Lineup calls: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST
It’s a difficult week for fantasy owners. The convergence of bye weeks, injuries and shifting workloads forces owners to consider reaching deep for plug-in matchup plays.
Think about it. Four of the game’s top running back options will kick back and watch the action of Week 9. Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson will rest up for the second-half run. Johnson will be welcoming Randy Moss into team facilities and thank him in advance for the vacated space in the secondary.
Top 10 Running Backs
(other than Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Michael Turner, Ahmad Bradshaw, Darren McFadden, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster or Rashard Mendenhall)
LeSean McCoy vs. Indianapolis
The bye week came at the perfect time for McCoy and the Eagles. The versatile running back returns healthy to a fabulous spot against the Colts. Indianapolis allows 133.1 yards and 1.1 touchdowns per game (4.9 yards per rushing attempt). McCoy is averaging 110 total yards per game this season. Look for the second-year tailback to be active in the passing game.
LaDainian Tomlinson at Detroit
The Packers game-planned to force the ball into Mark Sanchez’s hands in Week 8. The Jets managed just a single field goal attempt in the shutout loss. Tomlinson was limited to 54 rushing yards on 16 touches. However, the Jets remain committed to the veteran tailback. Tomlinson has logged at least 18 touches in five consecutive games, averaging 101.6 total yards per game during this period. He gets back into the upper-echelon this week. Detroit ranks 27th against the run, having allowed 130.4 yards and 1.1 touchdowns per game.
Brandon Jackson vs. Dallas
Jackson hasn’t been dominant, but he remains the lead tailback in the Green Bay backfield while amassing a sizable touch count. He’s touched the ball at least 15 times in each of the Packers’ past four games (99.5 total yards per game). I’ll forego the lengthy analysis of the Dallas defense right now. They’re being obliterated in every facet of the game.
Matt Forte at Buffalo (Toronto)
Sigh. The league’s 26th-ranked rushing offense (tied with two other teams at 88.6 yards per game) takes on the league’s worst-rated run defense (188.7 yards per game). Will the Bears get things together post-bye and create a more balanced attack?
Forte has run for more than 50 yards only once this season, a 166-yard performance against the Panthers fueled by a couple of long runs. You may not feel great about Forte this week, but he’s a “must-start” on paper.
LeGarrette Blount at Atlanta
Blount gave Tampa Bay fans and fantasy owners a glimpse of things to come in Week 7. He ran to “Player of the Week” consideration with his 120-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 8 against Arizona. This is not a huge spot, as the Falcons have very quietly played sound defense (sixth at 95.9 yards allowed per game with three touchdowns). I’m most interested to see how much Blount becomes a factor in the passing game (two receptions).
Thomas Jones at Oakland
The Raiders did a fine job in shutting down the Seattle running game last week. That was Seattle. The Chiefs represent an entirely different challenge for the 26th-ranked Oakland run defense (127.4 yards per game). Opposing runners average 4.7 yards per carry.
Jones has carried the ball at least 19 times in five of seven games this season. He rushed for at least 77 yards in each of those games. It’s a huge game in the AFC West, and “The Black Hole” will be fired up and ready to roll. I don’t anticipate a high-scoring affair, but I do expect the Chiefs to move the ball effectively.
Felix Jones at Green Bay
Fantasy owners cursed the name of Jason Garrett following Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Jones was effectively taken out of the game as a runner when the Jaguars leaped out to a huge lead. Everyone continues to question why Jones didn’t log more than three receptions for the regressing Dallas offense.
Jones has caught three or more passes in four consecutive games, and I anticipate that he’ll be more active as a check-down option for Jon Kitna against the aggressive Green Bay blitz packages. Wouldn’t you attack Kitna in the pocket frequently? The Packers also surrender 123.6 yards per game, so the potential for Jones to break a long run certainly exists.
Ryan Mathews at Houston
Mathews’ workload remains a weekly question mark, as Norv Turner has turned to Darren Sproles and Mike Tolbert with great frequency. Still, it’s hard to look past Mathews’ explosiveness and the proficiency of the San Diego offense. The Texans are a middling run defense (104.7 yards and 0.86 touchdowns per game).
BenJarvus Green-Ellis at Cleveland
Green-Ellis has amassed double-digit touches in six consecutive games. He’s scored in five consecutive contests (six overall) and has rushed for at least 76 yards in three of those five games. The Browns rank 19th in run defense (119 yards per game), but have ceded only one rushing touchdown.
Fred Jackson vs. Chicago (Toronto)
The Bills have inexplicably failed to integrate Jackson into the passing game this season. He finally factored into the mix in Week 8 against the Chiefs (three receptions for 11 yards) and has caught only seven passes in 2010 after catching 47 balls in 2009. Jackson has rushed for at least 64 yards in three consecutive games and has amassed 48 touches in the past two weeks.
I mentioned the receiving angle because I believe that we’ll see Jackson as a check-down option more frequently against the Bears. Chicago ranks fifth against the run (89.3 yards per game) and has ceded seven rushing touchdowns. Jackson’s high touch count warrants low-end RB2 consideration this week.
Running Back Sleepers
Julius Jones at Carolina
As of this writing, the availability of Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Christopher Ivory remains unknown for Week 9 against Carolina. Jones stepped in for a dinged-up Ivory in Week 9 and amassed 36 total yards on 10 touches. He represents a true longshot play (Carolina allows 119 rushing yards per game), but is mighty intriguing if the other three get shut down.
Danny Woodhead at Cleveland
Woodhead has amassed nine or more touches in four consecutive games, and the dual-threat running back has scored in three of his past five appearances. He’s a strong receiver out of the backfield and will factor into the mix against this weekend on the road (he’s caught three or more passes in three consecutive games). Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis continue to form a formidable duo this week against the Browns (111.3 yards per game). Opposing runners have not fared well at the goal line (one touchdown allowed), but have ceded 13 passing touchdowns in seven games. As such, I’m anticipating that Woodhead makes his mark as a receiver.
Mike Tolbert at Houston
Tolbert isn’t a huge weekly play, but he’s locked and loaded to vulture any and all goal-line opportunities. He has scored in five consecutive games and should see additional red zone touches in what is expected to be a shootout in Houston. Remember, Tolbert had only amassed six touches in the two weeks prior to last week’s 15-touch effort against the Titans. The high number of players on byes, injuries and committees thrust Tolbert into a low RB2 or flex slot this week. The Texans allow 104.7 yards per game (six touchdowns).
Shonn Greene at Detroit
Greene certainly hasn’t lived up to the draft slot this season, as the young tailback remains planted firmly behind LaDainian Tomlinson on the depth chart. He’s produced just two strong fantasy games this season, and probably did so from many fantasy benches. Green becomes an option in deeper leagues against the 27th-ranked Detroit run defense given the issues affecting the position this week.
Chester Taylor at Buffalo (Toronto)
If you’re looking for a DEEP sleeper, then Taylor represents a “Hail Mary” option this week against the deplorable Buffalo run defense (188.7 yards allowed per game). Taylor has been tabbed “the goal-line” back by Mike Tomlin, and for the grossly inefficient Chicago red zone option, that might actually have meaning this week.
Running Back Flops
Cedric Benson vs. Pittsburgh
What else do I need to say? Benson has struggled through a difficult season. He’s rushed for 81 or fewer yards in all but one game this season. There’s no relief in sight this week against Pittsburgh. The Steelers allow a paltry total of 58.9 rushing yards per game and have ceded only two rushing touchdowns this season. He still amasses a huge workload and may enter your lineup if desperate, but I’d be more likely to roll the dice on the second part of a platoon in a better matchup.
Jahvid Best vs. New York Jets
Best continues to be active in the passing game (four or more receptions in four consecutive games), but he’s failed to score since Week 2 against the Eagles and has finished each of those five games with 84 or fewer total yards. Veteran Kevin Smith factors into the equation and is siphoning off touches. Best’s production relies on his ability to make a play following a reception in the flat. The Jets allow only 88.7 receiving yards per game (with two touchdowns overall).
Peyton Hillis vs. New England
The Browns return from the bye week under the guidance of Colt McCoy. The rookie quarterback acquitted himself nicely ahead of the Week 8 bye, and the extra week certainly helped the receiving corps to get healthy. Still, this offense runs through Hillis in the backfield. He’s a fantasy starter this week without question, but I’d be remiss if I failed to throw the challenge flag.
The Patriots rank 11th in run defense behind the efforts of Vince Wilfork (101.6 yards per game with three touchdowns allowed). Hillis may add to his run of goal-line plunges, but owners will need a big effort from him in the passing game to offset tepid ground production.
Ronnie Brown at Baltimore
Brown seemingly works his way down into this area each week. He’s run for 80 yards or fewer in each of the Dolphins’ first seven games. Brown is mired in a true workload split with Ricky Williams and hasn’t seen the end zone since Week 1. The Baltimore run defense has surrendered 109.3 rushing yards per game with four touchdowns. They’re healthier and ready for a second-half run. Brown’s weak 2010 season continues this week.
