Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Advice: How much should we trust Eddie Lacy?
Each week during the 2015 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. We'll usually focus more on the week immediately ahead than look down the road.
Note: This feature attempts to foresee the future by using a combination of recent player usage, coaching comments, beat writer insight, and more. Sometimes it'll miss, like it did with Eddie Lacy in Week 11. It happens, and we'll keep trying.
And now, in alphabetical order ...
Byes: NO MORE BYES!
Cincinnati Bengals
Week 11 snap count: Gio Bernard 52, Jeremy Hill 24
Bernard was actually the more productive Bengal back on Sunday night, racking up 146 yards from scrimmage. But, Hill was golden again in the red zone, scoring on runs of one and two yards, and now has seven touchdowns for the season. Just remember that Hill is 29th in the league with 404 rushing yards and averages just 3.3 yards per carry. He'll again be in my flex tier as a TD-dependent option against the Rams. I hate 2015 Fantasy Jeremy Hill.
Denver Broncos
Week 11 snap count: Ronnie Hillman 38, C.J. Anderson 30
This situation just got more interesting. With Brock Osweiler getting more snaps under center and the Broncos likely to run more often (34 called runs versus 27 passes against the Bears), both Hillman and Anderson can have fantasy value. Hillman (21 carries, 102 yards in Week 11) looks like a mid-level RB2 for Week 12, with Anderson a solid flex candidate in the high-RB20s.
Detroit Lions
Week 11 snap count: Theo Riddick 36, Ameer Abdullah 25, Joique Bell 13
Forget the Riddick stuff - did the Lions actually get Abdullah more involved, like they suggested? Yeeeeee-ha! If we think he'll get 13 touches again on Thursday - and the bet here is that he will â he's more flexy than usual. For comparison's sake, I'd rather start Abdullah than Langford.
Riddick got the most snaps, and as a passing-down specialist, he's flex-worthy in PPR leagues, just like always.
Green Bay Packers
Week 11 snap count: Eddie Lacy 41, James Starks 33
Sure, there was some chatter out of Green Bay last week about Lacy getting more work, but all of a sudden we went from fat and injured to 22 carries for 100 yards? Come on, Mike McCarthy. Give us more of a warning next time.
The problem with Starks is that every time he's been given the chance to grab the job, he hasn't been able to close the deal. However, McCarthy has been consistent in saying that he doesn't want to overwork either of his backs. He's already talked about a "one-two punch" for Thursday's game, which seems likely due to the short week.
Where does that leave us? Probably with Lacy as a mid-level RB2, and Starks in an undesirable area of flexville. Sorry, but I'm not yet willing to do a complete about-face on Lacy and expect him to get 20 more carries along with another TD or two.
New York Giants
Week 10 snap count: Shane Vereen 35, Rashad Jennings 24, Orleans Darkwa 14, Andre Williams 2
As a general rule, you should stay away from four-man committees (though Williams appears to be fading away). However, Jennings has averaged 13 touches over the last three games, and will face a Redskins' defense that allows 4.8 yards per carry and 136 yards per game. I can get behind that for a flex back.
Others of note:
Atlanta Falcons: Devonta Freeman is in the league's concussion protocol, and while early reports are good, you never know with that injury. Tevin Coleman, who lost a fumble on Sunday, would be a low-end RB2 against the Vikings.
Baltimore Ravens: It's Buck Allen time in Baltimore, as Justin Forsett (broken arm) is done for the season. Allen ran 22 times for 67 yards against the Rams, and added five receptions for 48 yards. Starting with this week's attractive matchup at Cleveland, Allen is an every-week fantasy starter. With his receiving ability, he'll be on the field ALL the time.
Chicago Bears: With Matt Forte tracking toward a Thanksgiving night return, what should Jeremy Langford owners do? It obviously depends on the rest of your roster, but I'll bet on 10 carries for Langford, which makes him kinda sorta flexy.
Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs are calling Charcandrick West (hamstring) day-to-day, and if he's out Spencer Ware willl get another chance to lead the way at home against the Bills. On a related note, is Knile Davis in the Federal Witness Protection Program?
San Diego Chargers: Danny Woodhead had a slight edge in snaps (31-26) over Melvin Gordon, and even though Gordon carried 15 times to Woodhead's four, he once again had nowhere to run. I'm beginning to think things might not work out for Gordon's fantasy owners, but maybe we should give him six or seven more weeks to make sure.
Seattle Seahawks: Marshawn Lynch is out for Week 12, and probably longer. If Thomas Rawls is still available in your league, you should knock over your grandmother to get to the waiver wire before anyone else.
Washington Redskins: When coaches complain out loud about rookie fumbles, playing time issues loom. I think you're going to be watching a lot of Sunday's game against the Giants, Matt Jones.
