Tate is coming back this week. Crowell/West looked good so it won't be the same role but he isn't exactly dead in the water.
The week of rest should help Ellington as well.
I probably would go Reaves and cut Alf Blue. Foster should be able to stay healthy now since his workload won't be near the first 2 weeks going forward.
The week of rest should help Ellington as well.
I probably would go Reaves and cut Alf Blue. Foster should be able to stay healthy now since his workload won't be near the first 2 weeks going forward.
Tebow
working the waiver wire, hope this helps
Running Backs
The Obvious Choices:
Mark Ingram (NO) – Ingram will not play in Week Five, but they have a bye in Week Six and he’s on track to return after that. Needless to say, this offense need the energy and angry and productive running he was brining to the table, so he’ll be a big factor as soon as possible, which looks to be in their next game after this week. If he’s been dropped, pick him up now.
Knowshon Moreno (Mia) – He didn’t practice last week, but his timetable has been pushed up so if he’s been dropped, pick him up now for depth. He could return in Week Six after the Dolphins’ bye this week. Knowshon could find himself in a RBBC after a couple solid performances by RB Lamar Miller, but Moreno is still the better choice as the lead back, since he’s a tough and better interior runner, and he has plenty of potential in the passing game.
Justin Forsett (Bal) – Forsett played as the starter and feature back for the Ravens in Week Four, and he looked good in the process (14/66/1 rushing, 3/31 receiving). RB Bernard Pierce is clearly in the doghouse, as he didn’t see a single touch, and rookie RB Lorenzo Taliaferro did a lot of his work late in a blowout. Forsett played under OC Gary Kubiak in Houston and he knows the zone-blocking scheme well, so he’s going to be pretty involved every week. He’s a smaller (but thicker) back, so he might not be able to handle a ton of work, but he’s getting a healthy number of touches every week, and he’s been good for double-digit points in their first four games. He’s the RB to own in the Baltimore backfield right now because his role is clear and solid, and there’s also upside if he can take the ball and literally run with it.
Chris Ivory (NYJ) – Ivory looked great on the Jets’ opening drive in Week Four (9/51), but the team went away from their best weapon for some reason after that. He finished with 17 carries for 84 yards and added 2 catches for 16 yards on 6 targets. He’s actually boosted his fantasy value in the passing game, but he did drop some passes in Week Four. The Jets need to increase Ivory’s snaps going forward, because he’s playing much better than RB Chris Johnson, even though CJ2K had a fluky 40-yard TD run. Ivory needs to be the lead guy here, and he likely will be.
Lorenzo Taliaferro (Bal) – Taliaferro got his first real crack at playing time with RB Bernard Pierce (thigh) out of the lineup in Week Three, and he stayed ahead of Pierce on the depth chart in Week Four. Pierce didn’t get a single touch in Week Four and is clearly in the doghouse right now, and it looks Taliaferro has vaulted him on the depth chart. Veteran RB Justin Forsett is the top RB right now, after starting Week Four and handling most of the feature work, but Gary Kubiak would probably prefer to use a bigger back as his lead runner. Taliaferro spelled Forsett and got a lot of work garbage time, finishing with 15 carries for 58 yards and a TD. Taliaferro should be strongly considered in most formats given his strong performance so far. The “hot hand” approach is likely in effect, meaning Taliaferro is in the mix and has a chance to get 10+ carries any week.
Bishop Sankey (Ten) – We urged our subscribers to trade for Sankey after Week One after his value bottomed out because we still felt like he’d get most of the RB touches out of this backfield by the end of the year, and we also included him last week in the trade article. The Titans finally started to work in their rookie RB a little more in Week Three and it continued in Week Four. Although Sankey did play mostly in the second half after the game was a blowout, he was the most impressive Titan RB with 34 yards and 1 TD on 6 carries and 2 catches for 23 yards. Sankey got praise for his footwork from HC Ken Whisenhunt. That was the main issue for the rookie not getting touches, but this is great news coming off his first TD vs. the Colts. Shonn Greene is just too plodding of an alternative to ignore that they need Sankey to spark their offense. Sankey has started to close the gap and his role will only continue to grow as the season goes along, especially if the Titans are going to play this poorly every week. If Sankey’s been dropped, pick him up for depth because he should still lead them in RB touches when it’s all said and done. That appears to be a lock. Updated: 9/30
Jerick McKinnon (Min) – The Vikings finally unleashed McKinnon in Week Four, as he flashed a number of times while running for 135 yards on 18 carries. OC Norv Turner made McKinnon a big part of the offense, and he broke a 55-yard run and had a 7-yard TD run wiped off the board by replay. McKinnon has a lot of juice and seems to have natural running instincts, so he’s worth picking up in every format. Turner has been clear that they value explosiveness in this backfield (as they should), so while Matt Asiata is still the top back and is great down by the goal line, and while it will be an RBBC all year most likely, McKinnon clearly has potential in this backfield. McKinnon finally put it altogether in Week Four and looked great, and should be owned in most leagues because of his huge is still big. If we can make a comparison, he should be the C.J. Spiller to Asiata’s Fred Jackson in the Viking backfield. Updated: 9/30
The Next Best Things:
Isaiah Crowell (Cle) – Crowell eventually played so well that he earned the #3 RB job out of camp, and he’s looked good through three weeks. He carried 11 times for 55 yards and a TD in Week Three, so he’s scored 3 TDs in three weeks. Fellow rookie Terrance West handled most of the work as the early-down back, but Crowell is certainly still very much in the mix. RB Ben Tate is expected to be back in Week Five, but we could see a bit of a committee between these three RBs. Crowell looks like a guy they can get to the perimeter and use at the goal, and again he did look very good and is a threat to pop off a big play at the drop of a hat. It’s possible he remains the changeup runner over West if Tate is back in the mix, and that is the expectation in Cleveland. Updated: 9/30
DeAngelo Williams (Car) – Williams just can’t seem to stay healthy, leaving Week Four with an ankle injury. He battled a thigh injury earlier this year, which forced him to miss some game action. FB Mike Tolbert (leg) was placed on injured reserve/designated to return, and it’s not looking good shorter-term for RBs Jonathan Stewart (knee) and Fozzy Whitaker (quadriceps). This backfield is an absolute mess right now, but Williams could be the guy next week if his ankle injury isn’t too serious. However, it is at least fairly serious and his status for Week Five is in serious doubt. If the four guys listed above are, out, it will likely be Darrin Reaves (see below), who looked solid in Week Four.
Bobby Rainey (TB) – Starting RB Doug Martin was back in the lineup in Week Four, and the Buccaneers didn’t really use a RBBC with Rainey and Martin. Rainey finished with just 4 carries for 2 yards and added just a 16-yard catch, while Martin finished with 10 more touches. Rainey has significant value if Martin is out of the mix, and he’s worth holding onto since Martin didn’t dazzle in a great matchup against the Steelers. Rainey has ball security issues this year, but at least he can create on his own, something Martin has not shown he can do.
Alfred Blue (Hou) – HC Bill O’Brien used RB Arian Foster like a true workhorse through two weeks, and it didn’t take long for the veteran to break down with a hamstring injury. Blue started for Foster in Week Three, and he actually got more carries than Foster (9/9 for Blue, 8/6 for Foster) in Week Four. Blue added 2 catches for 16 yards on 3 targets. Foster simply can’t continue at a back-breaking pace, so Foster owners need to roster Blue if he’s still available. If Foster is out, Blue is worth starting as, at worst, a flex. Foster had 36 snaps against the Bills, and Blue had 32.
Darren McFadden (Oak) – Run DMC operated as the top back in Week Four, even with RB Maurice Jones-Drew (hand) back in the lineup, out-touching MJD 15-4. Still, that didn’t mean much, as McFadden finished with just 11 carries for 40 yards and 4 catches for 32 yards on 5 targets. DMC is the top back in Oakland right now, but MJD should be at 100% after their Week Five bye. Of course, we could also be witnessing MJD’s demise before our eyes. McFadden is a guy they could throw caution to the wind with this year because he’s not signed through 2014, so there’s no reason to even consider keeping him fresh or being conservative with their utilization. Run DMC is a reach play most weeks in this shaky Raider offense, but he’s got a chance.
Roy Helu (Was) – Helu got only 2 touches in Week Three, but one of them was a 55-yard catch, and he scored. Helu and Silas Redd are the only backs behind Morris right now, and Helu is the best receiver and pass protector out of the group. Morris did actually get the ball the passing game in Week Four, but Helu was their “hurry-up” back and got 5 targets and 5/78 in garbage time. The defense looks shaky on the back end, so Helu could continue to get chances and 8-10 points in a PPR. Also, with Alfred Morris getting dinged up in Week Three, we got a reminder that Helu is a Morris injury away from being the lead back.
Antone Smith (Atl) – Smith continues to be the big-play threat in this offense, scoring on 48-yard run in Week Four. He’s already scored from 38, 48, and 54 yards away this season, and he’s averaging 11.9 yards per carry (10/119/2) and 24.3 yards per catch (3/73/1). Talk about maximizing your touches. Smith is the most explosive back on the roster, and while his snaps counts have been low, he’s a legit factor here. He’s definitely worth owning at this point in a deep league. You can even start him if you’re desperate.
Shonn Greene (Ten) – He’s still the “starter” here for now, so he has a chance, but he can’t get anything going. He had just 3/10 rushing against the Colts, and it’s tough to trust Greene if this Titan is going to play so poorly every week. He needs to convert short-yardage and goal line opportunities when he gets the chances. They really need to run the ball and while Bishop Sankey’s role is increasing for sure, Greene’s still very much in the mix.
Denard Robinson (Jac) – We’ve heard the team has had bigger plans for this former college QB for months, and they showed it in Week Four, as he had 12 touches compared to Toby Gerhart’s 11 touches. Robinson ran 9 times for 25 yards and added 3 catches for 7 yards, so he hardly looked special. Robinson gives this backfield a little more juice and is worth a look in deep leagues, since they have soured on Jordan Todman. He actually looked like their lead runner at times, and we’re told they are happy with his improved running.
Branden Oliver (SD) – Oliver, who is listed at 5’7”, 202 pounds, plays an awful lot like Darren Sproles, and he got a crack at playing time in Week Four with Ryan Mathews and Donald Brown out. Oliver carried 9 times for 23 yards and caught 4 passes for 33 yards, seeing more time in the second half for a struggling Donald Brown. Oliver is also a solid receiver out of the backfield, and Mathews is likely out of the mix for at least another week. Oliver has a little bit of upside and could eventually slide into the Woodhead role.
Fozzy Whitaker/Darrin Reaves (Car) – The best advice, most likely, is to forget about this Panther backfield. But if you’re dying, Fozzy might be worth a look. He’s expected to return this week, and DeAngelo Williams is a long-shot to play, so if healthy Fozzy could be the main ball-carrier and he looked great in the preseason and has some juice. It’s a beatable matchup this week against the Bears. If no Fozzy, Reaves came into the game Sunday and carried 12 times for 26 yards and added 3 catches for 11 yards on 5 targets. They do also have Tauren Poole, who has been here off-and-on the last couple of years. Poole had only 1 snap and he fumbled.
Travaris Cadet (NO) – We never really know how this backfield will shake out, but Cadet did play 18 snaps, or 30% of their plays. He also had 6 targets and 6/59 in the passing game, so he was a factor. Meanwhile, Pierre Thomas was oddly a non-factor. Cadet has some juice, if desperate.
De’Anthony Thomas (KC) – RB Joe McKnight had a huge game in Week Three (6/64/2 on 7 targets), but he’s already done for the season with an Achilles. Thomas (hamstring) is close to returning and they could use his speed and homerun ability, especially with Jamaal Charles banged up. We were told that Thomas was consistently embarrassing their LBs in practice all summer, so we’re keeping him on the radar. He missed another game in Week Four, but he’s getting close to a return. Updated: 9/30
Ronnie Hillman (Den) – It’s a long-shot, but Montee Ball is not producing and fumbled in Week Three, and Hillman meanwhile played 14 snaps, or 19% of their plays, so he’s got a chance to carve out a role here.
Stash-and-hope options:
These are good options to stash away for later in the season. Many of them could be one injury away from being very relevant. They are organized by talent, situation, and likelihood that they’ll get a chance to play. Also, make sure you check our weekly RB Handcuffs article for info on all the backup RB situations.
James Starks (GB) – Starks is still the clear handcuff for Eddie Lacy, who is struggling a bit right now. Starks failed to touch the ball in Week Four, as he didn’t even really give Lacy many breathers. Starks has looked good when he’s been given carries, but he’s in a rotational role to give Lacy a break when Lacy’s healthy. Starks is still the handcuff here, but HC Mike McCarthy isn’t obligated to get Starks involved every week. Still, all Lacy owners should own Starks, since Lacy could be another concussion away from missing a lot of time.
Andre Williams (NYG) – The Giants are clearly treating RB Rashad Jennings like the workhorse back through four weeks, so there’s been little work to go around for Williams. He carried just 6 times for 18 yards against the Texans in Week Three. Even though Williams had a nice game in Week Four in a blowout, he’s mainly just a handcuff for Jennings owners right now, but if they offense continues to improve, Williams’ chances will increase.
Joseph Randle (Dal) – DeMarco Murray is on a pace to have almost 400 carries, so all Murray owners HAVE to have Randle, who looked a lot better this summer and should have success behind this awesome OL. Lance Dunbar’s value would also soar if Murray missed time, but Randle is the pure handcuff.
Robert Turbin (Sea) – With Christine Michael out of the lineup with a hamstring injury once again, Turbin has made his bid for handcuff role behind Marshawn Lynch. Turbin didn’t do much in Week Three (2/1 rushing, 1/4 receiving), but he’s ahead of Michael on the depth chart, as Michael was essentially a healthy scratch after being listed as probable in Week Three. Turbin is likely to handle the RB duties if Lynch were to go down with an injury, but Michael would certainly be sprinkled into the mix. Turbin and Michael would likely handle the RB duties in a committee, but Michael is certainly the more talented option and is back this week.
LeGarrette Blount (Pit) – Starter Le’Veon Bell is looking phenomenal this year, so you’re not going to feel good about playing Blount unless the matchup is beautiful or unless Bell is held out of the game. He went back to his secondary role in Week Four (4/25), but Blount does have a chance if desperate - 10/118/1 in Week Three against a great defensive front – and he’s the Bell handcuff.
Ka’Deem Carey (Chi) – Carey is starting RB Matt Forte’s handcuff, and the rookie got his first major work in Week Four. He carried 14 times for 72 yards, as he spelled Forte early in the game and handled the load late in garbage time of a blowout loss. He should be owned only by Forte owners at this point, unless you’re in very deep league.
Benny Cunningham (Stl) – Cunningham is clearly behind Zac Stacy right now, but they continue to insist on giving him snaps and carries. Cunningham had just 9 carries for 29 yards in Week Three, while Stacy (12/67) looked much better. Stacy is still the top back in St. Louis right now, and while Cunningham is closer, he isn’t ready to start taking significant work away. Still, Stacy owners should own Cunningham if he’s available to protect their early round fantasy draft pick, just in case.
Latavius Murray (Oak) – HC Dennis Allen is going to ride Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden until their wheels fall off, which we’ve seen happen to those two players in the past. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if Murray was a hot WW guy at some point this year, but his time has yet to come, as he didn’t have an offensive touch in Week Four.
Storm Johnson (Jac) – Storm was actually active for the first time this season in Week Four, but he didn’t play a single snap. RB Toby Gerhartinjured his ankle in Week One and hasn’t looked good playing behind the Jags’ shaky O-line. RB Denard Robinson is starting to cut into Gerhart’s lead back duties, but he’s hardly special, and we’re looking at Storm for later in the season. It looks like the Jags could use a RBBC if Gerhart were to miss time this season. We’d still bet on Johnson, whom the team is quite high on, as the long-term handcuff and stash-and-hope bet.
C.J. Anderson (Den) – He played only 3 snaps in Week Three, but with Montee Ball fumbling in a big game against Seattle and not exactly producing, Anderson could possibly get a chance for more carries in the near future.
Marion Grice (Ari) – He was signed last week off the Charger practice squad, and he’s probably a better long-term option than Jalen Parmele. They team is clearly down on Stepfan Taylor.
Snap Count Watch List:
Note: These snap counts for the WW report won’t usually list the league’s stud players. For our purposes here, we’re looking for players whose snaps counts we feel should be monitored. For all snaps counts, check out our Snap Report on Wednesdays.
Running Backs
The Obvious Choices:
Mark Ingram (NO) – Ingram will not play in Week Five, but they have a bye in Week Six and he’s on track to return after that. Needless to say, this offense need the energy and angry and productive running he was brining to the table, so he’ll be a big factor as soon as possible, which looks to be in their next game after this week. If he’s been dropped, pick him up now.
Knowshon Moreno (Mia) – He didn’t practice last week, but his timetable has been pushed up so if he’s been dropped, pick him up now for depth. He could return in Week Six after the Dolphins’ bye this week. Knowshon could find himself in a RBBC after a couple solid performances by RB Lamar Miller, but Moreno is still the better choice as the lead back, since he’s a tough and better interior runner, and he has plenty of potential in the passing game.
Justin Forsett (Bal) – Forsett played as the starter and feature back for the Ravens in Week Four, and he looked good in the process (14/66/1 rushing, 3/31 receiving). RB Bernard Pierce is clearly in the doghouse, as he didn’t see a single touch, and rookie RB Lorenzo Taliaferro did a lot of his work late in a blowout. Forsett played under OC Gary Kubiak in Houston and he knows the zone-blocking scheme well, so he’s going to be pretty involved every week. He’s a smaller (but thicker) back, so he might not be able to handle a ton of work, but he’s getting a healthy number of touches every week, and he’s been good for double-digit points in their first four games. He’s the RB to own in the Baltimore backfield right now because his role is clear and solid, and there’s also upside if he can take the ball and literally run with it.
Chris Ivory (NYJ) – Ivory looked great on the Jets’ opening drive in Week Four (9/51), but the team went away from their best weapon for some reason after that. He finished with 17 carries for 84 yards and added 2 catches for 16 yards on 6 targets. He’s actually boosted his fantasy value in the passing game, but he did drop some passes in Week Four. The Jets need to increase Ivory’s snaps going forward, because he’s playing much better than RB Chris Johnson, even though CJ2K had a fluky 40-yard TD run. Ivory needs to be the lead guy here, and he likely will be.
Lorenzo Taliaferro (Bal) – Taliaferro got his first real crack at playing time with RB Bernard Pierce (thigh) out of the lineup in Week Three, and he stayed ahead of Pierce on the depth chart in Week Four. Pierce didn’t get a single touch in Week Four and is clearly in the doghouse right now, and it looks Taliaferro has vaulted him on the depth chart. Veteran RB Justin Forsett is the top RB right now, after starting Week Four and handling most of the feature work, but Gary Kubiak would probably prefer to use a bigger back as his lead runner. Taliaferro spelled Forsett and got a lot of work garbage time, finishing with 15 carries for 58 yards and a TD. Taliaferro should be strongly considered in most formats given his strong performance so far. The “hot hand” approach is likely in effect, meaning Taliaferro is in the mix and has a chance to get 10+ carries any week.
Bishop Sankey (Ten) – We urged our subscribers to trade for Sankey after Week One after his value bottomed out because we still felt like he’d get most of the RB touches out of this backfield by the end of the year, and we also included him last week in the trade article. The Titans finally started to work in their rookie RB a little more in Week Three and it continued in Week Four. Although Sankey did play mostly in the second half after the game was a blowout, he was the most impressive Titan RB with 34 yards and 1 TD on 6 carries and 2 catches for 23 yards. Sankey got praise for his footwork from HC Ken Whisenhunt. That was the main issue for the rookie not getting touches, but this is great news coming off his first TD vs. the Colts. Shonn Greene is just too plodding of an alternative to ignore that they need Sankey to spark their offense. Sankey has started to close the gap and his role will only continue to grow as the season goes along, especially if the Titans are going to play this poorly every week. If Sankey’s been dropped, pick him up for depth because he should still lead them in RB touches when it’s all said and done. That appears to be a lock. Updated: 9/30
Jerick McKinnon (Min) – The Vikings finally unleashed McKinnon in Week Four, as he flashed a number of times while running for 135 yards on 18 carries. OC Norv Turner made McKinnon a big part of the offense, and he broke a 55-yard run and had a 7-yard TD run wiped off the board by replay. McKinnon has a lot of juice and seems to have natural running instincts, so he’s worth picking up in every format. Turner has been clear that they value explosiveness in this backfield (as they should), so while Matt Asiata is still the top back and is great down by the goal line, and while it will be an RBBC all year most likely, McKinnon clearly has potential in this backfield. McKinnon finally put it altogether in Week Four and looked great, and should be owned in most leagues because of his huge is still big. If we can make a comparison, he should be the C.J. Spiller to Asiata’s Fred Jackson in the Viking backfield. Updated: 9/30
The Next Best Things:
Isaiah Crowell (Cle) – Crowell eventually played so well that he earned the #3 RB job out of camp, and he’s looked good through three weeks. He carried 11 times for 55 yards and a TD in Week Three, so he’s scored 3 TDs in three weeks. Fellow rookie Terrance West handled most of the work as the early-down back, but Crowell is certainly still very much in the mix. RB Ben Tate is expected to be back in Week Five, but we could see a bit of a committee between these three RBs. Crowell looks like a guy they can get to the perimeter and use at the goal, and again he did look very good and is a threat to pop off a big play at the drop of a hat. It’s possible he remains the changeup runner over West if Tate is back in the mix, and that is the expectation in Cleveland. Updated: 9/30
DeAngelo Williams (Car) – Williams just can’t seem to stay healthy, leaving Week Four with an ankle injury. He battled a thigh injury earlier this year, which forced him to miss some game action. FB Mike Tolbert (leg) was placed on injured reserve/designated to return, and it’s not looking good shorter-term for RBs Jonathan Stewart (knee) and Fozzy Whitaker (quadriceps). This backfield is an absolute mess right now, but Williams could be the guy next week if his ankle injury isn’t too serious. However, it is at least fairly serious and his status for Week Five is in serious doubt. If the four guys listed above are, out, it will likely be Darrin Reaves (see below), who looked solid in Week Four.
Bobby Rainey (TB) – Starting RB Doug Martin was back in the lineup in Week Four, and the Buccaneers didn’t really use a RBBC with Rainey and Martin. Rainey finished with just 4 carries for 2 yards and added just a 16-yard catch, while Martin finished with 10 more touches. Rainey has significant value if Martin is out of the mix, and he’s worth holding onto since Martin didn’t dazzle in a great matchup against the Steelers. Rainey has ball security issues this year, but at least he can create on his own, something Martin has not shown he can do.
Alfred Blue (Hou) – HC Bill O’Brien used RB Arian Foster like a true workhorse through two weeks, and it didn’t take long for the veteran to break down with a hamstring injury. Blue started for Foster in Week Three, and he actually got more carries than Foster (9/9 for Blue, 8/6 for Foster) in Week Four. Blue added 2 catches for 16 yards on 3 targets. Foster simply can’t continue at a back-breaking pace, so Foster owners need to roster Blue if he’s still available. If Foster is out, Blue is worth starting as, at worst, a flex. Foster had 36 snaps against the Bills, and Blue had 32.
Darren McFadden (Oak) – Run DMC operated as the top back in Week Four, even with RB Maurice Jones-Drew (hand) back in the lineup, out-touching MJD 15-4. Still, that didn’t mean much, as McFadden finished with just 11 carries for 40 yards and 4 catches for 32 yards on 5 targets. DMC is the top back in Oakland right now, but MJD should be at 100% after their Week Five bye. Of course, we could also be witnessing MJD’s demise before our eyes. McFadden is a guy they could throw caution to the wind with this year because he’s not signed through 2014, so there’s no reason to even consider keeping him fresh or being conservative with their utilization. Run DMC is a reach play most weeks in this shaky Raider offense, but he’s got a chance.
Roy Helu (Was) – Helu got only 2 touches in Week Three, but one of them was a 55-yard catch, and he scored. Helu and Silas Redd are the only backs behind Morris right now, and Helu is the best receiver and pass protector out of the group. Morris did actually get the ball the passing game in Week Four, but Helu was their “hurry-up” back and got 5 targets and 5/78 in garbage time. The defense looks shaky on the back end, so Helu could continue to get chances and 8-10 points in a PPR. Also, with Alfred Morris getting dinged up in Week Three, we got a reminder that Helu is a Morris injury away from being the lead back.
Antone Smith (Atl) – Smith continues to be the big-play threat in this offense, scoring on 48-yard run in Week Four. He’s already scored from 38, 48, and 54 yards away this season, and he’s averaging 11.9 yards per carry (10/119/2) and 24.3 yards per catch (3/73/1). Talk about maximizing your touches. Smith is the most explosive back on the roster, and while his snaps counts have been low, he’s a legit factor here. He’s definitely worth owning at this point in a deep league. You can even start him if you’re desperate.
Shonn Greene (Ten) – He’s still the “starter” here for now, so he has a chance, but he can’t get anything going. He had just 3/10 rushing against the Colts, and it’s tough to trust Greene if this Titan is going to play so poorly every week. He needs to convert short-yardage and goal line opportunities when he gets the chances. They really need to run the ball and while Bishop Sankey’s role is increasing for sure, Greene’s still very much in the mix.
Denard Robinson (Jac) – We’ve heard the team has had bigger plans for this former college QB for months, and they showed it in Week Four, as he had 12 touches compared to Toby Gerhart’s 11 touches. Robinson ran 9 times for 25 yards and added 3 catches for 7 yards, so he hardly looked special. Robinson gives this backfield a little more juice and is worth a look in deep leagues, since they have soured on Jordan Todman. He actually looked like their lead runner at times, and we’re told they are happy with his improved running.
Branden Oliver (SD) – Oliver, who is listed at 5’7”, 202 pounds, plays an awful lot like Darren Sproles, and he got a crack at playing time in Week Four with Ryan Mathews and Donald Brown out. Oliver carried 9 times for 23 yards and caught 4 passes for 33 yards, seeing more time in the second half for a struggling Donald Brown. Oliver is also a solid receiver out of the backfield, and Mathews is likely out of the mix for at least another week. Oliver has a little bit of upside and could eventually slide into the Woodhead role.
Fozzy Whitaker/Darrin Reaves (Car) – The best advice, most likely, is to forget about this Panther backfield. But if you’re dying, Fozzy might be worth a look. He’s expected to return this week, and DeAngelo Williams is a long-shot to play, so if healthy Fozzy could be the main ball-carrier and he looked great in the preseason and has some juice. It’s a beatable matchup this week against the Bears. If no Fozzy, Reaves came into the game Sunday and carried 12 times for 26 yards and added 3 catches for 11 yards on 5 targets. They do also have Tauren Poole, who has been here off-and-on the last couple of years. Poole had only 1 snap and he fumbled.
Travaris Cadet (NO) – We never really know how this backfield will shake out, but Cadet did play 18 snaps, or 30% of their plays. He also had 6 targets and 6/59 in the passing game, so he was a factor. Meanwhile, Pierre Thomas was oddly a non-factor. Cadet has some juice, if desperate.
De’Anthony Thomas (KC) – RB Joe McKnight had a huge game in Week Three (6/64/2 on 7 targets), but he’s already done for the season with an Achilles. Thomas (hamstring) is close to returning and they could use his speed and homerun ability, especially with Jamaal Charles banged up. We were told that Thomas was consistently embarrassing their LBs in practice all summer, so we’re keeping him on the radar. He missed another game in Week Four, but he’s getting close to a return. Updated: 9/30
Ronnie Hillman (Den) – It’s a long-shot, but Montee Ball is not producing and fumbled in Week Three, and Hillman meanwhile played 14 snaps, or 19% of their plays, so he’s got a chance to carve out a role here.
Stash-and-hope options:
These are good options to stash away for later in the season. Many of them could be one injury away from being very relevant. They are organized by talent, situation, and likelihood that they’ll get a chance to play. Also, make sure you check our weekly RB Handcuffs article for info on all the backup RB situations.
James Starks (GB) – Starks is still the clear handcuff for Eddie Lacy, who is struggling a bit right now. Starks failed to touch the ball in Week Four, as he didn’t even really give Lacy many breathers. Starks has looked good when he’s been given carries, but he’s in a rotational role to give Lacy a break when Lacy’s healthy. Starks is still the handcuff here, but HC Mike McCarthy isn’t obligated to get Starks involved every week. Still, all Lacy owners should own Starks, since Lacy could be another concussion away from missing a lot of time.
Andre Williams (NYG) – The Giants are clearly treating RB Rashad Jennings like the workhorse back through four weeks, so there’s been little work to go around for Williams. He carried just 6 times for 18 yards against the Texans in Week Three. Even though Williams had a nice game in Week Four in a blowout, he’s mainly just a handcuff for Jennings owners right now, but if they offense continues to improve, Williams’ chances will increase.
Joseph Randle (Dal) – DeMarco Murray is on a pace to have almost 400 carries, so all Murray owners HAVE to have Randle, who looked a lot better this summer and should have success behind this awesome OL. Lance Dunbar’s value would also soar if Murray missed time, but Randle is the pure handcuff.
Robert Turbin (Sea) – With Christine Michael out of the lineup with a hamstring injury once again, Turbin has made his bid for handcuff role behind Marshawn Lynch. Turbin didn’t do much in Week Three (2/1 rushing, 1/4 receiving), but he’s ahead of Michael on the depth chart, as Michael was essentially a healthy scratch after being listed as probable in Week Three. Turbin is likely to handle the RB duties if Lynch were to go down with an injury, but Michael would certainly be sprinkled into the mix. Turbin and Michael would likely handle the RB duties in a committee, but Michael is certainly the more talented option and is back this week.
LeGarrette Blount (Pit) – Starter Le’Veon Bell is looking phenomenal this year, so you’re not going to feel good about playing Blount unless the matchup is beautiful or unless Bell is held out of the game. He went back to his secondary role in Week Four (4/25), but Blount does have a chance if desperate - 10/118/1 in Week Three against a great defensive front – and he’s the Bell handcuff.
Ka’Deem Carey (Chi) – Carey is starting RB Matt Forte’s handcuff, and the rookie got his first major work in Week Four. He carried 14 times for 72 yards, as he spelled Forte early in the game and handled the load late in garbage time of a blowout loss. He should be owned only by Forte owners at this point, unless you’re in very deep league.
Benny Cunningham (Stl) – Cunningham is clearly behind Zac Stacy right now, but they continue to insist on giving him snaps and carries. Cunningham had just 9 carries for 29 yards in Week Three, while Stacy (12/67) looked much better. Stacy is still the top back in St. Louis right now, and while Cunningham is closer, he isn’t ready to start taking significant work away. Still, Stacy owners should own Cunningham if he’s available to protect their early round fantasy draft pick, just in case.
Latavius Murray (Oak) – HC Dennis Allen is going to ride Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden until their wheels fall off, which we’ve seen happen to those two players in the past. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if Murray was a hot WW guy at some point this year, but his time has yet to come, as he didn’t have an offensive touch in Week Four.
Storm Johnson (Jac) – Storm was actually active for the first time this season in Week Four, but he didn’t play a single snap. RB Toby Gerhartinjured his ankle in Week One and hasn’t looked good playing behind the Jags’ shaky O-line. RB Denard Robinson is starting to cut into Gerhart’s lead back duties, but he’s hardly special, and we’re looking at Storm for later in the season. It looks like the Jags could use a RBBC if Gerhart were to miss time this season. We’d still bet on Johnson, whom the team is quite high on, as the long-term handcuff and stash-and-hope bet.
C.J. Anderson (Den) – He played only 3 snaps in Week Three, but with Montee Ball fumbling in a big game against Seattle and not exactly producing, Anderson could possibly get a chance for more carries in the near future.
Marion Grice (Ari) – He was signed last week off the Charger practice squad, and he’s probably a better long-term option than Jalen Parmele. They team is clearly down on Stepfan Taylor.
Snap Count Watch List:
Note: These snap counts for the WW report won’t usually list the league’s stud players. For our purposes here, we’re looking for players whose snaps counts we feel should be monitored. For all snaps counts, check out our Snap Report on Wednesdays.
- Matt Asiata (MIN) played 44 snaps, or 58% of their plays
- Donald Brown (SD) played 43 snaps, or 68% of their plays
- Darin Reaves (CAR) played 43 snaps, or 65% of their plays
- Justin Forsett (BAL) played 39 snaps, or 62% of their plays
- Chris Ivory (NYJ) played 37 snaps, or 58% of their plays
- Denard Robinson (JAC) played 36 snaps, or 55% of their plays
- Andre Williams (NYG) played 33 snaps, or 41% of their plays
- Kyle Juszczyk (BAL) played 32 snaps or 51% of their plays
- Alfred Blue (HOU) played 32 snaps, or 47% of their plays
- Jerick McKinnon (MIN) played 32 snaps, or 42% of their plays
- Bobby Rainey (TB) played 26 snaps, or 40% of their plays
- Roy Helu (WAS) played 25 snaps, or 45% of their plays
- Carlos Hyde (SF) played 23 snaps, or 28% of their plays
- Bishop Sankey (TEN) played 22 snaps, or 46% of their plays
- Lorenzo Taliaferro (BAL) played 22 snaps, or 35% of their plays
- Ka’Deem Carey (CHI) played 22 snaps, or 28% of their plays
- Jacquizz Rodgers (ATL) played 21 snaps, or 31% of their plays
- Daniel Thomas (MIA) played 21 snaps, or 30% of their plays
- Toby Gerhart (JAC) played 20 snaps, or 30% of their plays
- Travaris Cadet (NO) played 18 snaps, or 30% of their plays
- Khiry Robinson (NO) played 18 snaps, or 30% of their plays
- Branden Oliver (SD) played 18 snaps, or 29% of their plays
- Chris Johnson (NYJ) played 18 snaps, or 28% of their plays
- Maurice Jones-Drew (OAK) played 17 snaps, or 26% of their plays
- Marcel Reece (OAK) played 16 snaps, or 25% of their plays
- Jordan Todman (JAC) played 14 snaps, or 21% of their plays
- LeGarrette Blount (PIT) played 12 snaps, or 16% of their plays
- Shonn Greene (TEN) played 11 snaps, or 23% of their plays
- Bilal Powell (NYJ) played 11 snaps or 17% of their plays
- Damien Williams (MIA) played 10 snaps, or 14% of their plays
- Dan Herron (IND) played 10 snaps, or 11% of their plays
- Dexter McCluster (TEN) played 9 snaps, or 19% of their plays
- Devonta Freeman (ATL) played 9 snaps, or 13% of their plays
- Leon Washington (TEN) played 8 snaps, or 17% of their plays
- Antone Smith (ATL) played 8 snaps, or 12% of their plays
- Peyton Hillis (NYG) played 8 snaps, or 10% of their plays
- Joseph Randle (DAL) played 7 snaps, or 11% of their plays
- Ryan Grant (WAS) played 5 snaps, or 9% of their plays
- Orleans Darkwa (NYJ) played 4 snaps, or 6% of their plays
- Latavius Murray (OAK) played 4 snaps, or 6% of their plays
- Lance Dunbar (DAL) played 4 snaps, or 6% of their plays
- Dri Archer (PIT) played 3 snaps, or 4% of their plays
- Tauren Poole (CAR) played 2 snaps, or 3% of their plays
- James Starks (GB) played 1 snap, or 2% of their plays
Maybe Sankey or Taliafarro at this point
also, if I'm ever in a really desperate situation, I take a chance on somebody's handcuff. Especially if the starter is injury prone, older or on the pace to over 300 carries (only Murray and Jennings on such a pace right now)
also, if I'm ever in a really desperate situation, I take a chance on somebody's handcuff. Especially if the starter is injury prone, older or on the pace to over 300 carries (only Murray and Jennings on such a pace right now)
