Fantasy Football Week 5 Running Back Who Should I Start? Woody Marks, Emari Demercado, and More
Comparing Woody Marks to three running backs that he has been matched up with often on the FantasySP Who Should I Start? tool.
Woody Marks was a fourth-round pick this year by the Houston Texans. With Joe Mixon on the roster and Nick Chubb signed later in the offseason, it seemed like he wouldn't get many chances to contribute, particularly early in the season.
Mixon hasn't played yet because of a foot injury, and his status is still uncertain. Chubb has been mediocre, as was expected for a 29-year-old with a recent major knee injury. As a result, Marks has been thrust into the spotlight and led Houston running backs in snaps, touches, and efficiency in Week 4.
Running backs with real fantasy value aren't often available on the waiver wire, so Marks saw a huge increase in ownership after Week 3 and even more in Week 4. Owners are now wondering if they can count on him in what's probably still a backfield split.
Because of that, Marks has been showing up all over our FantasySP start/sit tool. Let's look at Marks and three running backs that he has been compared to often. We'll do a quick-hit head-to-head start/sit exercise.
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Woody Marks, Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens
After barely seeing the field in the first two weeks, Marks split the snaps with Chubb in Week 3 before outplaying the veteran 40 to 30 in snaps in Week 4. Marks had 17 carries at 4.1 yards per attempt (and a touchdown), while Chubb had 13 carries at 3.6. The rookie also caught four passes for 50 yards and another score.
It's fair to wonder if the expanded usage was related to Houston blowing out the Titans 26-0, but that's now two weeks in a row that Marks played nearly as much as or more than Chubb and played better. I'm willing to bet he will get more chances with Mixon's return still in question.
The Ravens have allowed the 10th-most yards per rush attempt and the most fantasy points to running backs. On top of allowing a lot of rushing yards, Baltimore has given up more than 50 receiving yards per game to backs and seven total touchdowns.
So, we've got a back here who has had a little success and is trending the right way in usage and effectiveness against a team that has been among the worst against fantasy running backs. That's a guy who is on the flex radar with a little RB2 upside. Marks will be a popular play this week.
Emari Demercado, Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans
Demercado has been forced into action because of IR trips by James Conner and Trey Benson. Conner is done for the season, while Benson will probably return at some point but must miss at least four games.
After barely seeing the field for three weeks, Demercado played 26 snaps in relief of Benson last week. It was a low volume running day, as Benson took eight carries and Demercado just two; the former had five receptions, while the latter had just two catches but did get in the end zone.
Tennessee has allowed the eighth-most yards per rush attempt and the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. Demercado is going to get a starter's workload against a team that has been weak against RBs all season.
Advice: This is close, but Demercado wins one category: Marks is still splitting carries with Chubb, while the Arizona back looks like he has a clear path to starter's work. Start Emari Demercado over Woody Marks, but it's close.
J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles
Dobbins is always productive when on the field; it's just a matter of staying on the field. He has been really good this year, averaging over 80 rushing yards per game on 5.7 per attempt with three touchdowns.
He hasn't made much of an impact in the passing game: Dobbins has caught five passes for 18 yards and rookie RJ Harvey nine for 69 yards and a score. Dobbins has out-carried the rookie 57 to 27, though, with better efficiency and all three rushing touchdowns between the two.
Philadelphia has been giving to running backs, allowing the seventh-most yards per rush attempt and 12th-most fantasy points to RBs. That's not a top-line matchup, and the Eagles are better by reputation, but the numbers point toward fantasy vulnerability.
Advice: Start J.K. Dobbins over Woody Marks. Dobbins has been a weekly-starter-level fantasy player, ranking among the top 15 running backs in both standard and PPR.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks
White is another guy thrust into the fantasy spotlight due to injury, as Bucky Irving is out with a hurt foot. White has been the clear backup to this point, not even leading the way in the passing game, which is probably his best area.
White has just 23 carries and eight catches on nine targets, while Irving has 71 carries and 19 receptions on 19 targets. White is a below-average player, having averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in his career, but he's been closer to 4.5 the past few years, and he has fantasy value in a starter role.
Seattle has allowed the seventh-fewest yards per rush while sitting right in the middle in fantasy points given up to running backs. They have let backs get receiving yards; that's why their fantasy performance isn't as good as the per-rush defense.
Christian McCaffrey had nine catches for 73 yards against the Seahawks in Week 1, and Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell combined for seven receptions and 102 yards in Week 2. The past two weeks have been more modest, with the Saints' and Cardinals' RBs combining for 10 receptions, 55 yards, and a touchdown.
White will get plenty of usage, and there's a chance for the passing game to thrive also given the matchup. Seattle doesn't allow a lot of rushing production, but they are vulnerable due to the receiving.
Advice: Start Rachaad White over Woody Marks, again because White probably won't be splitting snaps the way Marks will.
