Fantasy Football Week 16 Running Back Advice: Can you trust Lamar Miller?
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.
And now, in alphabetical order ...
Chicago Bears
Week 15 snap count: Matt Forte 30, Jeremy Langford 29
Forte had just eight carries to Langford's 11, but he added six receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown. The Bears visit Tampa's stingy run defense in Week 16, when Langford will be a shaky flex play. Why don't they throw the ball to him anymore?
Forte isn't an RB1 any more, but he's certainly worthy of a start thanks to his excellent receiving skills.
Cincinnati Bengals
Week 15 snap count: Gio Bernard 37, Jeremy Hill 27
Sunday's game at San Francisco was weird for, who didn't play during the first quarter, scored on two one-yard runs in the second, lost a fumble in the third and helped to run out the clock in the fourth. Hill's goal-line prowess (10 TDs) makes him someone you'll always lean toward starting, but it'll be tough to trust Bernard at Denver in Week 16.
Green Bay Packers
Week 15 snap count: John Kuhn 47, Eddie Lacy 28, James Starks 21
Eddie Lacy, disappointing fantasy football owners since September 2015. The big man ran 11 times for just 23 yards at Oakland, while Starks gained 51 yards on nine carries and losit a fumble. You can consider Lacy as an RB2 at Arizona because of his upside, but counting on him is a difficult proposition.
Kuhn is seeing the field and touching the ball more, but he's more an annoyance than a viable fantasy option.
Miami Dolphins
Week 15 snap count: Jay Ajayi 31, Lamar Miller 18
Miller ran nine times for 12 yards in Sunday's loss at San Diego. He reportedly suffered a quad injury in the second quarter, but head coach Dan Campbell said the issue was unrelated to Miller's second-half disappearance. Um ... OK.
Miller's fantasy owners haven't been able to understand the Dolphins' reluctance to use him more, and Miller seems to be just as confused - read this Palm Beach Post article for a clear display of his befuddlement. I'll still cautiously plan to start Miller - and not Ajayi - in Sunday's home matchup with the Colts. Maybe he'll run for 120 yards with two scores, and maybe he'll get 12 yards again. Do you feel lucky?
San Diego Chargers
Week 15 snap count: Danny Woodhead 27, Donald Brown 26, Melvin Gordon 22
Gordon had 16 touches before leaving with a knee injury, and his touchdown-free season is over. Brown ran 12 times for 90 yards - including a 53-yarder - but shouldn't be viewed as a good fantasy option. A low-end flex, maybe.
Woodhead hadn't done anything since Week 9, and pulled a four-TD explosion out of his hat. His 14 touches were the most he's had since Week 7, and he looks like an interesting flex against a Raider defense that has allowed 5.9 receptions per game to opposing running backs.
Others of note:
Balimore Ravens: Buck Allen didn't see the field again after losing a first-quarter fumble that was returned for a touchdown. However, head coach John Harbaugh later said, "In no way is Buck going to be banished, by any stretch." Let's take Harbaugh's word for it, and consider Allen as a low-end RB2 this week at Pittsburgh.
Carolina Panthers: Ron Rivera fooled me by making Cameron Artis-Payne his lead back versus the Giants. If Jonathan Stewart (foot) can't play at Atlanta in Week 16, he'll probably do it again.
New England Patriots: No, I don't know who Joey Iosefa (pronounced YO-sef-ah) is, either. I do know that the Pats like using Brandon Bolden on special teams, so Iosefa might get another chance to show his power-running stuff against the Jets in Week 16. However, he had 10 of his 14 carries while the Pats had a big second-half lead, so maybe this was a garbage-time situation? James White is your only option here. He's great for PPR leagues, and could be a borderline RB2 in standard formats. With all the Pats' injuries at wide receiver, White should stay busy.
Note: The Pats have reportedly signed RB Steven Jackson, but it's hard to imagine him contributing this week.
Philadelphia Eagles: Darren Sproles was on the field for 32 snaps on Sunday night, compared to Ryan Mathews' 26 and DeMarco Murray's eight. EIGHT! Never go over your boss' head at work, folks. It'll get you banished to the doghouse.
Seattle Seahawks: The Christine Michael truthers are happy, as their man led the way in the Seahawks' backfield Sunday with 16 carries for 84 yards. Here's a postgame quote from Pete Carroll:
"I thought that Christine did a nice job and Bryce did a nice job pounding the football at it and it's kind of like we're starting over with the guys and we'll just keep going and take it a day at a time and see what happens next week."
No hints there, but Michael will probably get another crack at leading this committee against the Rams on Sunday.
(Snap counts courtesy of NFL.com's Game Books.)
