Starts
Start of the Week –
Todd Gurley vs Las Vegas Raiders
Gurley put up less than four points last weekend, but with the entire team crumbling apart under the Saints, the game script had to be switched and Gurley was officially taken out. He should have a much better matchup against the Raiders who struggle against the run and against the pass.
James Robinson vs Cleveland Browns
Robinson continues to be the shining light of the Jacksonville offense. Now that Mike Glennon is going to be taking over duties for the Jaguars, expect him to lean on Robinson not only for the running duties, but for the passes out of the backfield. It isn’t the greatest matchup, but there is some upside if Robinson can get the go ahead to main event this team.
Antonio Gibson vs Dallas Cowboys
Gibson has become the clear-cut favorite of the two running backs for Washington. He has a really great matchup this Thanksgiving against the Cowboys. Their defense got hammered by Gibson the first time when he scored 21 points against them. That could very well possibly happen again after Dalvin Cook put up 28 points against them.
Giovanni Bernard vs New York Giants
Bernard is put into a great position now that Joe Mixon is on IR, and Ryan Finley will be starting in place of the injured Joe Burrow. The team will just be trying to stay alive which means a lot of points geared toward running the ball and passing out of the backfield. Bernard is dealing with going through the concussion protocol so if he can’t go then Perine and Williams would be next up, but the G-Men are 26th out of 32 against the run so this is a great matchup if it happens.
Zack Moss vs Los Angeles Chargers
Moss has made a name for himself in Buffalo as he has taken a lot of the carries and touches away from Devin Singletary. He should have a great matchup on schedule when the Bills take on the Chargers. Their defense is 23rd against stopping the run, and Frank Gore was even able to get a touchdown off them last weekend. Start Moss in the flex this weekend.
Sleepers;
Gus Edwards vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Wayne Gallman vs Cincinnati Bengals
Salvon Ahmed vs New York Jets
Sits
Sit of the Week –
Melvin Gordon vs New Orleans Saints
Gordon was able to pull off an 18-point performance against the Miami Dolphins last weekend. However, he and Lindsay both ran about the same amount of yardage, and they just gave him the go-ahead with the endzone. That is a really big dice roll to have on that kind of player especially when he faces the New Orleans Saints who are currently the number one team against running backs. No thanks.
Damien Harris vs Arizona Cardinals
Harris has been the go-to guy for the Pats for a couple of weeks, and normally the exit of Rex Burkhead from the season should make him feel pretty good. However, you still have James White, and you still have Sony Michel who was activated off of IR last weekend. More importantly, he faces the Cardinals who are 14th against the run. It’s a big drop off from the Saints, but the sharing of the Patriot running back system always has me worried.
Jerick McKinnon vs Los Angeles Rams
That Patriots thing I said goes double for this clusterfuck of a running back core. You have Mostert and Coleman set to return to some running action this weekend, and then that leaves you with McKinnon. As long as Mostert plays, you won’t even see McKinnon on the field. That is just how Coach Shanahan works. He’s an asshole like that when it comes to his running backs.
Nyheim Hines vs Tennessee Titans
Hines scored a fantastic amount of points (28) against the Titans in their first go. I do not believe it will be the same after last week’s show in Green Bay. He was overwhelmed and couldn’t find anything on the ground against such a poor Green Bay rushing defense. In fact, Taylor came back into the mix and that is who I believe will kick off this game yet again.
Darrell Henderson vs San Francisco 49ers
Henderson is starting to lose his role in this offense man. It’s not his fault entirely cause of McVay’s rollercoaster of running backs he has with him, Akers, and Brown, but yes he is not doing his duties he used to have. I do not think this upcoming matchup with the 49ers is going to be a great one for him. I’d fade on him honestly.
Busts;
Kalen Ballage vs Buffalo Bills
Frank Gore vs Miami Dolphins
Leonard Fournette vs Kansas City Chiefs
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