Let me be clear here, Dobbins is the better play, as it seems
he separated himself from the pack in this backfield. With Mark
Ingram all but phased out, Dobbins out snapped Edwards 37-16 Monday
night. He’s scored in three-straight, and is always a big
play ready to happen. Edwards has simply been hyper efficient
on his touches the past two games (14-150-2) and is a worthy FLEX
play simply because I think the Ravens are going to beat the snot
out of the Jaguars and should be in positive game scripts from
the start. Find a way to get both guys in your lineup if you can,
there will be enough touches for production.
Swift returned from a mysterious head injury to gather up 50 total
yards and a score last week against the Packers. Despite missing
two games, and being mothballed for the first quarter of the season,
Swift has been a solid fantasy scorer in his rookie campaign.
He’s scored seven times, and is 15th among running backs
with 35 receptions. Over the last five weeks the Titans defense
has given up the most receptions and yards to running backs, and
with Stafford compromised or out this week, look for plenty of
short throws to Swift. A preferred PPR play, I’d roll with
Swift in any format this week.
Another reason I’m a little down on Allen this week is the
simple fact that the way to attack Denver’s defense is with
the ground game. Over the last five games the Broncos have given
up a league worst 8 rushing touchdowns, and with the defense focused
on stopping Allen and the passing game, I think Singletary could
be looking at 15+ touches. I know it's a bit risky trusting a
guy in the fantasy playoffs who only has a single score on the
season, but in a pinch, Singletary might be worth the gamble.
Grab Some Pine
Pittsburgh RBs @ CIN
I was all ready to fire up James Conner this week as the match-up
is too juicy to ignore, but then he popped up on the injury report
and threw a wrench into my plans. This running game has been historically
abysmal over the last few weeks, as the Steelers have become one
of the most pass-heavy teams in the league. The inability to kill
the clock, and extend drives is overworking a beat-up defense,
and I just don’t know what to expect from a rotation standpoint
in this backfield. The last time Conner was banged up he rushed
for 100-yards in Week 2, but frankly this running game is enough
of a mess to lose trust in them all.
Gurley has functionally disappeared over the last three games,
producing a scant 80 total yards on 26 scoreless touches. With
a career worst 3.6 yards-per-carry average, Gurley has been touchdown
dependent all year, and they’ve dried up. Expecting a turnaround
against one of the stingiest run defenses in the league is a bit
much to expect. It took 14 weeks for Tampa to give up more than
60 yards to a running back and it came against an all-pro, something
Gurley stopped being a few seasons ago.
Cincinnati RBs vs PIT
A swarthy mustache couldn’t save
Giovani Bernard last week after a costly fumble in the 1st quarter.
Another ineffective veteran running back on a losing team, it seems
Cinci is finally ready to see what the other runners can do. Samaje
Perine, and second-year back Trayveon
Williams combined for 22 pitiful carries against the Cowboys.
So is the backfrield a split? Who cares. With a very angry Steeler
defense on tap the only answer is to look elsewhere.
