With Jeremy Langford on the sidelines,
Howard has a reasonable projection of 20 touches in Week 4.
Grab a Helmet
Jordan
Howard v. DET: With Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey
on the shelf for the foreseeable future, it’s time for Chicago
to see what it has with the rookie 5th rounder. He flashed in
the final preseason game, and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry
in 12 regular season totes. He’s even got 6 catches, and might
add some juice to the dried up old prune of an offense that Chicago
is saddled with. With playmakers on the outside, and a decent
interior line, Chicago should be able to get some push against
a Detroit defense yielding a league worst 5.1 yards per carry.
The running back position is a M.A.S.H. unit and it’s only Week
4 so you could do a lot worse than the rookie. Saddle Howard up
and hope for high end RB2 production. Carlos
Hyde vs. DAL: Sure this 49ers offense will never be
confused with the glory days, but Hyde has already surpassed his
2015 rushing touchdown total, and the schedule lightens up after
being beaten around by some of the league’s best in Carolina,
Los Angeles, and Seattle. He’s got two 20-attempt games already
and has looked like a natural fit in this Chip Kelly offense.
This game should stay close as both teams try to establish their
offenses on the ground. Dallas doesn’t give up big plays on the
ground, but gives up small chunks pretty readily. Look for another
heavy touch day for Hyde and a chance at continued RB1 production.
Melvin
Gordon v. NO: You know the cliché that the “hole was
so big you could drive a truck through it”? Well it was reality
on Monday night. The Falcons averaged a BEEFY 7-plus yards per
carry against the same New Orleans defense that Gordon gets on
Sunday. With the loss of Woodhead, Gordon has totally dominated
snaps, and even though his yardage wasn’t impressive last week,
he scored yet again. San Diego will be able to the move the ball
consistently, setting Gordon up for another big day. Lock him
in as an RB1.
Grab Some Pine
Christine
Michael @ NYJ: With Rawls on the bench for the near
future with a leg injury, the phoenix-like rise of Christine Michael
continues. Michael was masterful last week, having a gigantic
first quarter that saw him produce 60-plus yards and two scores.
He’s averaged a rock solid 5.2 yards per carry this year, and
hasn’t been below 60 yards. The Jets fearsome front has been swallowing
running games for nearly two seasons, and the Seattle offensive
line isn’t a strength. They were dominated by the Rams in Week
2, and the front-7 of New York is capable of bottling up Michael.
He isn’t getting much in the passing game, so his upside is limited.
I like him more as a low end RB2 in Week 4.
Kenyan
Drake, Jay
Ajayi, Damien
Williams @ CIN (Thu): Running back rotations are bad
fantasy business. 3-man rotations with mediocre players are even
worse. The rash of running back injuries has some fantasy owners
picking up these guys and starting them, and for the life of me
I can’t figure out why. They will all syphon touches from each
other, and the Dolphins are so pass heavy it almost doesn’t matter.
Cincinnati isn’t even a good matchup, as they’ve yet to yield
a rushing touchdown and are only giving up 3.7 yards per carry.
Strongly consider every other option imaginable before you start
one of these guys.
Justin
Forsett, Terrance
West vs OAK: Another team that has a host of running
backs but really has none, Forsett and West have combined for
just over 200 yards and no touchdowns over the first three weeks
of the season. Forsett is averaging a pathetic 3.11 yards per
TOUCH this season, and has made absolute zero impact. West has
been only slightly better, and the fact remains that this Ravens’
run game desperately needs a shot in the arm (perhaps in the form
of rookie Kenneth Dixon). I can’t see how anyone but the
most desperate owner can run either of these two guys out this
week, even against a poor Raiders defense.
