Rapid Reactions

Considering the nature of the turnaround of this article, much of what I’m saying comes from the same amount of time you have had to watch the games each week. Published on Tuesday, the Running Back Workload is only hours removed from Monday Night Football, and day removed from Sunday. I’m often analyzing the red zone channel like Sherlock Holmes trying to get an advantage, and while it is helpful, I will also use this section to get my thoughts on the page. Here are my top-five rapid reactions from the Week 3 NFL running back climate…

1) Back(s) on track…

I’ll keep this short, as it is a mere observation… After a documented slow start for the league’s running backs, Week 3 was a narrative in the complete opposite direction. From this past Thursday through Monday, eight running backs topped the 100-yard barrier. Only seven such times was this done in the first two weeks combined.

2) Falcon Punch

In what is considered a rare turn of events, the Falcons managed to produce the top-two point scorers at the running back position for Week 3. This backfield – while still a tough one to predict – is at least beginning to take some decipherable shape after a long look at the first three weeks.

Freeman is the “feature” guy, while Coleman wears many hats. Coleman has been most effective as the drive finisher so far, but he also serves as a spell for when Freeman is tired, and a change of pace on certain drives. At times he can come in and provide a similar effectiveness that a flame-throwing reliever does for a baseball team out of the bullpen.

With Freeman and Coleman’s styles differing so much, it is becoming very hard for defenses to prepare for them together. While fantasy owners may be frustrated with the unpredictable split, it may be the key to this fearsome Atlanta rushing attack. As the weeks continue, expect this backfield to become an even more well-oiled and finely-tuned machine.

This video below is a bit long, but it has just about every big play from both running backs. It really captures the massive impact that the two had on the game. The game itself was an entertaining, whacky, back and forth affair, so enjoy if you have the time.

3) The Real Slim Shady

After struggling in the first two weeks of the season, Week 3 featured a more vintage Shady McCoy, surprisingly against a really good defense in the Arizona Cardinals. His hop-cuts were as devastating as ever and he appeared to have the breakaway speed that we so used to love. Hopefully this is a sign that McCoy is back because if he is, the Bills offense will finally have something to rely upon.

4) Same old Pederson

Just as we saw last season with the Chiefs when Jamaal Charles went down for the year with an injury, on Sunday afternoon, coach Pederson once again found a way to make the most of his running back stable after Eagles starter Ryan Mathews came up lame with an ankle ailment.

He found an excellent blend of young blood on the ground and a veteran through the air out of the backfield, as both rookie Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner carried the Philly ground game, while Darren Sproles led all Eagles in receiving yards. In all Pederson found a way to rush for 125 yards against a good Steelers defense without his top billed rusher. This may spell trouble for Mathews fantasy owners, however may help establish security in Pederson’s job going forward. 

5) The duality of Murray

This past Sunday, the two Murrays of the league – running backs DeMarco and Latavius – met in an excellent four-quarter contest. Their paths crossed, and while it was Latavius’ team that came away with the narrow victory, his stock happens to be the one trending in the wrong direction. For the third straight week the Raiders incumbent starter has received 15 touches or less and has seen the number go down in each of the last three aforementioned weeks. With other talent on the roster, he is at risk of losing his firm grasp on the feature back role.

DeMarco Murray – the veteran working on an epic comeback in 2016 ­– contrarily rushed for 114 yards, a touchdown, and caught five passes for 41 yards against the Raiders in Week 3. Currently, he’s the third highest scoring back in standard fantasy leagues and is the number one ranked back in PPR formats.

As the season goes on, I am beginning to feel comfortable saying, “I told you so” on both of these same named, opposite trending, runners.

Nostra-Dom-Us

Just as quickly as I turned around on Melvin Gordon, he disappointed me with a mere 2.2 yards per carry average in Week 3. In all though, he still scored a touchdown, caught four passes for 43 yards, and finished with nearly 18 points on DraftKings. At least I managed to hit the DeMarco Murray pick out of the park once again as he ran for 114 yards (7.1 YPC) and a touchdown. As for my J-Train pick, while he didn’t receive the workload that I expected, he did end up scoring the game-winning touchdown for the Dolphins in overtime on Sunday. I would say overall my picks were solid again for a second week in a row. Now for my Week 4 prophecy with a crystal ball view…

Carlos Hyde ($4,200 on DraftKings) vs. DAL Defense

Welcoming the Cowboys to the west coast this weekend, the 49ers are looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss to division foe Seattle. In that loss, the only real bright spot for the Niners was running back Carlos Hyde, who ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns against a good Seahawks defense. In this matchup, the difference is that the Cowboys don’t have a good defense. While a back has yet to put a crooked number up on them, teams have been able to gash Dallas for big gains on the ground when they care to try. Being that Hyde is the 49ers best playmaker, I expect them to lean heavily on him for four quarters, likely balancing the time of possession, which has been the real difference for the Cowboys in their two wins so far this season. Being offered at a cheap price of only $4,200 on DK, Hyde has a chance to be the play of the week.

LeGarrette Blount ($5,000 on DraftKings) vs. BUF Defense

I may have told you to sell high on Blount last week, however that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t milk every last drop of fantasy gold out of him before Tom Brady comes back.

In this matchup, Blount is coming in as one of the hottest backs in the league. He’s got four touchdowns in three weeks, 300 yards rushing, and is averaging 25 touches per game. The Bills on the other hand – while they may have shocked the Cardinals last week – have been very disappointing so far in 2016. They allowed three rushing TD’s to Matt Forte in Week 2 and two to David Johnson in just this past week. With the way that this Patriots team has been rallying together in the absence of Tom Brady, I see no reason why the Blount train won’t continue rolling in Week 4 against the Bills. He remains very affordable on DK at only $5,000.

Flyer Pick: Jordan Howard ($3,700 on DraftKings) vs. DET Defense

I gave you a flyer pick last week in Jay Ajayi and while he only finished with 8.8 points, he did manage a game-winning touchdown and kept things interesting. This week – as it sits now – I am liking what I am hearing for the prospects of Jordan Howard.

Aside from the fact that Howard is the most talented back on the roster, headed into Week 4, he may be the only healthy one too. He looked good against Dallas and even proved viable out of the backfield as a receiver. Potentially getting a start against a mediocre defense, Howard will be a bargain at only $3,700 on DK. He should be a popular flex play.