Fantasy Football Week 2 RB Advice: Chargers' Woodhead stakes his claim
Each week during the 2015 season, we're going to take a look at five (sometimes more) 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 focus more on the week immediately ahead than look down the road.
And now, in alphabetical order ...
Cleveland Browns
Week 1 snap count: Isaiah Crowell 35, Duke Johnson 31
The Browns said they wanted to give Johnson a "significant role" as soon as he was ready. Johnson had only seven touches to Crowell's 14 on Sunday, but look for him to get busier, especially in the passing game (he went without a reception in Week 1). I'd hate to start either Browns' back against the Titans, but Johnson would be my flex-y pick if I had to make one.
Dallas Cowboys
Week 1 snap count: Lance Dunbar 32, Joseph Randle 28, Darren McFadden 10
Dunbar (finally) emerged as a PPR weapon, catching eight passes for 70 yards. Between the more traditional backs, Randle (16 carries, 65 yards; three receptions, 32 yards) was clearly the preferred option to McFadden. Randle can be viewed as a serviceable RB2 this week, though I think Christine Michael will rear his talented head to muddle this situation before midseason.
Detroit Lions
Week 1 snap count: Ameer Abdullah 21, Joique Bell 18, Theo Riddick 8
Abdullah used a nice little shake-and-bake move to score from 24 yards on his first NFL carry, and had 11 touches to Bell's eight. The Lions' backs didn't have a single red-zone opportunity, and that role will presumably be Bell's. Consider Abdullah as an RB2 this week, with Bell down in low-end flexville. Abdullah owners might be salivating after seeing Carlos Hyde run all over the Vikings on Monday.
New York Giants
Week 1 snap count: Shane Vereen 26, Rashad Jennings 21, Andre Williams 14
Jennings scored on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter, and might have picked up another one later if Eli Manning hadn't advised against it. This surprised me, as I was sure Williams would be the team's goal-line back. I hate to bail on a guy after one week, but Williams' fantasy outlook is bleak at this point.
Vereen carried three times but caught four passes, meaning that he was used about as expected. Jennings is your man here, and is absolutely playable at home against the Falcons. Avoid Vereen unless you're in a PPR league, and even then, I hope you have better alternatives.
San Diego Chargers
Week 1 snap count: Danny Woodhead 43, Melvin Gordon 37, Branden Oliver 5
Woodhead had 16 touches to Gordon's 17, and was the clear red-zone option for the Bolts. Despite initial evidence, I'm having a hard time putting Woodhead in RB2 territory for standard leagues this week at Cincinnati. Consider him at RB25-ish, with Gordon close behind.
Others of note:
Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Arians says that Chris Johnson will start with Andre Ellington (knee out), despite rookie David Johnson being waaaaaaay better, because rookies shouldn't get too much responsibility and all that. Maybe Arians was in the restroom during Johnson's terrific 55-yard TD catch and run against the Saints on his only touch of the game.
Unfortunately, we need to see things as they are, and not simply as we wish them to be. CJ2K is the preferred Cardinal fantasy back now, but let's hope that young David gets enough work to become fantasy-relevant in short order. A 20-carry day from CJ2K seems unlikely, right?
Atlanta Falcons: Tevin Coleman carried 20 times for 80 yards against the Eagles, and looked terrific. Devonta Freeman went a disappointing 10-for-18, but added three receptions for 29 yards. I generally agree with my FOX colleague Knox Bardeen, who tweeted this on Tuesday:
Agreed. Coleman looked more like the NFL runner from what I saw in camp. Freeman was good, and gold in the pass game https://t.co/bm8O5SMcoI
— Knox Bardeen (@knoxbardeen) September 15, 2015
Houston Texans: Alfred Blue led the backs with 10 touches, but Jonathan Grimes played 41 snaps to Blue's 22 and Chris Polk's 14. Stay away from this fantasy quagmire for its remaining week or two of Arian-less existence.
New Orleans Saints: Don't be alarmed that Mark Ingram carried nine times to Khiry Robinson's eight, but be excited that Ingram caught eight passes for 98 yards. Ingram outsnapped Robinson 45-27, and is clearly the leader on this team. Unfortunately, many of Ingram's receptions figure to go to C.J. Spiller as soon as Week 2.
New York Jets: Nothing to see here, as 10 of Bilal Powell's 14 touches came in the second half when the Jets were up by a lot. Chris Ivory is a top-15 workhorse back for Week 2.
Philadelphia Eagles: DeMarco Murray scored twice to save his fantasy value, but was otherwise ineffective with eight carries for nine yards and four receptions for 11 yards. Meanwhile, Darren Sproles was outstanding, running five times for 50 yards and catching seven passes for 76 yards for 76 yards. Ryan Mathews had just six touches, with one being a one-yard TD plunge in the fourth quarter. The snap count was Murray 33, Sproles 25 and Mathews 16.
We didn't really learn anything new here; rather, we got confirmation that Chip Kelly won't be predictable, even with a marquee back like Murray. Sure, he should be your RB1 in Week 2 and onward, but there will be some days when he isn't as busy as you'd like, and you won't know until it happens.
Tennessee Titans: I'm not going to say that I'm worried about Terrance West getting 13 carries to Bishop Sankey's 12, but it's not like ALL of West's work came in garbage time. Sankey is the lead back here, but he can't yet be trusted to get lead-back volume, and is only a borderline RB2 this week. Also, Antonio Andrews (hamstring) will be back soon to muddle this situation further.
