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There's a classic football saying, “you can't make the club from the tub." Well, in fantasy football it's hard to win the strap if your players aren't getting the snaps.
This week it's all about running backs. Injuries have changed the landscape of this position a great deal resulting in backfield committees all over the place. Given league-wide instability, seasonal owners that made it to championship weekend could be looking at a number of possible dart throws at running back with the title on the line. Meanwhile, DFS players face a list of worthy options that only getting shorter as the regular season draws to a close.
As always, tweet me @ericmcclung with your comments and suggestions.
Baltimore Ravens (68 offensive snaps)
After losing a fumble in two consecutive game, Javorius Allen was benched nine snaps into last week's game against the Chiefs. Based on recent quotes, John Harbaugh has every intention to leave Buck as the starter. The inbound Steelers are one of the most brutal opposing defenses for fantasy running backs, however. Should Allen put another one on the ground, Terrance West would take over once again.
Carolina Panthers (77 snaps)
So much for any concerns with Greg Olsen's knee. In addition to catching six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, he played all 77 snaps of offense for the Panthers.
Filling in for Jonathan Stewart, it was Cameron Artis-Payne (16 touches, 93 combined yards) pacing the backfield with 31 snaps while Fozzy Whittaker (four touches, 16 combined yards) was on the field for 26 snaps. Mike Tolbert (five carries, 10 yards) saw 23 snaps while getting some action at fullback.
Just two weeks ago against the same Falcons defense they'll now face on the road, Carolina running backs totaled 126 yards on 24 carries. Stewart is now out of his walking boot, but the Panthers have no reason to force the issue here.
Chicago Bears (64 snaps)
Over the last three weeks, Matt Forte (30 snaps) has found the end zone despite finding himself in a fairly even timeshare with rookie Jeremy Langford (28 snaps). The opposing Buccaneers have allowed a rushing touchdown to a running back in two straight games after keeping them shutout in nine straight.
Cincinnati Bengals (63 snaps)
A.J. Green (back) only lasted 38 snaps, although his services weren't really needed against the 49ers. However, the injury Green suffered in Saturday's practice seemed like a factor given he only caught one pass for 37 yards.
The Niners were stout in the run game, but Jeremy Hill managed to punch in two short yardage touchdowns. He played 27 snaps while Giovani Bernard saw 37 snaps. Neither one is appealing heading into Denver.
Denver Broncos (76 snaps)
An early fumble didn't keep Ronnie Hillman from playing two more snaps than C.J. Anderson while also getting out touched by nine.
Green Bay Packers (76 snaps)
Despite a week of talking up Eddie Lacy, the Packers only played him seven more snaps than James Starks. Lacy managed just 23 yards on 11 carries while Starks got 51 yards out of his nine rushing attempts. Green Bay will travel to Arizona to take on a Cardinals defense that's been formidable against the run despite springing leaks in the secondary over the last two weeks.
Houston Texans (76 snaps)
After playing nine snaps in Week 13 and zero snaps in Week 14, of course Alfred Blue plays 35 snaps against the Colts. Blue totaled 107 yards on 20 carries while Jonathan Grimes got in involved on 22 snaps. Chris Polk saw the field just eight times. This week is a rematch of Week 8 against a sound Titans run defense.
Kansas City Chiefs (51 snaps)
Spencer Ware (ribs) was active, but never saw the field as Charcandrick West got 18 touches while playing 47 snaps. The Browns struggle against the run, but have only allowed one rushing touchdown to an opposing back since Week 8.
Miami Dolphins (57 snaps)
For the second week in a row we are left to wonder what the Dolphins are doing with Lamar Miller. He only played 18 snaps while rookie Jay Ajayi led the backfield with 31 snaps. There have been reports of ankle and quad injuries, but Miller has insisted the only thing limiting him has been the coaches. Miller is a free agent at the end of the year and it's possible the team has already decided he is not in their future plans.
New England Patriots (66 snaps)
The curve ball this week in the Patriots backfield was Joey Iosefa (who's more of a fullback) rushing a team-high 14 times for 51 yards and playing 20 snaps. Brandon Bolden (28 snaps) compiled 36 yards on his 10 carries. However, the real story remains James White. He played 22 snaps, but caught seven passes for 71 yards with a touchdown. Both Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman could be shelved until the playoffs, keeping White in place as a large piece of the passing game.
New York Giants (75 snaps)
The Giants have finally decided to go with more traditional, and logical, backfield mix. Andre Williams only carried the ball six times while Rashad Jennings (35 snaps) and Shane Vereen (31 snaps) saw a near even split. Jennings is coming off his best two games of the season and gets a Vikings defense that has good season-long numbers against running backs, but very pedestrian over the last two months.
New York Jets (71 snaps)
Bilal Powell (36 snaps) is a much better fit for Chan Gailey's spread offense and the results now speak for themselves. Powell has caught five or more passes in five of the last five games and has scored a touchdown in three straight. Meanwhile, Chris Ivory (28 snap) has seen erratic usage and production during that time. He's only scored once since Week 10.
Philadelphia Eagles (63 snaps)
The reconfigured Eagles backfield remains extremely unproductive. Against Arizona, it was mostly Darren Sproles (30 snaps, six carries, nine yards) and Ryan Mathews (26 snaps, 11 carries, 58 yards). Meanwhile, the exiled DeMarco Murray (eight snaps) saw just two carries. It's hard to imagine playing any of them when Philadelphia hosts the Redskins Saturday night.
Seattle Seahawks (67 snaps)
Christine Michael (24 snaps, 16 carries, 84 yards) was solid last week against the Browns and clearly outplayed Bryce Brown (22 snaps, nine carries, 43 yards). Michael could be very much in play this week against the Rams. Despite a vaunted defensive line, St. Louis has given up a lot of production to opposing running backs throughout the season.
Washington Redskins (57 snaps)
After carrying the ball 18 times in two consecutive games, the Skins limited rookie Matt Jones (26 snaps) to 10 carries. Meanwhile, Alfred Morris (30 snaps, 14 carries, 84 yards) had one of his better days. There's clearly no real pattern to how Washington deploys Jones and Morris from one week to the next. The Eagles were just torched by David Johnson (29 carries, 187 yards, three touchdowns) last week, but it's obvious neither of these backs will be assured an opportunity to take full advantage of the matchup.
Player News
CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala says free agent QB Aaron Rodgers “is not going to play just for the sake of playing.”
Kinkhabwala has had conversations with Rodgers and executives around the league trying to sign him. Based on those conversations, she says, “it’s extremely clear Rodgers is not going to play just for the sake of playing.” He remains unsigned with the 2025 NFL Draft on the horizon and multiple teams needing quarterback help. The Steelers are the most likely fit, but it seems Rodgers won’t force it if he does not find a good fit. This explains why Rodgers has been interested in the Vikings and has not yet signed. The 41-year-old may be headed for retirement if a situation he prefers, like the Vikings, does not want him back. His options remain limited and Rodgers may call it a career if he still does not like his options later in the offseason.
Bears signed LB T.J. Edwards to a two-year, $20 million extension.
Edwards’ extension includes $16.6 million guaranteed. The Bears originally signed him to a three-year, $19.5 million contract two seasons ago and he has outplayed that salary. Edwards has four interceptions, 6.5 sacks, and 20 tackles for loss in two seasons starting for Chicago in the middle of the field. He gets a raise as the Bears lock up another important part of their defense after extending CB Kyler Gordon earlier in the week.
Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams visited the Falcons on Wednesday.
Williams posted on his Instagram that he visited the Falcons facility on what was the last day of pre-draft visits. The 20-year-old is a Georgia native, played at the University of Georgia, and is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Falcons have a need for an edge rusher and hold the No. 15 pick. They may look to keep Williams in-state and add his skillset to their pass-rushing group. Williams tallied five sacks last season and has explosive production for any team looking to add an edge rusher in the first round.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart “won’t fall out of the first round.”
Schultz reports his sources are indicating that Dart will not fall out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He continues that the Giants are a candidate to trade up from pick No. 34 into the first round to take Dart if they do not take a quarterback at pick No. 3. The Saints are also an option with pick No. 9 or a trade up from pick No. 40. Dart is generally considered the third quarterback to come off the board after Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a team in need of a franchise quarterback may take a chance on him after Ward and Sanders are selected. Teams could look to gain a fifth-year option on Dart and trade into the first round if he is not taken earlier.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Raiders LT Kolton Miller is not participating in the voluntary offseason program and seeks an extension.
Miller was the Raiders’ first-round pick in 2018 and has started 107 games over seven seasons for the team. He is set to enter the final year of his current contract in 2025, making $12.25 million. Though he is not technically holding out yet since the offseason program is voluntary, Fowler notes Miller is seeking an extension. He finished last season with an 80.6 PFF grade, No. 14 among offensive tackles. Miller has been the Raiders’ franchise left tackle for seven years now and both sides will certainly discuss an extension as training camp nears.
Virginia Tech RB Bhayshul Tuten said he had a private workout with the Commanders’ running backs coach.
Tuten didn’t name him directly, but Anthony Lynn is currently the Commanders’ running backs coach and run game coordinator. The Commanders were hampered by injuries to both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler last year. Robinson Jr. missed three games and played through some of his injuries while Ekeler missed five contests and was limited to just 112 touches. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 Forty at 5'9/206. He handled 200 touches in back-to-back seasons at Virginia Tech while topping 1,100 yards from scrimmage in both campaigns. He would offer the Washington backfield a good mix of durability and home run potential.