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 6 NFL running back climate…

1) All Aboard the J-Train!

I tried to clue you all in about a month ago about hopping on the J-Train early, and I hope you did. If you didn’t before this week, it is likely leaving without you. After 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 against the Steelers, Jay Ajayi is sure to be the hottest pickup option on all waiver wires over the coming week. Ajayi is a back who I have been a huge fan of since he came out of Boise State two years ago, and am still adamant that without the knee concerns he had entering the league, he would have been a second-round pick. My point being, he is not some hidden talent that had any business being buried on the Dolphins roster. Now that he has broken out properly, chances are he will remain the starter going forward. And more importantly, the Arian Foster experiment should be over in Miami. Expect him to be pulling down the whistle – his signature touchdown celebration – several more times this season because this train is leaving and it likely won’t be stopped.

DomMurtha nfl run miami touchdown

2) McCoy Madness

This will be my fourth-straight week writing about Shady and for good reason, as he once again shredded a defense whose only responsibility was to stop him. McCoy now has tallied 290 rushing yards and three touchdowns over his last two games alone, firmly planting him back in the discussion for the league’s most dangerous back. Continue to start him each week with confidence, as he has never looked healthier and arguably has never been more explosive.

3) Its Miller Time

That sound you just heard was a large collective exhale from those who used a first-round draft choice on Lamar Miller, as he tallied 179 total yards, and finally got into the end zone; not just once, but twice. I have not had any concerns or criticisms with his play this season, but rather have just been a bit disappointed with the Texans offense as a whole. After a gutsy performance from Miller – the man who carried the Texans to an overtime victory against the Colts – it is clear that the coaching staff has to change their offensive identity to more of a ball-control scheme featured around Miller. The play-style they showed in Week 6 made everyone on the offense better. With no pressure on him, Brock Osweiler limited his mistakes which helped him to become a positive for the offense rather than the negative he's been so far this season. To really get an idea of what Miller was able to do this past Sunday, I implore you to watch the video below. He was patient yet explosive, elusive yet powerful. Make no mistake, Miller’s stock is on the rise.

4) Matchup Proof?

Entering Week 6, the Cowboys were believed to be facing a tall task, not only because they were heading to historic Lambeau Field to take on an always-tough Packers team, but also because this Green Bay club boasted the number one run defense in the NFL. In a clash of “The Unstoppable Force vs. the Immoveable Object,” Dallas proved that their brute running game is even better than all of us have been giving them credit for. After their impressive win and another stellar performance by Ezekiel Elliott in which he racked up over 130 yards rushing, my question now has become “Is he matchup proof?”

Zeke’s Week 6 Destruction of the Packers:

It is rare for any player to become matchup proof in the fantasy realm. I can only think of a few examples in recent memory – Antonio Brown (2014-present), DeMarco Murray (2014), Peyton Manning (2013), Adrian Peterson (2012), and Tom Brady (2007). After a slow start out of the gates, Elliott has reeled off consecutive performances of 140, 138, 134, and 157 yards. With a current pace of statistics to nearly mirror that of DeMarco Murray’s in 2014 (Zeke: 1,875 yds, 13 TD’s, 5.1 ypc – Murray: 1,845 yds, 13 TD’s, 4.7 ypc) I have to conclude that with the way that this offensive line is opening holes, Elliott has to be considered matchup proof going forward. Barring injury, Elliott is the safest RB1 play in all fantasy formats going forward.

5) DJ20?

After his three touchdown performance on Monday night, David Johnson is now on pace for 21 touchdowns this season, which would make him the first player to eclipse the 20 TD barrier since LaDanian Tomlinson broke the single-season record in 2006 with 28. As I have said in previous editions, I am pretty sold on the notion that Johnson is at least the most important running back in football, as no player is asked to do more for his team than the second year back out of Northern Iowa. Locked in a pretty tight race with the aforementioned Ezekiel Elliott at the moment, I would say that currently Johnson is the RB-MVP of the 2016 fantasy season. Remember, with running backs, yards carry real football teams, while touchdowns win fantasy football leagues.

Nostra-Dom-Us

I threw a lot at you guys in this section last week, but there honestly were a lot of matchups that I felt good with. I’ll get my misses out of the way here quick, as they are always the least fun to discuss… First of all, Le’veon Bell was a swing and miss based off of price, but his production remained respectable all things considered – especially in PPR formats. Ryan Mathews was highly productive when given the ball (9 carries for 60 yards) however the Eagles inexplicably limited him to just those nine touches in a losing effort. I tossed James Starks out there as a flyer play but he ended up not suiting up, while I just flat out missed on Carlos Hyde who was limited to 14 carries for 50 yards.

Where I knocked it out of the park was with Ezekiel Elliott and LeSean McCoy, a tandem that may have been my best DFS pairing all season long. So you're welcome for that. Below are this week’s picks, and where I was giddy about a ton of matchups last week, this week I will keep it limited to just three picks, as there aren’t too many crooked salaries or matchups to take advantage of.

ELITE PLAY

DeMarco Murray ($7,200 on DraftKings) vs. IND Defense

The Colts have arguably the worst defensive talent in football and have been run over time and again not only this season but in the last couple of years as well. Murray and the Titans currently boast one of the league’s best rushing attacks and they are at home this week looking to build upon their modest two game winning streak. With a regular pounding of the rock by the three headed monster of Murray, Marcus Mariota and Derrick Henry, look out folks, this one could get ugly.

AFFORDABLE PLAY

LeGarrette Blount ($4,900 on DraftKings) vs. PIT Defense

Don’t think that Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels weren’t watching what the Dolphins and Jay Ajayi were able to do to this Pittsburgh defense in Week 6. The masters will be at work devising a plan on how they can wield their hefty weapon in Blount to their advantage. My expectation is that the Patriots will try to wear down this Steelers defense with a heavy dose of Blount just in the way that the J-Train was able to do last week. At only $4,900 on DraftKings, he should be considered a steal.

FLYER PLAY

Jeremy Hill ($4,000 on DraftKings) vs. CLE Defense

Hill has been incredibly disappointing this season, but let us not forget that he was considered a first round pick in most formats just last season. His talent is there and most importantly his team is backed into a corner. The Bengals enter this game at home against the league’s worst team in the Browns. It’s a must win for Cincinnati and I fully expect them to pound the 0-6 Browns into submission with their 240 lbs back in Hill. Multiple touchdowns aren’t out of the question for Hill in this one.