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The Shot Caller's Report - Wk 2 Running Backs



By Steve Schwarz | 9/17/20
Bye Weeks: N/A
QBs | RBs | WRs

Jonathan Taylor

Grab a Helmet

1) Jonathan Taylor vs. Minnesota

The loss of Marlon Mack to a season-ending Achilles injury leaves Taylor as a very good option as the only other alternate for the Colts, Hines, is almost exclusively a receiver out of the backfield. Taylor wasn’t all that impressive on the ground in Week 1, but should have a better time against the Vikings who allowed 139 yards to Packers running backs. He was also surprisingly good as a pass-receiver (6-of-6 for 67 yards) something he didn’t do much of at Wisconsin.

2) Ronald Jones vs. Carolina

As I previously mention in the Brady paragraph, this Carolina defense isn’t good. OK, they’re bad. In 2019 they were 31st in points allowed (470), 32nd in rushing touchdowns allowed (31) and 28th in rushing yards allowed (2,296). They yielded a Week 1 high three rushing touchdowns. Ron Jones is the starter for the Bucs, not Leonard Fournette and dominated the opportunities against New Orleans 17-5. Jones ran hard and produced better than Fournette too, with a combined 82 yards to just 19 for Fournette. He should come at a fairly reasonably priced level for DFS players and was only started by 31% of fantasy owners which should be much higher against the Panthers.

3) Mark Ingram @ Houston

Sure all the talk this week will be of rookie J.K. Dobbins’ two touchdowns, but that was in a blowout win over Cleveland. Ingram is the heart of the Ravens running back group and will see more than the 10 touches in Week 1. Houston was run over and around by rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire last Thursday and the Ravens ground game with Jackson, Ingram and Dobbins figures to inflict even more damage. Ingram combined for 85 yards from scrimmage and a score playing just 32-of-67 offensive plays (48%) in last year matchup with the Texans.

Grab a Clipboard

1) Miles Sanders/Boston Scott vs. LA Rams

In O.J. Simpson’s first few seasons, before the “Electric Co.” arrived, his best runs were just to get back to the line of scrimmage because there was no such thing as a hole to run through. Why am I telling you this? Because with all the injuries to the Eagles offensive line (Brandon Brooks, Andre Dillard, Lane Johnson and Jack Driscoll) not even a Hall of Fame running back would be able to produce fantasy-worthy yards or points.

2) Melvin Gordon @ Pittsburgh

It’s Pittsburgh. Stay away, far away. The Steelers averaged yielding just 90.4 yards per game on the ground last season and stonewalled an elite running back, Saquon Barkley, in the 2020 season opener (15 carries, SIX yards!). Gordon’s only likely source of points will be catching the ball out of the backfield. He faced Pittsburgh in Week 6 last season as a member of the Chargers and produced 18 yards on eight carries and 30 yards on three receptions. Find another option.

3) David Johnson vs. Baltimore

The Ravens faced Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt last week and yielded a combined 19.7 fantasy points. David Johnson isn’t as good a runner as Chubb nor as good a receiver as Hunt. Week 1 wasn’t a fluke. They held running backs to 19.3 FPts/G last season, fourth-best in the league. Johnson was very good in the first two drives (six touches, 47 yards 1 TD), but the Chiefs held him in check over the final 50 minutes. The Ravens will analyze their strategy and repeat it.

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers