Jacksonville’s calling card has been defense for quite some time
now, but the 2019 version of this squad hasn’t lived up to that
billing. The Jags have been especially rotten against opposing rushers,
allowing 136.6 yards/game and 5.1 yards/carry. Unsurprisingly, they’re
giving up 22.1 FPts/G on the season to the position. What’s even
more troubling, however, is how they’ve fared the past four games:
not well at all. From Weeks 9 through 13 (they had their bye in
Week 10), Doug Marrone’s boys have allowed four 100-yard rushers
(Carlos Hyde, Marlon Mack, Jonathan Williams, and Derrick Henry)
and surrendered six rushing TDs. Put another way, they’re a 72.2%
positive matchup over the last five weeks. There’s nobody you’d
rather have your RBs facing than Jacksonville, so that means Gordon
and Ekeler get green lights in Week 14.
Ekeler’s probably the most surprising Top 15 RB, but Lindsay runs
a close second in my book. He’s mostly shared the load with Royce
Freeman again this season, still plays in a bad offense, and almost
never touches the ball 20 times a game. Nevertheless, there he is
at RB13, averaging 10.4 FPts/G with just four weeks to play. That’s
actually two points per game off his rookie pace, meaning the Broncos’
woes and the timeshare are definitely putting a cap on his overall
production. Still, he’s never banged up, averages a healthy 4.7
YPC, and contributes in the passing game. That last part could be
important this coming weekend. The Texans have given up 771 receiving
yards to opposing backs this year, most in the league, and just
got torched by James White. Lindsay’s not a sexy option, but a sneaky
good one.
Matt LaFleur talked about needing to get Jones more involved after
a devastating loss to San Francisco in Week 12, but that didn’t
really happen against New York last Sunday. Bad weather may have
had something to do with that, but 11 carries for 18 yards and some
paltry passing game numbers probably weren’t was Jones’
owners were looking for in a plus matchup with the Giants. That’s
now two weeks running where Green Bay’s star back has disappointed.
It’ll be tough to plug him back in after successive egg-layings,
but this is the time of year when tough lineup decisions win championships.
The Pack have played four of their last five on the road and now
return home for a December tilt at the Tundra. It’s going
to be cold and possibly wet, meaning Jones could be the featured
attraction. Swallow hard and start him.
I was a beneficiary of Coleman’s explosive Week 8 performance
against the Panthers—118 total yards, four scores, and 35.8 fantasy
points—so it’s tough to fade him when it matters most. The reality
is, though, he’s been barely a start-worthy option since. He’s totaled
(not averaged, totaled) 29.4 points from Weeks 9 through 13 and
is coming off a putrid performance against the Ravens, 15 yards
on six touches. It’s the 6 touches that are most worrisome, as he
hadn’t garnered fewer than 13 in eight prior appearances. Coleman
won’t completely disappear, but Raheem Mostert’s breakout and Matt
Breida’s likely return really cloud the picture for the former Falcon.
I’ll say it as plainly as I can: I’m playing for a championship
this week and next and Coleman will be standing right beside me
come Sunday. (I’m speaking metaphorically, of course, not literally.)
Bench him Sunday.
26 backs have carried the ball 30 or more times the past three
weeks and Frank Gore, despite a now more limited role in the Bills’
offense, is one of them. He is, however, the least efficient and
by a fairly large margin. The 36-year old vet has averaged just
4.5 FPts/G in those three contests and appears to have officially
passed the torch to Devin Singletary. That isn’t to say Gore won’t
still have a role moving forward. He’s probably still looking at
8-12 touches per game and could reward with a surprise touchdown
or two. You’d be playing the lottery, though, as he doesn’t contribute
in the passing game and also, to make matters worse, draws a touch
matchup with the Ravens this weekend. He deserves our respect for
still plugging away in a young man’s game, but doesn’t deserve lineup
consideration.
This rec ranks highly on the potentially explosive backfire-ability
scale, but it’s Week 14, aka playoff time, and Barkley doesn’t
appear to be up to the task of winning you a championship. He’s
scored 20 points in a game just one time this year (he did it
six times as a rook) and is averaging a full yard per carry less
than he did in 2018, a 20% performance reduction. Injuries haven’t
helped and it would probably be wise of the NY brass to reserve
him for 2020, but he’s powering through the break so the
choice needs to be made. He ruined the Eagles last season (55.1
points in two matchups) but Philly’s been tough on opposing
ball carriers this year (15.8 FPts/G, #7 overall) and needs a
W in the worst way. They get it Monday night by shutting down
Saquon.
