Bye Weeks: Arizona, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, New England,
Washington
HC Doug Pederson insists Ryan Mathews is
the starter but Darren Sproles saw 20 touches last week.
Grab a Helmet
Devontae
Booker @ OAK: After playing his way into a near timeshare
with C.J. Anderson, Booker took over the reins full time after
Anderson hit IR with a knee injury. In his first start last week
Booker shook off an early shoulder injury and a fumble to tally
85 total yards and a score. The 2.4 yards per carry average certainly
leaves much to be desired, but the rookie from Utah gets a prime
match-up against a Raiders defense giving up nearly 5 yards per
carry. Booker is the ideal one-cut runner for this Bronco offense,
and the added versatility in the passing game give him a high
floor. He lacks ideal speed and quickness so don’t expect big
plays, but the consistent chain moving gains, and goal line work
give him a chance to sniff RB1 status this week.
Tim
Hightower / Mark
Ingram @ SF: The 1-6 49ers are on pace to be one of
the worst rushing defenses in NFL history. Teams are running a
5.2 yard per carry clip, and opposing runners have scored 10 rushing
touchdowns. Add to the fact that the Saints should get up early
in this one, means that even in a potential timeshare, these two
making decent starting options this week. Hightower broke the
century mark against a stout Seattle Defense, and while Ingram
is in the doghouse, he’s a big part of this offense (when he’s
not getting benched for fumbling). The Saints could be spending
an entire half trying to protect a big lead, so get these fellas
in your lineup if you’ve got em.
Darren
Sproles @ NYG: Other than a Week 3 explosion against
the Steelers, Sproles was an afterthought in the Eagle offense.
Last week against Dallas, things changed in a big way as Sproles
looked spry and elusive, touching the ball a season high 20 times
for over 100 total yards. Sproles sudden uptick in usage comes
on the heels of a possible demotion of starter Ryan Matthews.
Matthews has looked sluggish, as years of injury seem to be catching
up. The quicker Sproles isn’t a workhorse option, but he fits
the offense better, doesn’t turn the ball over, and gives the
Eagles a legit playmaker behind rookie Wentz. Look for Sproles
to lead the backfield in touches, giving him enough chances to
be a FLEX with RB2 upside until further notice.
Grab Some Pine
LeSean
McCoy @ SEA: Ineffective with a bum hamstring, McCoy
missed most of his last start against Miami, before missing the
entire Week 8 game against the Patriots. McCoy is Buffalo’s sole
threat on offense, so his return to the lineup is essential. He
was an elite RB1 before yet another hamstring injury derailed
that, and even though he’s expected back this week, I simply can’t
trust him as a starter until I see evidence of sustained health.
The horrible matchup is also incentive to play it cautious and
wait until you get Shady back in your lineup.
T.J.
Yeldon / Chris
Ivory @ KC: That stink you smell wafting through Northern
Florida is the Jacksonville offense. It got so bad that this week
the Jags fired their offensive coordinator and hired an outside
consultant to fix their quarterback. What really needs fixing
is this team’s running game. Jacksonville is near the bottom of
the NFL in rushing with just over 70 yards per game, (or roughly
half of what Dallas gets per game). Yeldon has exactly one game
with more than 39 rushing yards, and Ivory, for all the hype his
offseason signing received has a grand total of 129 rushing yards
in five games. Their inability to sustain drives, or get leads
means this running game never gets a chance to get momentum. New
coordinator Nathaniel Hackett sounds more like a Massachusetts
Militiaman in the Continental Army than an offensive coordinator,
but during his stint in Buffalo showed he can and will make the
run game a priority. I’m just not sure a drastic turnaround is
imminent, especially against a strong KC front seven.
Terrance
West vs. PIT: On a three game roll before being erased
(8 carries 10 yards) against the Jets, West has been a nice surprise
for crafty fantasy owners who nabbed him off the waiver wire.
And while the matchup against a very porous Steeler defense is
mouthwatering, I have a sinking feeling that this is the week
the Ravens make a commitment to getting rookie Kenneth Dixon the
ball. Dixon was the best Ravens back in camp before suffering
a knee injury. He’s been working his way back the last few
weeks, handling a smattering of touches. He’s had some additional
time to get healthy and acclimated to the change in coordinators
during the bye week, and I think he eats into West’s touches
just enough to knock the former Brown to FLEX status.
