From the second he walked on the field and dominated the country
as a freshman, Taylor was destined for the NFL. The most physically
gifted and productive runner in the 2020 draft, Taylor lasted
until the 2nd round before Indy scooped him up. He’s going to
love playing behind the meanest offensive line in the NFL, and
while Marlon Mack muddies the waters a little, Taylor is going
to lead this team in touches from the go. I think the Colts can
and will build a lead in this game, and lean on Taylor to grind
out the rest. Rivers should be able to get the team in multiple
scoring opportunities, so while the rookie from Wisconsin might
not have a boatload of touches, I wouldn’t be surprised to see
him hit paydirt a few times. Get Taylor in your lineup as an upside
RB2.
CEH might not be the physical specimen that Taylor is, but he
has a more direct line to touches, is an elite receiver, and just
happens to play on the best offense in the NFL. Selected at the
end of the first round, Edwards-Helaire benefited greatly from
the opt-out of Damien Williams. He’s been talked up all off-season
by coaches and teammates, and while he will likely cede some touches
to Darrel Williams, the former LSU Tiger has the skills to be
hyper efficient with his chances. Andy Reid offenses have made
fantasy studs out of just about any runner who earns starter’s
reps, so CEH should produce numbers simply by default. In a bizarre
offseason, rookie runners aren’t as handicapped as other skill
positions might be, so don’t hesitate to get the rookie in your
lineup.
At the moment all is quiet with Cook and his contract. There
is a chance that by the time this article goes live, Cook has
decided to play hardball and hold out, and in that case, just
imagine Alexander Mattison’s name in this slot! With the Packers
still smarting from their drubbing at the hands of the 49ers in
the playoffs (Mostert just scored again) and the Vikings breaking
in some new pass catchers, look for Minnesota to run the ball
early and often against Green Bay. His 154 yards on the ground
last year against the Packers was a season high. Cook’s production
dropped off significantly in the 2nd half of the season, so don’t
be shocked if they manage his carries early on, especially in
games that are in-hand. That shouldn’t be the case in a hotly
contested division game against a bitter rival, so start Cook
without hesitation.
A fumbling problem and the emergence of rookie Zack Moss have taken
much of the luster off Singletary’s fantasy outlook. Mega explosive
with the ball in his hands (5.1 yards per carry last season), Singletary
is going to get the opportunity to lead this backfield, but the
fumbling issue seems to be a big enough deal that the first time
he puts the ball on the ground could cost him significant playing
time. Certain coaches have been famous for harshly punishing fumblers,
and the presence of Moss might make that an easier call for McDermott.
With his touchdown scoring severely capped by Allen and Moss, Singletary
could be in for a tough go in standard leagues this season. I want
to see just how real the hype is for Moss before I commit to Singletary
as a starter.
Jacksonville RBs vs IND
With the release of Fournette the “Tank for Lawrence”
plan is in full effect. Jacksonville will rely on a perennially
injured 3rd down back (Chris Thompson), and undrafted players
Devine Ozigbo (hamstring) and James Robinson to carry the mail
on a team with the lowest projected win total. 2019 5th round
pick Ryquell Armstead has two stints on the Covid list and is
unlikely to play much early in the year, but should be a part
of the rotation eventually. Some combination of these guys should
be rostered but starting someone Week 1 seems like madness.
The old adage “actions speak louder than words” applies
perfectly to the Tampa Bay Bucs. Despite lauding Jones as “the
guy”, Tampa spent a 3rd round pick on Ke’Shawn Vaughn
in the spring, added Shady McCoy over the summer, and recently
helped Leonard Fournette stay in Florida by signing him to a one-year
deal. Jones has also missed some recent practices with a foot
injury. Jones was good, but hardly special last season, so it’s
not impossible to see Fournette lead this backfield in carries
as soon as Week 1. This is one of several backfields that I want
no part of, at least until the pecking order shakes out.
