Running Backs
My weekly matchup chart highlights the best positional matchups vs. the toughest. Translation: green is a good matchup for the position, red is bad, and yellow is neutral. This information is updated weekly based on fantasy points against (to date) and a few other factors and presented in no particular order per tier.
My Guys This Week
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Tough game against the Chiefs, but we knew that, right? Kamara has been a godsend this year, so we forgive one rough week. This week Alvin gets the Buccaneers, who rank 20th against RBs, in which should be a game he gets back on track. Volume is the name of Kamara’s game in recent years, but for added bonus he has been incredibly effective with his touches this season. I’m a tad concerned for a few reasons, though. First, Kendre Miller is looming to steal touches. He’s about to be reactivated from IR, and while it might not happen this week, it will soon. Second, and maybe far more impactful, Derek Carr was just diagnosed with a left oblique injury and will miss several weeks. I don’t know who the Saints will trot out this week against the Bucs, but neither of the candidates – Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler – figure to fare all that well. Oddly enough, however, I do like this for Kamara’s value this week, as I expect (insert QB name here) to check down to him in what almost certainly will be a simplified game plan. The Saints defense should keep them in this game, so the script is there for Alvin. Solid floor this week, with definite upside.
Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
Tracy looked fantastic last week – 18 carries for 129 yards. And get this – not one negative carry. He didn’t score, but still. Buddy looked legit. So much so that he may have supplanted Singletary from the starting role. I mean, why wouldn’t he? Singletary has had a decent floor for fantasy (especially with the receiving work), but his real-world efficiency is garbage. Plus, the injury may keep Singletary out for their Week 6 tilt against the Bengals. Cincinnati ranks 21st against running backs this season and has been consistently bad. They’ve given up 20 points or more to the position in 4/5 games, including touchdowns in four straight. The O/U for this one currently sits just shy of 50, and the Giants will need to be firing to keep up in this one. You can throw all day on Cincinnati (WRs have scored 40, 38, and 36 in the past three weeks against them), but you can run on them, too (3/5 north of 24 points). I expect the Giants will do both, and they will feature Tracy while doing it. Must start this week.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 16: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Ford Field on December 16, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Honorable mention: Jahmyr Gibbs (DET), Bijan Robinson (ATL), Chubba Hubbard (CAR)
My Fades This Week
J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
What happened to J.K.? After Week 1 he had us blowing our bankrolls to add him, and he followed that up with another gem in Week 2. Since then? Not so much. Yes, he faced two brutal defenses in the Chiefs and Steelers, and he is coming off a bye week. His opponent this week is the Denver Broncos, who rank 10th against RBs through the first five games. They’d be even better if not for Seattle’s run game taking care of business (34 points) in Week 1. I don’t think Dobbins is in any danger of ceding touches to Gus Edwards – J.K. has pretty much dominated snap share since Week 2. This is more about the mess the Chargers seem to be at this point and the matchup. Denver has been a sneaky good defense this season, and not just against the cake matchups. I don’t expect Dobbins to find much running room this week, even though the game script suggests decent volume.
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA – MAY 20: J.K. Dobbins #27 runs a drill during a Los Angeles Chargers OTA offseason workout on May 20, 2024 in Costa Mesa, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I almost went Breece Hall here, as he’s been one of the worst running backs in football over the past two weeks, but it kind of feels like maybe he’s got a shot to get-right this week at home against Buffalo. Rather, let’s chat about Bucky Irving. An early dandy of the 2024 season, Irving has shown promise, and he’s been effective with his touches. He’s also played his way into more snaps recently, which is good. But Rachaad White – who looked much better back last week – isn’t going anywhere. On the season, White has basically a 2-1 advantage in snaps, though it’s been 60/40 over the past two weeks. If you own one you kind of have to own both, as any change in circumstances could lead to tremendous volume value for either. The Saints aren’t anything special against the run (after two really good games vs. non-stellar competition, they’ve given up 44,19, and 27, respectively), so it’s not the matchup that has me backing off Bucky this week. It’s the lack of role clarity, the uncertainty of volume, and that Rachaad White may be reestablishing himself as the RB1 of this backfield.
Honorable mention: Travis Etienne, Jr. (JAX), Alexander Mattison (LVR), Rachaad White (TB)