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.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said that quarterback Cooper Rush will be Dak Prescott's backup to start the 2024 season, with Trey Lance sticking as the QB3 in Dallas. Lance pretty much sealed his fate as the No. 3 QB to enter the season after throwing five interceptions in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, although he did also throw for 323 yards and a touchdown while going for a team-high 90 rushing yards and an additional score on 11 carries. The 24-year-old former first-rounder by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 has plenty of athleticism, but he's still in the developmental phase for the Cowboys as they attempt to improve his game with the potential of losing Prescott after this season. Lance should only be rostered in dynasty/keeper leagues and deep superflex formats in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been placed on the Non-Football Illness list, according to Field Yates. The veteran back will now miss at least the first four games of the season, leaving the backup role up in the air for the Chiefs.
The Athletic's Jon Machota thinks that Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle should be the favorite to lead the team in rushing attempts and rushing yards in 2024. The fifth-year back made the most of his opportunities in training camp and was the team's most explosive RB while showcasing an ability in the passing game to be a complete back. With Tony Pollard gone this year, Dowdle will be working alongside veterans Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook. "The more you can do, the better," Dowdle said. "When you can catch out of the backfield, run routes and also run the ball well, it's hard to take you off the field. I want to be a three-down back." The 26-year-old probably has the most upside of the trio, but he's going to need to be extremely efficient out of the backfield to become anything more than a weekly RB4/flex option while sharing touches with Elliott and Cook in Dallas.
From RotoBaller
The Athletic's Jon Machota writes that Dallas Cowboys second-year wide receiver Jalen Brooks could be ready for a much bigger role in 2024 behind receivers CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks and tight end Jake Ferguson. Brooks and quarterback Dak Prescott showed good chemistry throughout training camp this summer, particularly on the deep ball. One of Brooks, Jalen Tolbert, KaVontae Turpin or Ryan Flournoy will likely be an important No. 4 pass-catcher for the Cowboys this year, and Brooks might have the best shot to be that guy for this team. The 24-year-old former seventh-round selection last year out of South Carolina played in seven games in his rookie season and caught all six of his targets for 64 yards without finding the end zone. As of right now with the start of the regular season just days away, Brooks is merely one to watch in most fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills running back Leonard Fournette is visiting with the Indianapolis Colts on Monday, according to a source. As things stand in Indy right now, Jonathan Taylor is the unquestioned starter, with Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson backing him up. Fournette signed late in the year in 2023 with the Bills and played in only two games with them, carrying the ball 12 times for 40 yards. In 2022 with the Bucs, Lenny averaged 3.5 yards per carry on the ground on his 189 attempts while running for 668 yards and three touchdowns. He added 73 receptions for 523 yards and three more scores. The 29-year-old would likely have to work his way to the active roster in Indy if he signs with the team and he could eventually become an interesting bench stash in deep PPR leagues. For now, fantasy managers in standard-sized leagues can continue to ignore him.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (undisclosed) is set to practice with the team on Monday and hasn't had any setbacks with his undisclosed injury. The Dolphins have been tight-lipped about what exactly has been bothering Waddle during training camp, but it's apparently a minor injury and they have held him out of practices merely as a precaution. Barring some sort of setback, the 25-year-old is fully expected to suit up for Week 1 of the regular season this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. We should have a better idea of what exactly Waddle is dealing with when Wednesday's first injury report of the year comes out. Fellow receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) is also practicing on Monday and will be ready to roll on Sunday. With three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his NFL career, Waddle will have WR1 upside for fantasy managers in Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown (shoulder) will not play in the Week 1 season opener on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens due to a sternoclavicular injury he suffered in the preseason opener. At the time of his injury, he was given a four- to six-week timetable. Although Brown hasn't resumed practicing, general manager Brett Veach said Brown is now able to laugh without pain, so there's a chance he could be back for Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals if he can get back onto the practice field soon. Hollywood was the team's big-ticket acquisition in free agency and will be one of quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top targets when he returns, but in the meantime, tight end Travis Kelce and receivers Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Justin Watson will be more involved to open the 2024 regular season.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) should be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday, Sept. 8, against the Los Angeles Rams. Gibbs injured his hamstring in early August and missed most of training camp, but the 22-year-old second-year back should be available to play in the season opener this weekend. He was able to get back on the practice field last week. There's a chance Gibbs will be listed on the team's official injury report once they start practicing on Wednesday, but fantasy managers won't need to be worried that he won't suit up against the Rams. However, with all that said, there's a chance the Lions lean a bit more on David Montgomery in their backfield in Week 1, giving Gibbs a bit more bust potential as an RB1 to kick things off in 2024.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) should be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season this Sunday night, Sept. 8, versus the Los Angeles Rams. Despite missing most of training camp due to a hamstring injury, LaPorta return to the practice field a week ago and should be ready to roll as a must-start in fantasy lineups this weekend. The 23-year-old second-year tight end was most likely the first TE off the board in your fantasy drafts this fall after setting an NFL record with 86 receptions in 2023. He could be listed on the team's injury report when official practice starts on Wednesday, but fantasy managers shouldn't be worried at all that they won't have him on Sunday night. In addition to his 86 catches in his rookie campaign, LaPorta impressed with 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games.
From RotoBaller
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is entering his rookie season with some big expectations both on the ground and through the air. The LSU sensation amassed 3,812 passing yards with 40 touchdowns and four interceptions while running for another 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability is the biggest reason he's as high as he is on fantasy draft boards despite not having the best receiving corps. He does still have a quality receiver in Terry McLaurin, but Daniels is projected to put up some big rushing numbers which will help bolster his fantasy points per game. In half-PPR redraft leagues, Daniels ADP is outside the top 100 meaning he can provide some very good value to teams looking for late quarterbacks.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel plans to utilize all three members of the backfield throughout the regular season. Joe Schad reports that McDaniel talked about getting Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, and Jaylen Wright all involved and proceeding with a hot-hand situation on some days if he feels like leaning on someone. This muddies the fantasy waters a bit when it comes to deciding on who to draft and who to start out of this backfield. While Achane still seems to be the number-one guy, especially when it comes to passing situations, Mostert should get plenty of opportunities while Wright will likely be peppered in. As of right now, Achane is ranked 18th, Mostert is 78th, and Wright is 145th in the RotoBaller half-PPR rankings.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) has officially been placed on the Non-Football Illness list, according to Field Yates. The veteran back will now miss at least the first four games of the season, leaving the backup role wide open. Carson Steele, the undrafted rookie, has made the most noise as the backup so far, but the signing of Samaje Perine becomes even more important as well. They should become a bigger part of the passing game than previously expected and could be underrated producers in PPR formats given the volume. Their opportunities are going to fluctuate with each game plan, so their value is a bit better in deeper leagues or dynasty formats in terms of Steele.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent RB Leonard Fournette (Bills) is visiting the Indianapolis Colts Monday, Sept. 2.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill (thumb) will practice Monday, Sept. 2.
Fantasy Spin: The Cheetah is expected to be ready for Week 1 after missing a lot of the preseason with a thumb injury. He remains a top-three WR in fantasy. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a solid matchup for him.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (thumb) is set to be a full participant at practice on Monday. Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that he and Jaylen Waddle are both going to practice after being limited beforehand. Now that the team is entering the first week of the season, both receivers have no setbacks and they're good to go. Hill is being drafted in the top three in most fantasy formats with an ADP of exactly three. The superstar wideout was an MVP candidate for most of last season and he finished with 1799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns while hauling in 119 of his 171 targets. A lot of the same is on the docket for this year as he's thrived under McDaniel's offense. Now that he's a full go, fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief for Week 1.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs RB Samaje Perine is expected to play in the season opener, according to head coach Andy Reid.
Fantasy Spin: He'll likely play second fiddle to Isiah Pacheco in the backfield as Clyde Edwards-Helaire is dealing with some personal stuff. Perine really shouldn't be in your lineups. His main value is to Pacheco owners for now.
From TheHuddle
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy may not be relied on earlier in the season, according to some reports, but he seems to be well on his way to getting more opportunities already. Andy Reid reportedly doesn't like to rely on rookies too heavily to begin a season, but Worthy has drawn praise from the head coach himself as well as his All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The superstar signal-caller said he loved Worthy's route running and how he plays with physicality. Those two attributes while catching passes from one of the best to ever throw the ball could equate to some big performances. Worthy has a path to playing time with an inconsistent receiver corps and his cost is low enough in fantasy drafts to be worth a stash for later.
From RotoBaller
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman has done all the right things through training camp and preseason. He's regularly received praise from the coaching staff through media quotes and interviews. Just a couple of weeks ago, offensive coordinator Joe Brady said Coleman was able to do everything physically asked of him. Now, the Bills general manager Brandon Beane added to all of the praise. He stated, "The young man is super competitive, he loves ball, he's not afraid, he's working his tail off, his teammates believe in him, he has fun out there, he's serious." After the offseason overhaul, Coleman is competing with Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, and Khalil Shakir for targets. His ADP of 104.6 reflects that he may not be a huge part of the offense right away, but can be a solid stash for the long haul.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had some scouts and draft analysts second-guessing if he should be drafted over Marvin Harrison Jr. last April. The sixth-overall pick amassed over 3000 receiving yards at LSU in three seasons and hauled in 189 receptions for 21 touchdowns. Now, he's stepping into the WR1 role for the Giants who are in a state of flux in terms of figuring out their best roster moving forward. Daniel Jones returns this year behind center and Nabers is ready to feast on a steady diet of targets throughout the season. Like Harrison, Nabers doesn't have much competition when it comes to playing time and his part of the offense. He's ranked 41st overall in RotoBaller's half-PPR draft rankings for a reason while his ADP sits at 50.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth wideout off the draft board this past April. Thomas was a four-star recruit going into college and put together a high-quality resume at LSU in three seasons. According to many scouts and outlets, Thomas was the fourth-ranked receiver after the "big three," but he stepped into one of the better situations. Calvin Ridley moved to Tennessee, Christian Kirk has been dealing with a calf issue during the preseason, and Gabe Davis seems to be Thomas' main competition for more snaps and targets. Thomas displayed all the necessary tools to be a very good contributor, especially after impressing a lot of the coaching staff during training camp and preseason. Right now, in half-PPR formats, Thomas is ranked 96th overall on RotoBaller's draft rankings. He has a clear path to playing time and could be a bench stash to eventually win leagues.
From RotoBaller