You're playing Adrian Peterson but temper
your expectations against a stout Seattle Run-D.
Grab a Helmet
Any Chiefs Running Back @ OAK:
I sincerely hope that Jamaal
Charles owners were able to handcuff Charcandrick
West and Spencer
Ware. Because if you were, you haven’t missed a beat. Do you
know that Kansas City running backs have only scored less than
10 fantasy points in a game ONCE this year? That was Week 5 when
Charles got hurt! Since then, West, and now Spencer Ware have
dominated touches on a weekly basis and have produced like no
other backfield group in the league. It will be very interesting
to see what happens when West is healthy, but there have been
no timeshares on this team all year. Oakland presents a challenge
this week, but this Chiefs offense is humming. I fully expect
Christian Okoye to come out of obscurity to run for 113 yards
and a score if they need him to. Eat while the eatin’s good and
get West or Ware in your lineup!
Jonathan
Stewart @ NO: While the Saints defense is busy making
Alfred Blue look like a stud running back, Jonathan Stewart continues
to glide right along as one of the league’s most consistent fantasy
running backs. After a slow start to the season, Stewart has had
a nice seven-game stretch where he’s rushed for 612 yards and
scored 5 total touchdowns. In his last game in the Superdome,
Stewart feasted for 155 yards and a touchdown on only 20 carries.
Look for a potential season high in carries this week as the game
plan could be run heavy against a defense that will probably sell
out to stop Cam Newton. Stewart is easy to forget, and needs to
score from 5-plus yards out because of vultures at the goal line,
but he makes for a sneaky strong RB1 play this week.
Doug
Martin v. ATL: What do you get when you mix a smoking
hot running back with a defense that has given up the 2nd most
rushing touchdowns in the league? A helmet grabbing spot on the
Shot Caller’s Report, that’s what! Martin has 50-plus-yard runs
in consecutive games, and sports a silly 7.8 ypc average over
his last 41 carries. Atlanta defends the pass much better than
the run, so look for Tampa to pound the ball on the ground to
set up some late game deep balls to their big receivers. Jameis
Winston is taking better care of the football, and allowing more
possessions for this Tampa offense. More possessions means more
carries for Martin. It’s troubling he hasn’t found the end zone
since Week 5, but that changes this week. Lock Martin into your
line-ups.
Grab Some Pine
Giants Running Backs @ NYJ:Rashad
Jennings, Orleans
Darkwa, Shane
Vereen, and Andre
Williams have combined to form the most underwhelming backfield
in fantasy football. Not only do they totally destroy the fantasy
value of each other, but this 4-headed disaster has only managed
3 rushing touchdowns in 11 games. They all lack the talent and
big play ability to produce relevant fantasy numbers on so few
touches, so this fantasy wasteland will continue to be useless
against the devastating front of the Jets. Woe is the fantasy
owner desperate enough to have to start one of these guys, in
any format.
Frank
Gore @ PIT: It looks like the end is coming swiftly
for the 11-year vet. Finally showing signs of serious breakdown
after 2,600 career carries, Gore has hobbled his way to just 58
yards on his last 33 carries (1.75 ypc). He doesn’t have the speed
or quickness to compensate for a poor run blocking line, and by
his coach’s admission, is running on fumes. Gore hasn’t topped
4 yards a carry since Week 7, and faces off against a Steelers
defense giving up only 3.8 yards per carry on the year. Game flow
could take Gore out of the picture early as he doesn’t get much
run in the passing game. Go with a higher upside option and leave
Gore on the bench.
Adrian
Peterson vs. SEA: AP is having an amazing year, so
don’t mistake his name in this spot as a recommended sit. That
would be lunacy! But there some good reasons to believe he could
underperform this week against Seattle. The Seahawk defense has
yet to allow a 100-yard rusher, and has only given up 4 touchdowns
on the ground this season. They can clog the lanes, and get backfield
penetration before Peterson gets a head of steam. Green Bay was
able to keep him contained by getting across the line of scrimmage
quickly and limiting cutback lanes. Look for Seattle do dial up
a host of run blitzes to try and slow Adrian down. He hasn’t
been as big of a factor in the passing game as most anticipated
with only 23 catches on 29 targets. Because of the high price
tag and poor matchup, there might be cheaper, higher upside options
in DFS leagues. In yearlong leagues, trot him out there like normal!
