Depending on how you chose to complete your lineup, either two or three running backs are needed each week. The days of just one running back controlling the backfield are waning but not lost. Securing these running backs will generally prove to be more costly but it is necessary. When working with a salary cap, this can be a real problem. It is also why when a low-priced running back appears to have the role in hand, they generally end up being a highly popular selection. But are they worth it?
That is a question to be answered on a case by case basis in the analysis that follows. The goal here is to look at game flow to ensure that touches will be at a maximum, it is a favorable situation against the opposing defence, and most of all that there is talent and expected fantasy success.
For those who have yet to subscribe, what are you waiting for? Until then you will get one free pick to whet your appetite. I am going to go back to the well with Wayne Gallman ($5,300 DK, $5,700 FD) this week. The Giants went almost completely away from the run last week against the Ravens, but it is hard to imagine they won’t try and run the ball against the worst rushing defence in the NFL with the Cowboys this week. He should be well worth his price this week as the Cowboys give up five yards per rush this year.
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Let’s kick things off with Jonathan Taylor ($7,400 DK, $8,400 FD). Taylor has been a touchdown machine in recent weeks scoring five in the last three games. With the Colts facing a weak rushing defence in the Jaguars this week, I expect he will see lots of work, and there will be opportunities to add more touchdowns to his resume. He will likely be heavily used though, so I would limit his usage to cash games.
Josh Jacobs ($6,200 DK, $7,400 FD) has had a disappointing year, having only surpassed the 90-yard rushing mark three times this year. The last time that he surpassed the 100 yard rushing mark just so happens to of been the last time he faced the Broncos. I expect that trend to continue again this week, as the Raiders should be looking to run the ball as much as they can against the poor rushing defence of the Broncos.
David Johnson ($6,800 DK, $7,300 FD) has been a very low key stud for the Texans. He is coming off two straight weeks where he has had more than 100 yards from scrimmage, and quickly the memories of who Johnson was when he first came into the league. The Titans have given up a lot of rushing yards over the last five weeks(well over 100 on average in the last 5 weeks), so I look for Johnson to have another big day this week.
Gus Edwards ($4,900 DK, $6,100 FD) will be facing a Bengals rushing defence that has given up 100 yards rushing or more in six of the last eight weeks. For the Ravens, you would typically expect a good chunk of those yards to come from Lamar Jackson, but with the playoffs looming I expect the Raves will try to hand the ball off more to try and ensure Jackson doesn’t go into the playoffs injured. Look for Edwards to have a big day for the Ravens this week.
Derrick Henry ($9,400 DK, $10,200 FD) is expensive, and rightly so given that he is the NFL’s leading rusher and is going to be facing a weak rushing defence in the Texans who give up five rushing yards per carry, and in total have given up the second-most rushing yards on the year. The last time these two teams met Henry rushed for over 200 yards, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he out did that this week, as the Titans may try to get him over the 2000 yard mark for the season, which he will need 223 yards to hit.
