It’s well established at this point that the running back position has been particularly hard hit by injuries this season. As a result, the top four RBs selected in drafts — Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR), Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN), Derrick Henry (RB – TEN), and Alvin Kamara (RB – NO) — are just some of the names who have missed big chunks of the 2021 season.
This is 2021, though, so it’s not just injuries we have to worry about as we speed into the fantasy playoffs. There’s also a pandemic raging, and 75 players have tested positive for Covid-19 in just the last two days. Running backs currently on the Covid list include Darrell Henderson (RB – LAR), Mark Ingram (RB – NO), Jamaal Williams (RB – DET), Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN), and all three running backs on the Dolphins’ active roster. That’s not even counting Nick Chubb (RB – CLE) and D’Ernest Johnson (RB – CLE), who will likely have to run behind a makeshift offensive line because two of the Browns’ starting linemen are on the Covid list.
The health and safety of human beings always come first, whether football players or otherwise. Full stop. That said, as fantasy managers, we need to accept that there is a growing chance our playoff matchups are decided by Covid, mainly if the absences occur at the last minute. Just ask anybody who needed fantasy points from Tyler Higbee (TE – LAR) on Monday to get into the playoffs in the first place!
It’s times like these that it’s worth remembering this is just a game, the kind of thing that helps us get through tough times like pandemics. I’m as competitive about fantasy football as anyone you’ll meet — ask my league-mates — but if I lose because of a Covid-related absence, I will accept that it is no more random than so much of the other chaos that surrounds this crazy game of ours.
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As always, this week’s Roundup will break down all of the fantasy-relevant happenings in backfields across the NFL. If you don’t see a backfield listed here, it just means that the backfield hasn’t significantly shifted since I wrote about it in a previous Roundup. I’m always happy to talk about any backfield situation or anything fantasy-related on Twitter @andrew_seifter. You can also get my thoughts on waiver wire pickups, weekly rankings, and rest-of-season player values by going to ROSrankings.com and subscribing to the Rest of Season Rankings podcast.
Arizona Cardinals
James Conner (RB – ARI) continued to prove all the doubters wrong in Week 14, posting his fifth multi-touchdown game of the season and catching a season-high nine passes — including another ridiculous one-handed grab. Unfortunately, however, he appeared to get banged up on the game’s second-to-last play. Kliff Kingsbury indicated that it wasn’t too serious, but Conner is set for an MRI on his ankle.
The Cardinals opted not to activate Chase Edmonds (RB – ARI) for the Rams game, but he’ll likely return next week. At this point, it’s abundantly clear that Conner is Arizona’s lead back, if healthy, but Kingsbury did indicate that he will lighten Conner’s workload a bit once Edmonds is back in the fold.
Buffalo Bills
Perhaps we should have seen this coming after the Bills “only” gave their running backs 19 carries in the Week 13 “Wind Bowl” (a game in which Patriots RBs had 38 carries). In Week 14, Buffalo took its neglect of the running game to a whole new level, becoming the first team in the 21st century to go the entire first half without a running back carry.
Devin Singletary (RB – BUF) and Matt Breida (RB – BUF) each got a few carries in the second half, but their rushing production was dwarfed by QB Josh Allen (QB – BUF), who ran the ball 12 times for 109 yards and a score. After the game, Bills coach Sean McDermott talked up the team’s second-half adjustment to a more balanced attack, but let’s say this game is a good reminder of why we can’t trust Buffalo running backs in the fantasy playoffs.
Carolina Panthers
On Sunday, the Panthers fell behind early against the Falcons, which predictably led to passing down back Ameer Abdullah (RB – CAR) out-snapping early-down back Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR). With matchups against Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and New Orleans on the horizon, we may see more Abdullah-oriented game scripts going forward. Of course, it also doesn’t help Hubbard’s case that the Bills, Bucs, and Saints are all strong against the run.
All that said, the real story in Carolina is that the offense is a mess. Cam Newton (QB – CAR) has played so poorly of late that he’s regularly getting benched for P.J. Walker (QB – CAR), and coach Matt Rhule has even resorted to talking up Sam Darnold (QB – CAR) as a potential late-season factor. Unfortunately, it will be tough for either Carolina back to put up RB2 value in this environment, especially considering their rough rest-of-season schedule.
Chicago Bears
David Montgomery (RB – CHI) had a relatively quiet game against a tough Packers defense on Sunday night, but he remained active in the passing game and dominated snaps in the Bears’ backfield.
The more significant fantasy-relevant takeaway from the game was that Damien Williams (RB – CHI) returned to the active roster and played slightly ahead of rookie Khalil Herbert (RB – CHI). Herbert put up some juicy fantasy numbers in place of Montgomery earlier in the season, but it is no longer a lock that he would become the clear lead back if Montgomery were to go down again. So that makes Herbert — and Williams — lower priority handcuffs for the stretch run.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns can’t seem to keep their 1-2 punch of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (RB – CLE) together for any length of time this season. In his second game since returning from a five-week absence, Hunt suffered an ankle injury that has him “week-to-week” and is unlikely to play in Week 15.
D’Ernest Johnson has shown more than enough this season to view him as a capable fill-in for Hunt, but Cleveland’s problems don’t end there. The team is also amidst a full-fledged Covid outbreak, with starting offensive linemen Jedrick Wills (OT – CLE) and Wyatt Teller (G – CLE) among those already on the Covid list. In addition, Jarvis Landry (WR – CLE) and Austin Hooper (TE – CLE) are also on the list, further depleting an already-thin pass-catching corps. As a result, the fantasy prospects of Chubb and Johnson may need to be downgraded if the Browns don’t get some of their offensive pieces back by Saturday’s game against the Raiders.
Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL) has been playing through a knee injury for seemingly the entire season, but it was Tony Pollard (RB – DAL) who missed the Cowboys’ Week 14 contest. Pollard is dealing with a torn plantar fascia in his foot, and while coach Mike McCarthy appears to be confident Pollard will return to action in Week 15, it remains to be seen. If Pollard misses more time, Corey Clement (RB – DAL) becomes a name to consider on the waiver wire.
If Pollard can suit up, we can likely expect a roughly 60-40 snap split in Elliott’s favor, as occurred in Weeks 12 and 13. Neither Elliott nor Pollard is likely to be 100 percent, but the matchup against the Giants is favorable enough to put both of them squarely in the RB2/flex conversation for Week 15.
Denver Broncos
Whether you roster Javonte Williams (RB – DEN) or Melvin Gordon (RB – DEN), you went home happy last week. The Broncos ran all over the helpless Lions, and both of Denver’s backs walked away with two touchdowns even though they split playing time down the middle. They won’t get to play against Detroit every week, mind you, but the rest-of-season schedule (CIN, @LV, @LAC) is also quite favorable.
If you were hoping Williams was going to run away with the job after his huge Week 13, you were always likely to end up disappointed. Just be happy that both Denver backs can be solid RB2s with that easy remaining schedule.
Detroit Lions
The Lions’ backfield has gotten messy the last couple of weeks. First, D’Andre Swift (RB – DET) went down in Week 12 with a shoulder injury. Then, late last week, Jamaal Williams was placed on the Covid list.
Finally, the coup de grace. As fantasy managers were desperately trying to decide whether Godwin Igwebuike (RB – DET) or Jermar Jefferson (RB – DET) would be the better Week 14 plug-and-play, Adam Schefter revealed an hour before kickoff that he was going to start Craig Reynolds (RB – DET) on his fantasy team. It was impossible to know what to make of that, exactly, but sure enough, Reynolds led the Lions’ backfield in snaps, carries, and yards against Denver.
It was likely enough to ensure Reynolds is added in many fantasy leagues, but I wouldn’t make him a huge priority. There is a good chance that Swift, Williams, or both return for Week 15. Lions coach Dan Campbell says he is “hopeful” Swift can return, and there would seem to be at least a realistic chance it happens.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers backfield remained a timeshare in Week 14, but it is a timeshare that seems to be tilting in AJ Dillon’s (RB – GB) direction. Dillon played 35 snaps against the Bears while Aaron Jones (RB – GB) played 29, and while Jones scored two touchdowns, Dillon out-touched him 15 to 8.
Jones appears to be fully healthy and capable of doing a lot of fantasy damage on limited touches. It sure seems the Packers want to feed Dillon down the stretch, though. At 6’0″ and 247 LBs, Dillon is a bruising between-the-tackles force. So it only makes sense that Green Bay would give him an increasingly heavy workload as the weather turns and opposing defenses wear down. Both Packers RBs are viable fantasy plays, but if I had to pick one right now, it’s Dillon.
Jacksonville Jaguars
When you think things can’t possibly get worse in Jacksonville, they somehow do. On Sunday, the Jags were blanked by Tennessee, with Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX) throwing four picks and James Robinson (RB – JAX) rushing six times for four yards.
This team won’t meaningfully improve until they move on from Urban Meyer, but in the meantime, fantasy managers are faced with a bit of a problem when it comes to Robinson. While Robinson’s talent is not in doubt, his situation is a mess. The Jaguars’ lead back has a total of 14 carries for 28 yards over the last two games, but he did play nearly three times as many snaps as Carlos Hyde (RB – JAX) in Week 14 and gets mouth-watering matchups with the Texans and Jets over the next two weeks. So if you’ve made it this far with Robinson, you probably need to stick with him for the fantasy playoffs. I know I will be.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs’ backfield remained an even timeshare in Week 14, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB – KC) serving as the team’s primary rusher and Darrel Williams (RB – KC) continuing to make big plays on limited opportunities in the passing game. However, the game against Las Vegas was so one-sided that third-string back Derrick Gore (RB – KC) was able to get in on the act, too.
It would still be a significant stretch to say that Kansas City’s offense is running on all cylinders, but CEH and Williams have nonetheless combined to score five touchdowns over the team’s last four games. As a result, continue to view Edwards-Helaire as an RB2 and Williams as an RB3/flex option heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Las Vegas Raiders
Last week in Kansas City, the game script went haywire in a hurry on the Raiders. As a result, Josh Jacobs (RB – LV) only carried the ball nine times, and Trey Ragas got some snaps in the second half. Jacobs’ promising usage as a receiver continued — he caught five balls for 46 yards — but it will be worth watching whether that changes at all now that the Raiders have activated Jalen Richard (RB – LV) from the Covid list. Peyton Barber (RB – LV) still looks like the primary handcuff for those rostering Jacobs or looking for an upside stash in deeper formats.
Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler (RB -LAC) came away from the Chargers’ victory over the Giants with a recurrence of the ankle injury that put him on the injury report heading into the contest, raising questions about whether he will be ready in time for Thursday Night Football against Kansas City. However, Chargers’ coach Brandon Staley didn’t sound too concerned about the injury on Monday, and the fact that Ekeler got in a limited practice on Tuesday bodes well for his chances of suiting up against the Chiefs.
Ekeler’s reduced snap count last week only served to confirm further he has no direct backup. Justin Jackson (RB – LAC) and Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC) evenly split the snaps that Ekeler missed, and if he were ever to be inactive, Larry Rountree (RB – LAC) could factor into the equation, too.
Los Angeles Rams
One week after being active as the team’s emergency back, Darrell Henderson landed on the Covid list heading into Week 14. However, signs pointed towards Sony Michel (RB – LAR), remaining a considerable part of the Rams’ offense even before that announcement.
Michel’s numbers against the Cardinals on Monday night don’t jump off the page (20 carries for 79 yards), but he passed the eye test and once again gave Los Angeles a physical dimension that it previously had lacked. Unfortunately, the Rams’ Covid situation appears to be getting worse, not better, so we’ll have to wait and see if Henderson can make it back this week or whether more of his teammates join him on the sideline.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins’ backfield is another one that is currently decimated by the pandemic. All three backs on the active roster — Myles Gaskin (RB – MIA), Salvon Ahmed (RB – MIA), and Phillip Lindsay (RB – MIA) — have tested positive for Covid and will need to have received two negative tests 24 hours apart by Saturday afternoon to play this week.
If all three backs remain on the Covid list, it could open the door for Malcolm Brown (RB – MIA), who challenged Gaskin for lead-back duties earlier in the season. Brown, who is currently on injured reserve, will reportedly resume practicing this week. Duke Johnson (RB -MIA), Gerrid Doaks (RB – MIA), and Dexter Williams (RB – MIA) are other names who could potentially see snaps, but Brown would seem to be the frontrunner. The Dolphins get a dream matchup with the Jets this week, so Brown is a worthwhile wait-and-see stash.
Minnesota Vikings
Just as he did in a January 2020 playoff game, Dalvin Cook demonstrated last week that he is just fine playing with a shoulder harness. Cook returned to the lineup sooner than expected and proceeded to run for 205 yards, the most rushing yards any player has put up this season. Not too shabby.
It was logical to wonder if Cook might cede some snaps to Alexander Mattison in his first game back, but Mattison was as lightly used as he usually is when Cook is healthy. Mattison is on the Covid list to boot, meaning newly-signed vet Wayne Gallman (RB – MIN) is Cook’s temporary handcuff.
New England Patriots
The Patriots were on Bye last week, so we received little news about the severity of the hamstring tweak that Damien Harris (RB – NE) suffered in Week 13. Thankfully we finally got a better sense of it on Tuesday, when we learned that Harris had logged a limited practice. This early in the week serves as a promising sign that he’ll be good to go for Saturday’s matchup with the Colts.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE) would become a must-start even in a tough matchup if Harris missed the game. As it stands, we can expect the continuation of a fairly even committee between the two backs, with Brandon Bolden (RB – NE) also mixing in on passing downs.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints finally got Alvin Kamara back in Week 14, just in time for an ideal matchup with the Jets. Kamara didn’t disappoint, piling up 145 scrimmage yards and a score on 31 touches. With Mark Ingram on the Covid list, Tony Jones (RB – NO) played the role of Kamara’s caddy. Ingram would seemingly have a good chance to get cleared in time for the next game, but he is more of a Kamara handcuff than a standalone RB3/flex option considering the Saints’ demanding remaining schedule (@TB, MIA, CAR).
New York Giants
Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG) took full advantage of a plus matchup with the Chargers on Sunday, posting his best fantasy stat line since way back in Week 4. He did so despite playing only 55 percent of the snaps, his smallest share since Week 1 when he was still being eased back in after missing most of the 2020 season with a torn ACL.
Barkley did show up on the injury report last week due to his lingering ankle injury, which may explain the reduced snaps. Or it could simply be because backup Devontae Booker (RB – NYG) is playing some good football. Booker has turned 22 touches into 138 scrimmage yards over the last two weeks. He’s not a terrific standalone option but should be rostered as a hedge on Barkley’s health.
New York Jets
Tevin Coleman’s (RB – NYJ) temporary reign as the Jets’ lead back came to a sudden halt when he missed last week’s game with a concussion. With Coleman out, Ty Johnson (RB – NYJ) played 73 percent of the snaps but only had three more touches than La’Mical Perine (RB – NYJ). Neither back did a ton with their opportunities against a sturdy Saints defense.
The more critical fantasy news is that Jets coach Robert Saleh expects rookie Michael Carter (RB – NYJ) to return this week. Carter established himself as the Jets’ lead back from Weeks 7-10 before landing on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. His remaining schedule isn’t great (@MIA, JAX, TB), but he still has a shot at RB2 value as long as he resumes his active role in the passing game.
San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF) missed his fourth game of the season last week, as he dealt with both a concussion and knee irritation. An MRI on the knee came back clean, so the concussion was likely the more significant impediment to him playing last week. However, assuming he clears the concussion protocol this week — and early indications are that he could return — Mitchell will step right back into a bell-cow role.
Jeff Wilson (RB – SF) once again served as the 49ers’ lead back in Mitchell’s absence, and once again, his fantasy numbers (13 carries, 56 yards) were underwhelming. Deebo Samuel (WR – SF) had eight carries of his own, and unlike Wilson, Samuel found the end zone. It certainly seems like Kyle Shanahan wants to rely on Samuel more as a rusher in games that Mitchell misses. Hopefully, there won’t be any more of those this season.
Seattle Seahawks
It’s been over two years since Rashaad Penny (RB – SEA) had a 100-yard rushing game, but that streak ended against the lowly Texans on Sunday. Penny carried 16 times for 137 yards and found the end zone twice, making him one of the hottest names on the Week 15 waiver wire. The performance impressed coach Pete Carroll, who said that Penny “deserves a shot” to be the starter, although there will still be a rotation.
Starting running backs don’t grow on trees, but be aware that Penny will have a more challenging task this week against the Rams than he did against Houston. The Rams enter the game as 4.5 point favorites, so Penny will likely need to play a more significant role in the passing game to pay off as an RB2 this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Leonard Fournette (RB – TB) has been close to an every-down player over the last three weeks, and his hold on bell-cow duties only grows stronger with the news that Gio Bernard (RB – TB) is heading to injured reserve with hip and knee injuries. It may well be Ronald Jones (RB – TB) that picks up the extra snaps rather than Fournette, but that hardly matters when Lenny is playing 80+ percent of the time already.
Tennessee Titans
With Jeremy McNichols (RB – TEN) back in the fold, the Titans evenly rotated three backs in Sunday’s 20-0 pasting of the Jaguars. With Tennessee in a favorable game script to establish the run, D’Onta Foreman (RB – TEN) led the backfield in touches (15) and reached the end zone. McNichols was second with eight touches (all rushes), but while he got some run in the first half, most of his touches were late. Dontrell Hilliard (RB – TEN) was third with six touches, all on the ground.
The main takeaway is that none of the three backs ran the ball effectively or were actively involved in the passing game and that the situation remains very murky as we advance. Foreman is the best fantasy option if for no other reason than he’s the best bet for red zone carries, but even he is merely an RB3/flex option.
If you’re wondering, Derrick Henry is reportedly making excellent progress in his return from a broken foot but isn’t expected to return until Week 18 at the earliest. Given that we are talking about the number one player in fantasy football, I’d still recommend stashing him in an IR spot just in case he somehow returns in time for fantasy championships in Week 17.
Washington Football Team
Coming off four straight big games, Antonio Gibson (RB – WFT) was underwhelming in Week 14 against a ferocious Dallas defense, but his usage was still quite promising. Whether or not J.D. McKissic (RB – WFT) returns from his concussion in Week 15 matters less to Gibson’s fantasy fortunes than whether the Football Team can establish the running game. The Eagles are not a great matchup, but Gibson remains a must-start.
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Andrew Seifter is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive and follow him @andrew_seifter.
