Week 14 is in the books, and it’s time to take stock of the crazy week we just experienced. What better way to do that then with a retrospective of the top stories from fantasy’s favorite position – the running back. Each Wednesday, we’ll look back on studs, busts, breakouts, timeshares, situations to monitor, and all things RB from the past week.
Settle in, partner. It’s time to saddle up for the RB Roundup. Yeehaw.
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Stud of the week: Derrick Henry (TEN) 35.2 fantasy points
Henry rolled to a 26/215/2 rushing line, piling up a season-high in yards and his second 200-yard game of the season. We’ll have more on him below.
Bust of the week: Giovani Bernard (CIN) 1.8 fantasy points
In a smash spot against Dallas, the “Mustached One” flopped spectacularly. Uncharacteristically, he fumbled on his first carry of the afternoon and didn’t see any more carries until the second half. Trayveon Williams and Samaje Perine both finished with bigger days than Gio, who was the “starter” in this one.
Breakout of the week: Lynn Bowden (MIA) 11.9 fantasy points
Bowden finished Sunday’s loss with a 7/82 receiving line on nine targets. If Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed are forced to miss additional time, Bowden has clear PPR flex appeal.
Surprise of the Week: Buddy Howell (HOU)/Trayveon Williams (CIN)
It was too difficult to pick just one of these guys, so both will get the somewhat-dubious honor of being the surprise of the week. With Duke Johnson struggling and the Texans getting stomped, Howell logged his first carries of the season and went 11/42 in garbage time. As mentioned above, Williams took over for Gio Bernard after the veteran’s errant fumble. Neither Howell nor Williams will be fantasy-relevant options moving forward
King Henry Reigns Supreme
Derrick Henry currently leads the NFL with 1,532 rushing yards… and we still have three games to go. Henry won the rushing title in 2019 with a career-high 1,540 rushing yards, but he’s now poised to shatter that in 2020. At his current pace, King Henry would finish the year with 1,885 rushing yards, which would rank as the ninth-most single-season yards all time.
While reaching 1,885 yards would be quite an accomplishment, hitting the 2K mark isn’t out of reach. To hit that total, he would need to averaged 156 yards per game across his final three contests. The good news? Those matchups come against the Lions, Packers, and Texans – three of the weakest run defenses in the NFL.
The King with a nod to The King. ? @KingHenry_2 @KingJames
?: #TENvsJAX on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/hQgBgSB4Qy pic.twitter.com/a7uAtP4Z5E— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2020
If he’s able to hit 2,000 yards, Henry would be the second Titan to do it (CJ2K in 2009) and only the eighth player in NFL history to reach that mark. The last time a running back rushed for 2,000 yards came in 2012 when Adrian Peterson did it.
Even if Henry doesn’t hit that elusive mark, he’s a near lock to lead the NFL in rushing, and if he does it, he’ll become the first back-to-back rushing champ since LaDainian Tomlinson did it in 2006-7.
Henry is on a historical pace among the NFL’s best, but he’s on pace to blow away previous career highs in carries (303), rushing yards (1,540), rush yards per game (102.7), receptions (18), rushing touchdowns (16), and games played (16).
It will be an exciting end of the year for Henry as he surges toward history. For what it’s worth, if he ever gets into music, the album cover possibilities are pretty great.
— Taylor Canevari (@TACanevari) December 13, 2020
Jeff Wilson, Playoff Hero?
Wilson split work nearly evenly with Raheem Mostert in Week 14, and Mostert’s status for Week 15 is trending in the wrong direction after a Monday MRI. Mostert is dealing with knee and ankle injuries, and if he’s unable to go, Wilson should be locked into lineups as an easy RB2.
Across his last three games (after missing time from Weeks 8-11), Wilson has averaged 11 touches per contest and supplanted Jerick McKinnon as the clear 1B or No. 2 in San Francisco’s backfield. Let’s not forget what Wilson did the last time he was given a substantial workload.
Jeff Wilson has THREE touchdowns today.
The 49ers are winning 30-6.pic.twitter.com/lPEKoWKVKs
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) October 25, 2020
Wilson’s matchup with Dallas is about as juicy as they come in Week 15, as Dallas has surrendered the sixth-most points to running backs this season. His final two games (Arizona in Week 16 and Seattle in Week 17) are also favorable, and Wilson could be a league winner for those who add him.
Mike Davis, Ready to Roll
With news that Christian McCaffrey is unlikely to play again in Week 15, Davis should be locked into fantasy lineups as an RB1 against Green Bay’s pedestrian run defense. In Week 14, he finished as a top-5 play thanks to 93 yards and two scores against the Broncos.
.@MikeDavisRB takes it in for his 2nd rushing TD today ? #KeepPounding
?: #DENvsCAR on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/tvMsTDEOAi pic.twitter.com/h3l8wqJOZ2— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2020
The Panthers are currently 4-9, with next to no chance at making the playoffs. This team is not a contender, and it would make little sense to bring CMC back for two meaningless games. Davis should be Carolina’s starting running back to close out the season, and given his production this season, there’s no reason not to keep trusting him for the fantasy playoffs. He’s got more difficult matchups with Washington and New Orleans in Weeks 16-17, but Davis has racked up 926 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns in 2020 with 57 receptions to his credit. He’s got plenty of upside even against unfavorable opponents.
Quick Hitters
- In five games since returning to the Browns’ lineup, Nick Chubb has totaled 625 total yards and five touchdowns.
NICK CHUBB COMIN' THRU ?
?: https://t.co/auJgZw1LIo pic.twitter.com/AKbQpMBHu7
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 15, 2020
- After three straight duds, Miles Sanders erupted for a massive day against one of the league’s best run defenses. Is his outlook trending up with Jalen Hurts under center?
82 YARDS for @BoobieMilesXXIV!#NOvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/AN4riFIYzR
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 13, 2020
- Gus Edwards found the end zone twice in Week 14, while J.K. Dobbins finished the game with just one score. The good news is, Dobbins comfortably led the backfield in snaps. Next up is a fantastic matchup with Jacksonville in Week 15. Dobbins should be viewed as an RB2 in that one, while Edwards makes a touchdown-dependent flex.
The J.K. Dobbins takeover is here ? pic.twitter.com/iVEdyjoYuk
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 15, 2020
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Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.
