Fellow zero-RBers, our week has finally arrived. Checks calender, and most of us were eliminated from playoff contention last week. Hopefully you have some diversified teams that could use a possible shot in the RB arm.
Kenyan Drake , RB ARI - The King is dead in the desert. David Johnson played 9 snaps with no carries. Long live the King. Drake continued to show some burst and logged 61 snaps. Maybe the bye lets DJ heal up. I wouldn’t bet on it, though.
Jonathan Williams , RB IND - You may remember Jonathan Williams from such hype spots as the man to succeed LeSean McCoy in Buffalo in 2016. That was right before the team cut him and rolled with Mike Tolbert as their only true backup. Well, Williams is back in our fantasy consciousness after going ham replacing Marlon Mack in a rout of Jacksonville. The 13-116 line is great, especially considering he didn’t have a full game to work. The Colts play on Thursday this week so I’d wager he gets the lion's share of carries with Jordan Wilkins nursing an injury.
Gus Edwards , RB BAL - As has happened in other blowouts, the Ravens put Edwards to good use. They clearly have designs on the postseason and don’t want a worn our Mark Ingram when they get there.
Tarik Cohen , RB CHI - The Bears need a playmaker. Any playmaker. Cohen can be that guy. There has been a lack of playcalling with his skills in mind all season. With Mitch Trubinksy going full Bortles, Matt Nagy needs to get creative. Cohen playing 49% of the snaps and catching 5-35-1 is a byproduct.
Bo Scarbrough , RB DET - Another college bruiser that we’d written off at this level gets onto the waiver wire here. Big Bo is a poor mans Derrick Henry , who is a poor mans Melvin Gordon . It’s not an offense you’re dying for players attached to. We can’t sneeze at 14-55-1, though. The coaching staff has some issue with Ty Johnson so work is up for grabs.
Todd Gurley , RB LAR - TGII’s day was interesting stat-wise. He only played 41 snaps but it was a slow-paced game with neither team confident in their QB. That was 75% of the snaps. Gurley did rush a season-high 25 times for 97 yards and a TD with catches of 3-36 for some PPR gravy. The Rams have realized they need to run the ball whenever possible and keep Jared Goff managed closely.
Alvin Kamara , RB NO - Kamara looked recovered from his ankle injury. He just wasn’t needed in this one. The Bucs imploded right on schedule and New Orleans had plenty of short fields. The passing work is back to an elite level with Brees at the helm and Kamara catching 10 for 47 yards.
Derrius Guice , RB WAS - The Washington backfield is a pretty ugly timeshare. When Wendell Smallwood out-snaps everyone it’s not a good thing. The other work was divided evenly between Guice and AP. Guice did flash his playmaking ability on a 45-yard screen pass he took to the house. If you’ve rostered Guice you have to hope they were babying him in his first game back and take the training wheels off very soon.
Darrel Williams , RB KC - The only back in Kansas City not currently in free fall. Everyone else has a collection of injuries and fumbles muddying the water. Williams is an uninspiring runner but does utilize a thick frame to run hard. If the Chiefs offense gets back to where we expect it to be out of their bye the RB getting the most work has value. Even with the associated headache.
Tevin Coleman , RB SF - The 49ers vaunted rushing attack was stymied by, checks notes, the Cardinals? Yes, apparently the Cardinals. We expected a big day out of one of these backs with Matt Breida out. So everyone that thinks it was going to be them step forward. Not so fast players with less than three consecutive consonants in their names. That’s right, the fullback that’s a mouthful to pronounce caught 7 passes for 63 yards. Jeff Wilson converted his only carry for a goal-line TD. Apparently, Kyle Shanahan is a big fan of division of labor.