against the Jaguars, and added three receptions for 23 yards. That's about as good as it's going to get for Richardson, who was stopped on a pair of third-quarter goal-line runs. He's no better than a flex play, even in a week with six teams on byes.
Richardson's most significant fantasy impact will be to take value away from teammate Ahmad Bradshaw, who has been terrific over the last two games, with 179 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. Unfortunately, Bradshaw has received just 29 touches in those games, and a workload like that will keep him from being a big fantasy producer. Bradshaw has low-end RB2 value, but many of those asking "Should I trade Player X for Bradshaw?" questioners need to remember that Richardson isn't going away.
New Orleans Saints
In their first week without Mark Ingram, the Saints used Pierre Thomas pretty much the way they usually do. Thomas ran eight times for 30 yards and a score, and caught three passes for 21 yards. His production was a bit off for PPR owners, but he remains an RB2 in that format.
As predicted here last week, Robinson basically took Ingram's share of the backfield work, and ran a healthy 18 times for 69 yards. The Saints visit Dallas this week to face a run defense that probably isn't as good as its mediocre stats (4.5 ypc, 110 ypg allowed) suggest. If you own Robinson, this would be a good time to start him. Thomas can probably start in standard formats, too.
BONUS TEAM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When Doug Martin was scratched from last Thursday's game at Atlanta, every fantasy analyst on Earth screamed "OMG GET BOBBY RAINEY RIGHT NOW!" Or tweeted it, as I never say "OMG" out loud. Rainey salvaged a decent performance (105 yards from scrimmage, seven receptions) after two fumbles, but the Bucs probably only let him back on the field after watching Mike James run four times for negative-70 yards. (OK, it was four yards, but that's still not good.)
Martin appears ready to return this week, and while Rainey might get some pass-catching work, Martin should be the main man against a Steeler D that has been suffered too many injuries lately. I own Martin in a couple of leagues, and plan to roll with him as long as he's active. Rainey probably isn't worth starting in most formats.
