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Joseph Hutchins | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


The Shot Caller's Report - Running Backs
Your Guide To Fantasy Lineups: Week 6
10/11/18
QBs | RBs | WRs


Bye Weeks: Detroit, New Orleans

Phillip Lindsay

Through five weeks with a 5.8 ypc, Phillip Lindsay has proven to be the best Broncos running back.

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Phillip Lindsay v. LAR: Denver is in a seeming death spiral after a 34-16 shellacking in Gotham, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how they could pull out of it. The Broncos are averaging 5.6 yards per rush through five weeks. If they’re still averaging that at the end of the season, it’ll be the best team mark since (get this) 1963! Cleveland averaged 5.7 yards per tote that season thanks mostly to a guy by the name of Jim Brown, only the greatest RB to ever play the game. It makes sense to me you’d want to do things you’re good at more often, but to date, Denver’s ranked only a middling 17th in rushing attempts. Hmmm. Anyone else thinking Vance Joseph might wanna start dusting off his resume? I only own Royce Freeman (GO DUCKS!!!), but Lindsay’s getting more consistent touches. Start him Sunday.

James White v. KC: Pundits are pushing Sony Michel as the back to own in New England these days, especially now that injuries to Jeremy Hill and Rex Burkhead have cleared the way for the 1st-round pick to receive most of the running back carries. Well, he’s certainly A back to own in New England, but is he THE back? The multi-talented White has received just 10 carries to Michel’s 43 the last two weeks, but has still somehow managed to outscore his teammate 36.9 to 34.2 in standard scoring leagues. The disparity is even more drastic in PPR leagues (54.9 to 35.2). White’s passing game chops make him, pound-for-pound, the most efficient scorer at the RB position, a fact Bill Belichick, unlike Vance Joseph, would never fail to notice. Even with a healthy Gronk, a reinstated Edelman, and a newly added Josh Gordon, James White stays very relevant.

Aaron Jones v. SF (Mon): I touted Jones two weeks back and he obliged with a mini-breakout of sorts, scoring 14.2 points as Green Bay waxed Buffalo 22-0. Naturally, he followed up that performance with a 5.9-point dud in Motown. Mike McCarthy’s stubborn resistance to giving him more run is going to frustrate us the rest of the way, I’m afraid (barring an injury to Jamaal Williams), but at least his usage is becoming somewhat predictable. When the Pack’s playing from out front, he’s a worthwhile RB2 or flex option thanks to an elite 6.1 YPC mark. When they’re playing from behind, Coach Mac is more apt to roll with Williams, the more reliable pass blocker, and/or Ty Montgomery, a better receiver. Now, you just have to figure out how games involving Green Bay are gonna play out. Here’s my guess for Monday night: We’ll see plenty of Mr. Jones.

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Derrick Henry v. BAL: When DeMarco Murray abruptly retired this past offseason, it seemed like Henry was finally going to take over the bell cow role many, myself included, thought he deserved. Needless to say, he hasn’t exactly seized this career opportunity. Through five weeks of action, Henry is ranked 53rd at the position behind every one of those aforementioned Packer backs (even Ty Montgomery), Kyle Juszczyk (who has exactly one carry this season), Jalen Richard (really?), and his own teammate, Dion Lewis. What did we miss here, folks? Well, Henry doesn’t contribute in the passing game, meaning every time he’s on the field, he’s essentially advertising running play. Moreover, he’s not sudden or nimble enough to make people miss, meaning he has to run through them. That’s hard to do in the NFL and it all adds up to 3.4 YPC, no TDs, and a guy you should avoid.

Alex Collins @ TEN: An even more obvious reason to sit Henry down this Sunday? He faces the Ravens, a team very much living up to its reputation as a stout defensive outfit. Not to be outdone, the Titans have bottled up all comers in 2018 too and are the only team not to have surrendered a single touchdown to an opposing RB thus far. That spells trouble for Collins, a modest workload RB1 who relies on six-pointers to boost his fantasy appeal. He’s only gained 217 yards on the ground this season, which ranks 27th and places him right behind the guy we just talked about. And no, he’s not making it up as a receiver (34th in RB receiving yards). If you think Baltimore will control time of possession and grind Tennessee into submission, great. I don’t, especially not in Nashville, meaning Collins is a hard “no” Sunday.

Kenyan Drake v. CHI: It was nice to see Drake get something going in Week 5, but if you’re thinking this momentum could carry over into Week 6, allow me to rain on your parade. First, he needed seven receptions to out-touch Frank Gore who, for the third consecutive week, garnered more rushing attempts (double this time). Second, the Miami offensive line is a shambles right now as only two opening day starters are for sure playing this Sunday. Third, that patchwork offensive line has to deal with a well-rested Chicago front that has absolutely feasted on opposing rushers this season (a league-low 8.9 points/game yielded to the position). Finally, that well-rested Chicago front has also allowed a league-low 13 receptions to opposing backs, meaning the only thing Drake’s doing well right now is the one thing his opponents seem to be especially good at stopping. Sounds like trouble, folks.


Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers