Does Lamar Miller have another RB1 game
in him? Last time he faced the Colts he was the RB4 overall.
Grab a Helmet
Lamar
Miller @ IND: Miller was brutal in the snow at Lambeau
last Sunday, rushing for just 22 yards on 14 carries. Ouch. Sadly,
his only other “contribution” was a single reception for -4 yards.
Pretty tough to jump back on the bandwagon after a dud such as
that, but…that’s exactly what I’m suggesting you do. Things change
quickly in the NFL, in case you hadn’t noticed, and one week’s
goat is often the next week’s hero. Miller has a chance to be
very heroic for his owners this Sunday in Naptown. In fact, his
best game of the year came in the Week 6 clash against those very
same Colts when he rushed for 149 yards, tallied 29 more receiving,
and scored twice (once by ground, once by air). Those are season
high totals in all four categories, for the record. Swallow hard
and get him back in there.
Jeremy
Hill @ CLE: It was vintage Jeremy Hill last Sunday
against the Eagles: 23 carries, 33 yards, and a score to salvage
an otherwise disastrous performance. The Bengals’ meal ticket
seems to do this more often than most and is clearly, with apologies
to Latavius Murray, the most touchdown-dependent running back
in the league. Normally, I’d suggest you avoid such guys at all
costs (low ceiling, even lower floor), but the former LSU bruiser
has a couple things going for him this weekend: 1) He’s playing
Cleveland; and 2) The last time he played Cleveland, he had his
most productive outing of the season (nine carries, 168 yards,
and a touchdown). Cleveland makes everyone look better, folks,
so don’t worry too much about Rex Burkhead biting into Hill’s
production. The latter should double his workload from that first
matchup and maybe, just maybe, post a new season-high point total.
Matt
Forte @ SF: The Jets embarrassed themselves on national
television last Monday night and, possibly, even quit on embattled
coach, Todd Bowles. I say “possibly” because it’s also conceivable
they merely laid an egg and will want to make amends quickly.
Redemption is usually only a week away in the NFL and San Francisco
(aka, the NFL’s most moveable force) is next up on the slate.
The Niners’ hapless defense is surrendering almost 170 rushing
yards per game and has been trucked for 200+ three separate times
this season (Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans). I don’t think
Forte can post two bills on Sunday–and certainly not with Bryce
Petty at QB–but I do think he’s almost a shoo-in for 100 all-purpose
yards and at least one score. As with Lamar Miller, ignore what
happened most recently and stick to the fundamentals: Forte good…San
Francisco defense bad.
Grab a Gatorade
Devontae
Booker @ TEN: Coach Gary Kubiak called this week’s
acquisition of Justin Forsett, who hasn’t recorded an NFL carry
since October, a “blessing.” He doubled down on that sentiment
by announcing carries will be immediately split between the veteran
Forsett and his new rookie teammate, Booker. That’s not good news
if you were hoping the latter would be the likeliest beneficiary
of Kapri Bibbs’ season-scuttling ankle injury. The rook has certainly
had his moments (a great two-game stretch in Weeks 7 and 8), but
has really struggled in the feature back role and, by some accounts,
was likely to lose more work to Bibbs in the coming weeks. As
it stands, he’ll probably lose plenty of work to Forsett, who
knows and has thrived in Kubiak’s system before, most recently
in 2014 (Baltimore). Booker’s got some value in keeper leagues,
but he can’t help much now. Sit him down.
Tevin
Coleman @ LAR: Coleman was an absolute find in the
early going and that rare player who lived up to preseason bluster
by tallying over 15 points/game through Week 5 . If you’ll recall,
Atlanta’s shot callers were talking him up a bunch back in August,
suggesting the former Hoosier would eat into Devonta Freeman’s
workload. That he most certainly did until a midseason injury
forced him to miss three games. Coleman’s touches have since rebounded
(about 10-12 per game) but the production really hasn’t (just
one 10+-point game in his last four). Moreover, his teammate is
again looking like the guy who exploded onto the fantasy scene
a year ago (four scores the last two weeks). The Falcons are fighting
for the NFC South crown and if I were a betting man, I’d wager
they’re more likely to rely on the steadier Freeman down the stretch.
Be careful.
LeGarrette
Blount v. BAL (Mon): I don’t usually propose benching
those that brung ya’ come playoff time, but there is no
loyalty in fantasy sports. Clearly. I’ve already suggested
you sit one former Duck down (Mariota) and now I’m advising
you sit another. Nobody’s produced a better TDs-to-ADP ratio
in 2016 than the bruising Blount (almost 2-to-1) and it’s
safe to say that if New England wins another title, he’ll
be a huge piece of that championship puzzle. I think they will,
for the record, but I don’t think YOU will if you insist
on using LGB in Week 14. The Ravens haven’t allowed a 100-yard
rusher or a rushing TD by a back since Week 7 back in late October.
Bill Belichick didn’t get to be the best in the biz by attacking
his opponents’ strengths. Expect a dink-and-dunk masterpiece
and a whole lotta Dion Lewis/James White Monday night.
