The stakes are the highest they’ve been in the fantasy football season, with the playoffs beginning this week in most leagues. The questions came into Friday’s Discord AMA fast and furious, and running backs were the subject of many questions. The following three running backs were frequently asked about in start-sit questions.
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Friday’s Fantasy Football Discord AMA Recap
Zach Charbonnet is a Must-Start Running Back in Week 15
I was shocked by the number of people questioning if they should start Zach Charbonnet this week. Kenneth Walker was ruled doubtful on Friday afternoon, meaning he’ll almost certainly be inactive, leaving a bell-cow role for Charbonnet.
The Packers have stiffened up their run defense. Nevertheless, Charbonnet’s role as Seattle’s featured back is mouthwatering. He’s also excelled in three starts this year. According to the data suite at Fantasy Points, in the second-year running back’s three starts this year, he’s had 54 rush attempts, 87.7 rushing yards per game, 4.87 yards per carry, a 5.6% explosive run percentage, 0.26 missed tackles forced per attempt, 100% of Seattle’s rush attempts inside the five-yard line, five rushing touchdowns, a 64.3% route participation rate, 16 targets, 0.22 targets per route run, 35.3 receiving yards per game, 5.0 receptions per game and 21.9 expected half point per reception (half PPR) points per game. Charbonnet is a no-questions-asked starter in all fantasy leagues.
How High Should Brian Robinson Rank This Week?
Brian Robinson is also in the must-start territory this week. In fact, he’s a more appealing option than Charbonnet, albeit that’s splitting hairs. I’m so bullish on Robinson’s outlook that I called him a top-five running back in all scoring formats this week in my bold predictions piece.
While I suggested to a Discord user in a superflex league that they start Jameis Winston over Robinson, it wasn’t a snap answer. I also suggested to two other users that they start Robinson over Rico Dowdle and Tee Higgins, respectively. Robinson has a legitimate chance to finish as this week’s overall RB1 and needs to be treated as a player who should amass 100-plus scrimmage yards with at least one touchdown in a plus matchup.
Can Gamers Trust Breece Hall if He’s Active This Week?
Breece Hall is reportedly expected to play on Sunday.
Hall is the RB14 in half PPR points per game (13.9) this season, which is well below the expectations that accompanied him at the time of fantasy drafts. Nevertheless, he’s performed like a borderline RB1 in 12-team half PPR leagues. So, gamers are understandably having a difficult time benching him.
Unfortunately, even if Hall is healthy enough to play, that’s different than entering the contest at full health. The Jets have been eliminated from the playoffs, and rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis were stellar in Hall’s absence last week.
Running Hall into the ground in a meaningless game would be organizational malpractice. The Jets did so in Week 18 last year, so there is a precedent for them idiotically using him. Still, Gang Green didn’t have Allen and Davis on last year’s team.
Hall hasn’t played well enough this season to be a no-brainer starter if he’s part of a two or three-back committee, even in a tasty matchup. Hall could also suffer an in-game setback, which would be disastrous for fantasy teams using him in their playoff matchup. As a result, I’d use James Conner, Tyrone Tracy, Rhamondre Stevenson, Sincere McCormick and Jaleel McLaughlin over Hall. I’d also use wideouts Drake London and Zay Flowers in the flex over Hall.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.