It’s fantasy playoff time, and there appear to be more workhorse backs than ever. Below are a few of those, along with other backfields to monitor.
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Arizona Cardinals
- James Conner – 33 snaps (44%)
- Chase Edmonds – 29 snaps (39%)
The run James Conner was on during the absence of Chase Edmonds was fun while it lasted. Conner came back down after seeing a virtual timeshare with Edmonds between 80-90% of the backfield carries the last five weeks. The evenness carried over to touches, too, with Edmonds totaling six rushes and a target with Conner rushing eight times and seeing two targets.
It’s a shame there aren’t more snaps to go around. Both Conner and Edmonds were highly effective in the few carries they saw, averaging five and nine yards-per-carry, respectively, and is an excellent development for the Cardinals run game. But it’s horrible news and timing. Several fantasy managers thought they could use the late-round steal in Conner for their playoff matchups when he was acting as the workhorse and handling the rushing attempts and targets. Now? He’s back to ground and pound duty. Case in point – he saw just five targets all season before the Edmonds injury and matched it the first game Edmonds didn’t finish. Sadly, it’s a situation to avoid going forward.
Next week: Cardinals vs. Colts
Buffalo Bills
- Devin Singletary – 65 snaps (93%)
- Matt Breida – Three snaps (4%)
No one is quite sure how we got here, but Devin Singletary is a legitimate workhorse running back, becoming one just in time for the fantasy playoffs. Not only were the 65 snaps a season-high, but the 22 carries he totaled were career-high. He turned those carries into 86 yards (another season-high) and scored his third rushing touchdown of the season.
The Bills have lost faith in Zach Moss and have given his touches to Singletary. It’s doubtful Buffalo continues this trend into the 2022 season, but, for now, they appear to be riding Singletary until the end.
Next week: Bills at Patriots
Detroit Lions
- Craig Reynolds – 42 snaps (65%)
- Godwin Igwebuike – 12 snaps (18%)
- Jermar Jefferson – Six snaps (9%)
Craig Reynolds wasn’t on the Lions roster – let alone fantasy rosters – three weeks ago, but he stands primed to be a significant factor in the fantasy playoffs. After filling in for the injured D’Andre Swift and COVID-positive Jamaal Williams, Reynolds saw 37 carries over two games and totaled nearly 200 yards and averaging over five yards per carry in the process.
Williams is on schedule to return this week, but Swift’s status is still up in the air. Reynolds may take over lead-back duties while Williams continues on his passing-down work, making Reynolds the more attractive option for the final weeks of the season. Craig Reynolds!
Next week: Lions at Falcons
Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Jacobs – 45 snaps (65%)
- Peyton Barber – 13 snaps (19%)
- Jalen Richard – 11 snaps (16%)
The stat line isn’t pretty, but Josh Jacobs is grinding out the end of the season and quietly becoming a valuable piece to fantasy teams. His status as the lead back in Vegas was never questioned, but the injury to backup Kenyan Drake solidified his passing game involvement. Jacobs has already set career-highs in targets (55), receptions (47), and receiving yards (324) with three games left in the season and two games left in most fantasy leagues.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for Jacobs as he’s well below his 18 rush attempts-per-game average and is currently sitting at a career-low 3.7 yards-per-game. But if he can keep up his pace of seeing more than four targets per game, that’ll more than offset any loss in the run game.
Next week: Raiders vs. Broncos
Los Angeles Chargers
- Justin Jackson – 43 snaps (54%)
- Austin Ekeler – 27 snaps (34%)
- Joshua Kelley – 13 snaps (16%)
Looking at just the snap count for the Chargers in Week 15 can be a little misleading. Yes, Justin Jackson led the way and even led the backfield in rush attempts with 13. But Austin Ekeler was still the star, turning 12 carries into 59 yards and a touchdown while adding four receptions for 23 yards. Ekeler’s workload was technically scaled back due to an injury, but his 12 carries are in-line with his season-long average. If anything, he was just more efficient.
However, it does highlight the need to pick up Ekeler’s primary backup, Jackson, if you haven’t already. He was also very efficient, turning his 13 carries into 86 yards, and would stand to see more if Ekeler suffered a more significant injury.
Next week: Chargers at Texans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Leonard Fournette – 33 snaps (45%)
- Ronald Jones II – 22 snaps (30%)
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn – 19 snaps (26%)
His fantasy value is a never-ending roller coaster; Ronald Jones is in line to be the primary running back for the Bucs as Leonard Fournette will miss time due to an injury. In his initial debut towards the end of the Bucs game against the Saints, Jones was impressive, averaging nearly eight yards per carry and adding two targets in the passing game. Behold, a preview of what life will be like without Leonard Fournette in the Bucs or fantasy lineups.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn was a non-factor and is no threat to Jones – at least this week. For the fantasy playoffs, Jones will have the backfield to himself.
Next week: Buccaneers at Panthers
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Michael Moore is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Michael, check out his archive and follow him @DLF_Moore.
