Tue May 28 9:03am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Robinson setup for big season
Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the running back position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to running backs last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the running backs with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the running backs that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
RB SOS | ||
1. | Green Bay Packers | 356.01 |
2. | Houston Texans | 361.46 |
3. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 361.46 |
4. | Las Vegas Raiders | 361.48 |
5. | Seattle Seahawks | 362.28 |
6. | Buffalo Bills | 363.19 |
7. | Arizona Cardinals | 363.76 |
8. | Dallas Cowboys | 363.9 |
9. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 364.51 |
10. | Washington Commanders | 364.86 |
11. | Chicago Bears | 364.89 |
12. | Indianapolis Colts | 365.41 |
13. | San Francisco 49ers | 365.86 |
14. | New Orleans Saints | 366.49 |
15. | New York Jets | 368.23 |
16. | Detroit Lions | 368.49 |
17. | Philadelphia Eagles | 369.05 |
18. | Minnesota Vikings | 369.06 |
19. | Carolina Panthers | 369.88 |
20. | Cleveland Browns | 370.34 |
21. | Kansas City Chiefs | 371.71 |
22. | New York Giants | 372.21 |
23. | Los Angeles Chargers | 373.19 |
24. | Denver Broncos | 373.32 |
25. | Cincinnati Bengals | 373.66 |
26. | Los Angeles Rams | 374.09 |
27. | Baltimore Ravens | 374.16 |
28. | New England Patriots | 375.60 |
29. | Atlanta Falcons | 376.19 |
30. | Miami Dolphins | 377.49 |
31. | Tennessee Titans | 378.2 |
32. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 378.72 |
The two teams with the easiest fantasy schedules for running backs are the Steelers and Titans, which is interesting because both teams could platoon running backs. The Steelers split the work between Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. And the Titans are likely to use both Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. All four backs could be setup for solid seasons with favorable schedules. It is always scary to take a back that might split work but seeing these positive schedules could make pulling the trigger on them a little easier come draft day. All four could be top flex plays for fantasy teams.
The Dolphins had huge success running the ball last year and could have similar solid production this season with the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs. Devon Achane is really looking good in year two. He is expected to get more work and likely lead the backfield in touches. Raheem Mostert had a career season last year and a great schedule but he carries a little more risk. He is 32 years old and now has rookie Jaylen Wright pushing him for playing time. Just something to keep in mind come draft day.
The Falcons are another team with a top-five favorable running back schedule, making Bijan Robinson a very intriguing pick this year. Robinson had a bit of a disappointing rookie season, but a new coaching staff and really favorable schedule make Robinson a huge breakout candidate. He is moving up draft rankings in a hurry and is capable of finishing first overall in fantasy running back scoring because of his skill set.
Rhamondre Stevenson is a possible rebound candidate. He was slowed by injury last year but is back healthy and with the fifth easiest schedule for running backs. Stevenson has shown in the past he can be a big-time fantasy back. Things are looking up for him this year, making him a good buy-low candidate.
The Packers had the easiest fantasy schedule for quarterbacks but get the toughest for running backs. This isn’t great news for new back Josh Jacobs. It is hard to bet against the productive back, though. You just might want to temper expectations for him this coming year. Jacobs could have a few down weeks, especially for his standards.
The Texans signed Joe Mixon to shore up their running back spot, but he carries some concerns. He wasn’t highly productive the last few seasons besides all his scores and now gets the second toughest schedule for running backs. Plus, the Texans are likely to be a pass heavy team, which could limit his workload a little. Mixon could end up being a boom or bust player.
Tampa also has a unfavorable fantasy schedule for running backs. Rachaad White had a big season last year but padded his numbers because of all his work in the passing game. That might be a similar scenario for him, having a tough time to run with this schedule. The positive for White is he is very good in the passing game. You have to worry about his rushing totals, though.
The Raiders haven’t really settled on a starting running back, but Zamir White is likely to get first shot at the job. That is great news for his fantasy value but the not so great news is his tough fantasy schedule. This could limit the ceiling of White a little. He has risk to begin with because it isn’t 100 percent certain he wins the job. This makes him a bit of a scary pick for fantasy teams.
Kenneth Walker didn’t have quite the breakout second season many hoped but was fairly productive with his work. And the good news is Zach Charbonnet didn’t really put a big dent in his workload. The Seahawks seem happy with Walker as the lead back. The unfortunate news for Walker is he has the fifth toughest fantasy running back schedule. Walker might fail to reach his lofty expectations once again in year three.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy running backs. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the running backs with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.
RB PLAYOFF SOS | ||
1. | San Francisco 49ers | 291.43 |
2. | Washington Commanders | 325.2 |
3. | Houston Texans | 327.8 |
4. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 332.03 |
5. | New York Jets | 337.57 |
6. | Cleveland Browns | 340.8 |
7. | Las Vegas Raiders | 341.1 |
8. | Miami Dolphins | 348.27 |
9. | Chicago Bears | 350.37 |
10. | Buffalo Bills | 350.53 |
11. | Arizona Cardinals | 352.8 |
12. | Dallas Cowboys | 358.87 |
13. | Detroit Lions | 359.7 |
14. | New York Giants | 365.67 |
15. | Kansas City Chiefs | 366.53 |
16. | Green Bay Packers | 368.97 |
17. | Seattle Seahawks | 370.23 |
18. | Carolina Panthers | 377.15 |
19. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 378.37 |
20. | Los Angeles Chargers | 380.73 |
21. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 381 |
22. | Baltimore Ravens | 381.43 |
23. | Cincinnati Bengals | 383.50 |
24. | Philadelphia Eagles | 391.07 |
25. | New England Patriots | 397.95 |
26. | Indianapolis Colts | 398.40 |
27. | Denver Broncos | 399.53 |
28. | Tennessee Titans | 401.63 |
29. | Los Angeles Rams | 403.92 |
30. | New Orleans Saints | 406.33 |
31. | Minnesota Vikings | 407.87 |
32. | Atlanta Falcons | 422.4 |
There are two teams with a top-five favorable schedule for fantasy running backs for both the regular season and playoffs. Those teams are the Falcons and Titans. Atlanta actually has the easiest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. Robinson was looking good even before hearing this news but looks even better now. He is making a strong case to be the second running back off the board come draft day.
And Pollard and Spears are intriguing running back options with schedules that could produce big for both during the regular season and playoffs. You just have to worry about one back emerging to grab most of the work. If that happens, one of these backs could end up being a bust.
Minnesota has the second easiest playoff schedule for running backs. Aaron Jones has some injury concerns after the last few seasons, but he could be setup for a big workload with an unsettled quarterback situation in Minnesota. Jones has some good upside with his new team, especially during the playoffs.
One other team to mention for the playoff is New Orleans. Alvin Kamara isn’t getting any younger but remains the lead back and still productive. He still seems to have something left in the tank and could be a big fantasy factor for at least one more season, especially when it matters most in the playoffs. He could be a difference maker, having the third easiest fantasy schedule for running backs.
Houston is the lone team in both the top five for the toughest regular season and playoff fantasy running back schedules. This is an obvious concern for Mixon. He is looking more and more like a player you might to avoid come draft day. He might have some big games along the way in this great offense, but you have to wonder about his consistency and playoff performance.
So the top rated fantasy back, Christian McCaffrey, also has the toughest fantasy playoff schedule for running backs. You aren’t fading McCaffrey because of this. He is one of those rare backs that it doesn’t really matter who he plays. McCaffrey will produce. We still think he is the clear No. 1 fantasy back. He can still get it done in the playoffs.
Washington has Brian Robinson and Austin Ekekler likely splitting the work at running back, which hurts both their fantasy values. They also get the second most difficult playoff schedule for running backs. We wouldn’t reach too early for either back because of this.
The Steelers have the easiest fantasy running back schedule during the playoffs but fourth toughest for the playoffs. This is a tough one. Both backs have potential for good things, showing they can co-exist last year and produce well for fantasy teams. You just have to wonder if fading in the playoffs will make all that good work during the regular season all for nothing.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson will square off against the Miami Dolphins this Monday night in one of the tougher matchups of Week 10. Parkinson looked like he was picking up some steam heading into the team's Week 6 bye, but he's totaled a meager four catches and 49 yards in the three contests since. The Dolphins' defense has been excellent against opposing pass-catchers this season, and tight ends are no exception, with the sixth-fewest fantasy points allowed to the position. Additionally, last weekend marked the first time the 25-year-old did not lead LA's tight end room in snaps in 2024, with that honor going to second-year TE Davis Allen. Whether or not Allen has surpassed Parkinson in the pecking order remains to be seen. Still, he's not a recommended option for the matchup on Monday Night Football. The former Stanford Cardinal ranks as RotoBaller's PPR TE27 in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (toe/hip) is designation-free for the team's Monday night matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Head coach Sean McVay didn't make a big deal when asked about Robinson's ailments leading up to Week 10's tilt, and it's nice to see the veteran come through. The former fourth-round pick was the hero in last week's OT win over the Seattle Seahawks but will face a stiffer task this Monday against a solid Dolphins defensive unit. Miami has been staunch against the pass this year, allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (183.1) and the fifth-fewest touchdowns through the air (8). Additionally, fellow wideout Puka Nacua will presumably play the entire contest this weekend, so long as he doesn't get himself ejected again. With the Rams' wide receiver corps intact, the 30-year-old is little more than a FLEX play with touchdown upside for the contest. He's RotoBaller's PPR WR47 in this week's rankings.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua will line up against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10 on Monday Night Football. Between a knee injury that won't go away and some suspect behavior (throwing a punch at a Seahawks defender in Week 9 only to get ejected), the second-year wideout has had a tough time formulating any consistency this season. The good news is he did not appear on the Rams' injury report this week, so maybe he's past the ailment that's robbed him of five contests and part of another. The bad news is that Miami's secondary is no joke, as they've afforded their opponents the fourth-fewest passing yards per game in the league (183.1). Still, the 23-year-old will occupy his usual role as a top-two option in LA's passing attack and should be started by fantasy managers despite the less-than-ideal matchup. The BYU alum ranks as RotoBaller's PPR WR8 for this weekend's slate.
From RotoBaller
The Washington Commanders have acquired kicker Zane Gonzalez ahead of their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday. With the news that Austin Seibert (hip) had been downgraded to out with a hip ailment, the team signed Gonzales to their practice squad and then promptly elevated him to the active roster a day later. Week 10 will be the veteran's first taste of action since 2021, when he appeared in 12 games and hit on 22-of-23 extra point attempts and 20-of-22 field goal tries for the Carolina Panthers. Seibert has been excellent this year for Washington, connecting on 92.6% of his three-point attempts (25-of-27) and knocking in all 22 extra-point opportunities. We'll see how long he is out of the lineup. In the meantime, Gonzalez will slot in in his stead.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is coming off a tremendous performance during last week's win over the Seattle Seahawks. Kupp hauled in 11 of his 14 targets for 104 yards as he torched that secondary all game long. The veteran wideout missed four games due to injury, but is back now and hasn't missed a beat. Kupp figures to continue being a focal point on offense after playing in 92 percent of the snaps last week. He heads into a matchup against the Miami Dolphins who have struggled at times to contain the passing game. Fantasy managers shouldn't be worried about Kupp losing a step as he should be plugged in as a strong WR1 for this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys running back Dalvin Cook won't be elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cook has been on the active roster for each of the last two games, but hasn't done much damage on the field. He has rushed eight times for 20 yards over his past two appearances. The Cowboys have decided to go a different route this weekend. Instead, Rico Dowdle, Ezekiel Elliott, and Deuce Vaughn will split up the carries in the backfield. Out of the trio, Dowdle is the most reliable option with a 75-yard performance during last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Fantasy managers still holding onto Cook are probably safe to look elsewhere for help.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert (hip) has been downgraded to out ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Seibert suffered a hip injury last week and missed practice time this week because of the issue. The team will ultimately hold out Seibert for Week 10 due to the hip injury, but hopefully it'll only be a one-game absence. Zane Gonzalez has been elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's game. Fantasy managers looking for a streaming option this weekend might want to consider Gonzalez with the Commanders offense rolling right now.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders kicker Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been signed to the active roster ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodriguez is back on the active roster with Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) being ruled out for this weekend. The expectation is that Austin Ekeler and Rodriguez will split up the backfield duties for Washington. Last week, Rodriguez carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards in the win over the New York Giants. He'll get a tougher challenge against the Steelers defense this week, but he could have some desperation flex value for Week 10.
From RotoBaller
New York Jets kicker Spencer Shrader has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The merry-go-round at kicker continues for the Jets as they seemingly have gone through a handful of kickers over the last few weeks. The Jets also have Anders Carlson, but it's looking like Shrader is going to get the starting nod this weekend. Fantasy managers shouldn't get too invested in Shrader as this could very well be a one-game stint for him. He could be worth a look for fantasy managers needing a streaming option at kicker this week, but probably won't be a long term solution at the position.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip) is expected to suit up for the Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. London was pulled out during the first half of last week's game due to a hip inury. He has been limited in practice this week, but could be the team just being cautious with London. It sounds like London will be ready to play, barring any setbacks. London figures to do damage against a shaky Saints secondary that no longer has Marshon Lattimore. Fantasy managers should feel confident about pulling London into their fantasy lineups ahead of this game.
From RotoBaller
The Falcons defense has not been great this season by any means, recording seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a league-low nine sacks. However, Week 10 brings a matchup with the Saints, a team that will be without their top two receivers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, without rookie wideout Bub Means, without veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., and likely will be without backup running back Jamaal Williams. That doesn't leave much for Derek Carr to work with beyond Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, which could give Atlanta a good shot to keep points off the board and potentially force a few miscues from the opposition. That being the case, the Falcons D/ST has a good shot to finish as a top 12 defense this week.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards was activated off the Injured Reserve list on Saturday. The 29-year-old wasn't relevant for fantasy managers before going on the shelf due to an ankle injury, amassing 38 touches for 113 yards in four games. While there's a chance he could get involved in Week 10 against the Titans, assuming he suits up, J.K. Dobbins, who has played relatively well this season, will presumably remain the top option out of the backfield. Still, with Dobbins seemingly always one wrong move away from an injury, Edwards could gain streaming potential at some point moving ahead. For now, keep him out of any fantasy lineup.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) is officially questionable for Monday night's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. The wideout is doing all he can to get out there in Week 10. But he missed practice for a second-straight day, so things don't look promising. Hill has struggled this season, amassing 34 catches for 446 yards. Even worse, he has only one trip to the end zone. While fantasy managers should stay optimistic regarding his potential for a turnaround, especially with Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, the injury only adds to what has already been a tough season for the Dolphins offense. Hill's status is unlikely to be revealed until Monday, well after all of the games on the slate have concluded, meaning fantasy managers will be taking a gamble by keeping him in the lineup. Although Odell Beckham Jr., Malik Washington and others could get more targets behind Jaylen Waddle on Monday evening, fantasy managers may benefit the most by looking in a different direction in Week 10, assuming Hill's injury designation isn't updated soon.
From RotoBaller
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (hamstring) was activated off the Injured Reserve list, the team announced on Saturday. While he remains questionable for Sunday's clash with the Detroit Lions, fantasy managers could get him back in the lineup for the first time since Week 5. The 25-year-old was having a monster season before going on the shelf, totaling 32 catches for 567 yards and three touchdowns in just over four games. But with Stefon Diggs (knee) done for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign, Collins may get even more involved.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (concussion) was officially placed on the Injured Reserve list on Saturday. The wideout suffered two concussions this season, bringing his total to four throughout his career. He's expected to meet with an "independent concussion specialist." However, while Olave is guaranteed to miss at least four games, there's a chance he won't be back on the field again this season. Of course, this isn't good news for a Saints team that already lost Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. It's also not ideal for Derek Carr, who will be without his top pass-catcher. With that said, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Mason Tipton, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling could see a bump in fantasy production with Olave and Shaheed on the shelf. Alvin Kamara may also see more work, both on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) will make his 2024-25 debut on Sunday against the Bucs. The 28-year-old hasn't played all season while dealing with bilateral Achilles injuries. But fantasy managers will finally get him back in Week 10. Although there's a chance he could see fewer snaps than usual, there's no way anyone should keep him out of their fantasy lineups. McCaffrey's expected return will cause Jordan Mason's fantasy ceiling to come crashing down. Still, Mason is worth holding on to for insurance purposes, considering McCaffrey has had issues staying off the injury report over the years.
From RotoBaller
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will "likely" need surgery, meaning the end of his season. The signal-caller plans to see "one final hamstring specialist." But it doesn't appear he'll receive a different prognosis. Fortunately, barring a setback, Prescott will be ready to go to begin the 2025-26 campaign. Without question, the Cowboys haven't met expectations this season. But without Prescott, the team's outlook is less favorable, although Cooper Rush will do his best. Of course, fantasy managers shouldn't dismiss the idea of starting Rush at some point. Still, he needs to play better than he did in the Week 9 loss to the Falcons before earning a spot in any fantasy lineup.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier found the end zone last week to the displeasure of Bijan Robinson managers, and if he hadn't it would have been a terribly quiet day, logging just six carries for 18 yards while not recording even a single target for the second consecutive week. Allgeier's involvement has been a bit unpredictable, receiving six or less carries in two of the last four weeks, while the other two weeks he saw 12 or more carries. The 24-year-old at least had a solid yards per carry (YPC) average through Week 7, but over the last two weeks his YPC is just 2.8. On the bright side, the Falcons are 3.5-point favorites this week against a reeling Saints team so there could be more opportunities if Atlanta is playing with a lead, and the BYU product rushed 8 times for 60 yards against them earlier season. Nevertheless, without a clear path to production, Allgeier is a risky RB3/Flex play this week.
From RotoBaller
The San Francisco 49ers D/ST is coming off a bye and is in Tampa this week to take on a quality Buccaneers offense. Tampa Bay is fifth in the NFL in yards per game, mostly due to a resurgent Baker Mayfield leading the sixth-ranked passing attack in football. The Bucs are beat up at wide receiver, with Mike Evans (hamstring) ruled out and Chris Godwin (ankle) out for the season, but that didn't stop them from posting 24 points last week against a very good Kansas City Chiefs defense. They are in the middle of the pack in giveaways and times sacked. The 49ers are the fourth-ranked D/ST in fantasy by being solid but unspectacular in all relevant categories -- sacks, takeaways, touchdowns, and points against. In the secondary, they will be without CB Charvarius Ward (personal), and S Malik Mustapha (calf) is questionable. Edge Nick Bosa (hip) has been limited all week and seems to be on the wrong side of questionable. The 49ers D/ST is at No. 9 in the RotoBaller's Week 10 rankings.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams should be viewed as a high-end RB1 when he faces the Miami Dolphins on Monday evening. Despite coming off his worst outing of the campaign last weekend, Williams has still averaged a stellar 19.0 PPR points per game with ten total touchdowns in eight games. The Notre Dame product has averaged 20.1 attempts and 2.5 receptions per game which shows how much of an integral role he plays in the Los Angeles offense. Last weekend, the No.2 running back Blake Corum logged only one offensive snap while Williams saw all the others. This week, the 24-year-old will face a Miami defense that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points to opposing RBs which makes him a safe, high-end RB1 in all formats.
From RotoBaller