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Colby Cavaliere | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Running Backs
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 13
11/30/16
QBs | RBs | WRs


Bye Weeks:
Cleveland, Tennessee

Jordan Howard has dominated against lesser run defenses and he gets another one in Week 13.

Grab a Helmet

Jordan Howard vs SF: Despite being surrounded with abysmal offensive personnel, including a third-string QB, and backup lineman galore, Howard still continues to churn out the yardage at an impressive rate. The rookie is up to 5.1 yards per carry, and has possibly the best matchup of the weekend. Despite showing a severe lack of catching ability the last few weeks (catching 1-of-8 targets against the Giants was downright terrible) Howard still seems to boost his weekly totals with significant receiving yardage. Howard has dominated against lesser run defenses this season, racking up 100-yard games against the Colts, Lions, Vikings and Bucs, and only his lack of rushing touchdowns (2) holds him back from being a true stud. He’s a great bet for 100-plus yards and a score this week, so make sure he’s in all of your lineups.

LeSean McCoy @ OAK: He’s battled though his typical litany of injuries, most recently a dislocated thumb, but through it all McCoy remains an elite option for the Bills and your fantasy team. He’s had some absolute monster games this season to go along with some duds, but I expect he’ll be a enormous part of the game plan on the road against division leading Oakland. The Raiders are giving up the 7th most fantasy points to running backs this season, and won’t be able to stack the box because of the return of Sammy Watkins. When healthy, McCoy is a weekly top 5 option, and that could certainly be his floor for the week. Start him with extreme confidence, and hope he doesn’t get dinged up!

Devontae Booker @ JAX: To say Booker has been a disappointment since ascending to the starting role is an understatement. Booker has failed to top 4.0 yards per carry, and even though much of the blame can be placed on the lack of offensive line talent, Booker deserves his fair share. He has 48 carries over his last two weeks, so it’s clear Denver is working hard to establish the run game. This week against Jacksonville is a great place to get things right considering the Jags are much more effective against the pass than the run. Road games are always a good place to ground and pound, and I feel a mini-breakout for Booker this week. He’s not going to jump off the page, but could provide some really great RB2 return from a FLEX spot.

Grab Some Pine

Jay Ajayi @ BAL: Since his heroic three-game stretch that included two 200-yard games, and a 111-yard outing against the Jets, Ajayi has fallen back to the pack a bit the last three weeks. His yards per carry average is still solid, but his workload has decreased a little, and he’s failed to register 20 carries or top 79 yards in a game since then. In what should have been a smorgasbord against the 49ers last week, Ajayi could only manage 45 yards on 18 carries. The Dolphins line has been in shambles, and looks to be getting healthier this week, but Miami faces the best run defense in the league in Baltimore. The Ravens have only given up 2 touchdowns on the ground this season, and have only yielded 97 or more yards to running backs three times. Despite facing some of the top fantasy backs in the league this year, Baltimore has given up the fewest fantasy points. This will be Ajayi’s toughest test of the season, and expectations should definitely be tempered. With a low ceiling, view Ajayi as a low end RB2.

Jeremy Hill vs PHI: Outside of two monster games this season, Hill has barely been a FLEX play. He’s done next to nothing since the loss of Gio Bernard two weeks ago, and this whole Bengals offense has suffered from inconsistency and injury. He did have a career high 6 receptions for 60 yards last week, so he’s definitely set up for an uptick in PPR leagues, but he’s tough to trust in standard leagues when he doesn’t score. With every week from here on out so important in most fantasy leagues, I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting Hill as anything more than a FLEX prayer.

Rashad Jennings @ PIT: Just when it looked like the Giants run game had turned the corner in games against Cincinnati and Chicago, Jennings and the G-Men laid an egg in Cleveland. The Giants offense got off to a slow start, and the only functioning part of the offense was OBJ. Jennings could never seem to get a running start, and his lack of playmaking ability was evident whenever the Browns got penetration into the backfield. Jennings lacks burst, doesn’t make defenders miss, and will only find the end zone if the Giants get inside the 5-yard line. Pittsburgh is dastardly against the run, and I think the Giants go pass heavy. With the threat of Shane Vereen returning to soak up all the 3rd down and passing down work, Jennings arrow is pointing way down.


Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers