Week 7 Running Backs to Target
Week 6 ended with a few big surprises and quite a few major injuries that teams will have to deal with. All running backs mentioned this week will be below 50% ownership, but may have been mentioned before.
New additions are guys like Chris Ivory and Orleans Darkwa makes another appearance.
Orleans Darkwa, New York Giants | 13% OWN
Last week we made mention of Darkwa, but the backfield wasn't quite as clear and the Giants were in a spiral towards one of the league's worst teams.
All of that changed on Sunday night against the Denver Broncos by beating them 23-10. Darkwa ended the night with 21 attempts for 117 yards and one catch for 13 yards. Wayne Gallman had only 11 carries for 27 yards and Darkwa pulled ahead of the pack in the Giants backfield.
Darkwa should have between 15 to 20 touches moving forward as the Giants try and build on this win and continue to pursue a running game. The Giants managed this feat against the league's best run defense.
Gallman is the clear #2 back behind Darkwa right now and owners looking for a running back should take chance on Darkwa.
Chris Ivory, Jacksonville Jaguars | 32% OWN
Chris Ivory had his most productive game of the season last week, and it had nothing to do with Leonard Fournette's ankle.
Ivory ended Week 6 with 2 carries for 3 yards and added 9 catches for 74 yards and one touchdown. He was targeted a team high 10 times. The 2nd closest player was Allen Hurns with just 3 targets.
Do not expect Ivory to be targeted 10 games a week. In fact, this could have been one of those cases where the Jags were adjusting to the defense and had a lot of check-downs to Ivory.
No matter what, Ivory can still be picked up due to Fournette being banged up. We expect Ivory to get closer to 3 to 5 receptions moving forward and more of a RB3 option.
Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens | 46% OWN
Alex Collins barely makes the list here because he is just under 50% own and had a very productive game along side Javorius Allen.
Collins finished the game with 15 attempts for 74 yards and no targets through the air. Meanwhile Allen finished Week 6 with 10 attempts for 49 yards and 3 catches for 17 yards.
Allen is still the safer option to start, but Alex Collins will clearly be part of the running game and might even be the leader in rushing attempts to give Allen a breather and save him for pass catching duties.
Collins has low-end RB2 upside and is not a safe start against the stronger teams against the run.
Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers | 47% OWN
Looking at the game from last week one might be worried that Breida only managed 6 total touches versus 18 for Carlos Hyde. Sure, that isn't exactly what you want to see, but when you look at the fact Hyde only managed 28 yards on 13 carries you have to assume that he will continue to give carries away to Breida.
Breida is a RB3 option in most fantasy formats, but could still surpass Hyde in the depth charts as the coaches have to be disappointed in Hyde's production.
Running Backs to Avoid
This is a new section that we need to add because of one-week wonders and running backs that just aren't reliable week-to-week.
The most obvious choice is Dion Lewis. He out-touched James White and Mike Gillislee but he is still behind Gillislee on the depth chart and won't be the guy getting goal line carries.
Look to Rebound
Do not give up on Mack quite yet. Marlon Mack had a terrible game and only managed 2 attempts for 18 yards after being such a hot waiver wire add last week.
Rober Turbin left Week 6 which means that Mack could be due to another increase in usage to help complement Frank Gore. Owners should take a wait and see approach and see what happens in Week 7.
