DFS NFL RB Coach: Week 6

Here is the Week 6 Running Backs Coach with my recommendations first and some relevant data you should be keeping an eye on when doing your research and making lineup decisions.

High End Options

Le'Veon Bell – He is averaging 166 total yards per game on 26 touches per game.  Bell will always be involved in the game no matter the game situation which is shown by his 14 catches in two games.  The Steelers are also not afraid to run up the score which is always great for fantasy production.  Miami’s run defensive rating sits at 22^nd according to ProFootballFocus and overall defense sits at 21^st according to Footballoutsiders DVOA.   The weak defense of Miami should only help Bell produce a solid game.

David Johnson – He is averaging 139 total yards per game and has scored a TD per game as well.  Johnson has racked up at least 3 receptions in every game and takes on a defense that surrounded 9 catches to Bell last week.  The Cardinals sit as the 4^th rated team in the league at run blocking and the Jets are 6^th best in run defense so that will be strength vs strength.  The good news for Johnson is that New York sits as the 30^th rated overall defense according to Footballoutsiders DVOA.

Ezekiel Elliott – The Cowboys still sit at 3^rd in the NFL in run blocking according to PFF which should be a no surprise considering the strength of the team is the offensive line.  Elliot has racked up 488 total yards with 412 of them coming on the ground in his last 3 games. Elliot also leads the league in rushing yards.  He will be lightly owned based on the defensive match-up so that makes for a nice GPP play because people will be afraid of the Packers defense that is rated as the 2^nd best run defense in the league according to PFF.

LeSean McCoy – He is averaging 20.8 touches per game for 108.4 total yards along with 4 TD’s in his first 5 games.  The 49ers defense has been torched for 342 total yards by the opposing starting RB’s in their last two games.  San Francisco sits as the 3^rd worst run defense rating according to PFF so expect plenty of running room.  The 49ers are also the 2^nd worst rated defensive DVOA.  The Bills are heavy favorites so it sets up great for the running game.

DeMarco Murray – There is not a better run blocking team in the league than the Titans according to PFF.  Murray has 461 rushing yards on the season with 24 receptions.   Cleveland’s run defense is actually 14^th according to PFF but their overall defensive DVOA is 27^th.  The Browns give up the most fantasy points to opposing RB’s.  The game sets up perfectly for the running attack of Tennessee with the Titans expected to handle the Browns.

Mid-Level Options

Lamar Miller – He has been disappointing to some because he has not scored a TD.  Before last week, Miller had been averaging 26.5 touches per game and now faces the Colts who has given up the 4^th most fantasy points per game.  Jordan Howard tore apart the Colts last week who also gave up 117 total yards to the horrible TJ Yeldon the previous week.  Indianapolis has the 2^nd worst defense according to DVOA and the worst rated run defense according to PFF.

Jordan Howard-  He has racked up 295 total yards in his first two NFL starts.  The Bears run blocking continues to improve as they now sit 5^th according to PFF.  Howard has racked up 46 touches in his first two games and has become the focal point of the offense.  Jacksonville is neutral when comes to run defense, overall defense and points allowed to running backs from a ranking perspective.

Christine Michael- He has 45 touches for 199 total yards in his two starts where he has scored 3 TD’s.   The run blocking for Seattle is the 2^nd worst in the league but having the best defense in the league helps set-up the running game from a ball control standpoint.  Atlanta also sits as the 27^th worst run defense according to PFF and is 26^th in DVOA.  The Falcons also has given up the 5^th most fantasy points per game to RB’s.

Jamaal Charles – There is going to a risk on how much he is involved but I expect we are going to see plenty of Charles with the extra rest.  He should be restricted to GPP’s only unless we get a clarification on his exact role. His price is very attractive.  Oakland sits as the 29^th ranked defense according to DVOA and is 26^th in run defense according to PFF.  Andy Reid’s offense runs through the RB’s so if Charles can get 15 to 20 touches he has big game potential.

Carlos Hyde – He has racked up 7 TD’s in his first 5 games this season.  Hyde is always going to be under owned as he plays for a bad football team.  Colin Kaepernick takes over as the starting QB which should open up some running lanes for Hyde.  He is averaging 21.6 touches per game and the 49ers run at the fastest pace of any team so always means a few more chances than most RB’s.  The run blocking for San Francisco, the run defense for Buffalo and the overall defensive ranking don’t line up great for Hyde so he is best used as a GPP option.

Low Cost Options

At this time, I see no one who I feel is worth putting into a lineup or offers any kind of upside.