Bye Weeks: Panthers, Steelers

The Cleveland Browns backfield is one lighter this week leaving a couple rookies to carry the load.

Grab a Helmet

Isaiah Crowell/Terrance West v. ATL: As you know by now, the foggy Cleveland backfield got a littler clearer with the sudden release of Ben Tate on Tuesday. After starting off hot, Tate had failed to get anything going of late, and his griping got him a one-way ticket to the waiver wire. The burden of the run game falls to rookies Crowell and West. For the season West has carried the ball 112 times for 408 yards (3.6 ypc) and 3 scores, while the more explosive, but erratic Crowell has carried the ball 78 times for 358 yards (4.6 ypc) and 5 scores. The Cleveland run game has taken a big step back with the loss of their center Alex Mack, but this week gets the Swiss cheese Falcons defense. Atlanta is giving up the second-most points to fantasy running backs, and hasn’t been able to put up much resistance all year. Look for a run heavy Cleveland game plan, and the presence of returning All-Pro receiver Josh Gordon to make both Crowell and West strong RB2/FLEX plays this week.

Trent Richardson vs. JAX: Frankly I’m shocked as much as you to see Richardson in this spot this week. Against my best instincts I drafted Richardson in both of my leagues this year, and despite not being totally worthless, he still hasn’t show much of anything in his year-plus with the Colts. But sometimes in fantasy football volume = value, and there should be no shortage of touches for the Crimson Tide alum. With the loss of Ahmad Bradshaw for the year, Richardson will have to sort, carry and deliver the mail for a Colts team that has Super Bowl aspirations. Averaging 15+ touches a game before Bradshaw’s injury, Richardson should see an uptick in carries, especially in a game the Colts should be winning in the 4th quarter. If you took the plunge like I did, this is the time that all that patience should pay off. Hopefully ….

Rashad Jennings v. DAL: Ready to roll as he has been entirely removed from the injury report this week, Jennings gives the G-men the fundamentally sound, reliable ball carrier the offense has missed. With only really one impact game on his resume this year, Jennings has been a bit of a disappointment, but a Dallas defense giving up 4.4 yards per carry presents one of the softest defenses he’ll face. The Giants should be able to hang with Dallas, giving Jennings a chance to approach 20 touches. The volume and defensive match-up make Jennings a safe RB2 play.

Grab Some Pine

Mark Ingram (MON) v. BAL: This is purely a game plan call, as Ingram has been one of the more reliable backs in the last month. Baltimore is extremely harsh vs running backs, yielding the fewest fantasy points in the league. But as good as they are against the run, they are that susceptible to the pass. With their top corner Jimmy Smith gone for the year, look for the Saints to fire up a pass heavy game plan in the Super Dome to try and jumpstart an offense that has fallen from grace this season. Ingram has been a three-down player since the injuries to Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson, but isn’t a big threat out of the backfield. Fewer chances and tougher sledding make Ingram a low end RB2 at best Monday night.

Alfred Morris @ SF: Although not a total loss, Morris’s 20-96 line against the Bucs last week was a bit of a letdown. The problem doesn’t so much lie with Morris, as it does with the house of cards franchise around him. The griping in the media, a regressing quarterback, and an offensive line that will be missing it franchise tackle put Morris in a tough spot this week. Throw in a cross-country flight, and road game against a team with a dominant front seven, and you have a toxic stew of frustration. Chances are you have to roll with Morris at this point of the season, but he makes for a low end RB2 option this week.

Ryan Mathews v. STL: The much-anticipated return of Ryan Mathews after his latest lengthy injury did nothing to inject life into the fading Chargers offense. Although he finished with a respectable 75 total yards on 17 touches, it came against a Raiders defense that had previously been helpless against running backs. A few weeks ago this would have looked like a juicy matchup for Mathews, but the Rams defensive front has looked reborn the last several games, and should be able to penetrate the San Diego line, making Mathews have to work very hard for his meal. Mathews is a serviceable FLEX play, but not much more.

Wide Receivers