Week 5 DFS: Running Back Report
Week 5 DFS: Running Back Report Christian McCaffrey (48.70 fantasy points) was the best running back in the land in Week 4, thanks to 186 combined yards with four touchdowns and seven catches. David Montgomery climbed off the injury mat
Christian McCaffrey (48.70 fantasy points) was the best running back in the land in Week 4, thanks to 186 combined yards with four touchdowns and seven catches. David Montgomery climbed off the injury mat to post an exceptional day (32/121/3 with two catches for 20 yards). There was a tight battle between Josh Jacobs (27.90), Kyren Williams (27.70), and De’Von Achane (27.00) for the bronze medal for the week. Four other backs scored between 21.00 and 25.00 fantasy points in PPR formats, followed by 13 running backs with 10.00 to 20.00 fantasy points.
The Dolphins have two of the top four scoring backs, with both players (Raheem Mostert – 22.60 and De’Von Achane – 20.05) averaging more than 20.00 fantasy points. Here’s a look at the top five running backs after Week 4:
- Christian McCaffrey (120.00)
- Raheem Mostert (90.40)
- Kyren Williams (81.60)
- De’Von Achane (80.20 – 97.3% of his scoring came in his last two games).
- Kenneth Walker (73.60)
Also, check out FullTime Fantasy‘s Week 5 DFS QB Report and TE Report.
Top Tier Options
Christian McCaffrey, SF (DK – $9,400/FD – $10,700)
I bumped up McCaffrey’s projections late last week after Elijah Mitchell was trending toward a scratch on Sunday. The added touches cleared the hurdle for a potential second score and more production in yards and catches. He finished with an impact day, one needed to win in the DFS market. His success raised his season average to 32.25 fantasy points in DraftKings scoring. The 49ers had him on the field for 85% of their plays, leading to a season-high in touches (27 – averaging 24.5 chances).
Dallas leads the NFL in fantasy running back defense (12.90 FPPG). Despite their success, the Cowboys allow 4.6 yards per rush (70/306/2 to running backs). They’ve faced four subpar offenses (NYG, NYJ, ARI, and NE) while playing from the lead in three matchups. Backs only have 15 catches for 65 yards on 21 targets. In 2022, Dallas had the second-best defense (18.08 FPPG) vs. running backs, with no team scoring more than 30.50 fantasy points in PPR leagues.
Mitchell didn’t practice this week, suggesting McCaffrey will be on the field for most snaps again in Week 5. He is an electric back who can score fantasy points in all facets of the game. His top-shelf salary and matchup invite lower ownership, along with…
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Week 4 DFS: Running Back Report
Week 4 DFS: Running Back Report Last week we had some breakout performances. That included running backs, with five rushers eclipsing 20 points. A pair even topped 40. Oddly, they were on the same team. Our Week 4 DFS: Running
Last week we had some breakout performances. That included running backs, with five rushers eclipsing 20 points. A pair even topped 40. Oddly, they were on the same team. Our Week 4 DFS: Running Back Report looks for the next huge game to insert into your daily lineups.
Also, check out FullTime Fantasy‘s Week 3 DFS QB Report.
Top Tier Options
Christian McCaffrey, SF (DK – $9,200/FD – $9,700
Over the first three games, McCaffrey scored between 22.50 and 25.90 fantasy points in each matchup with PPR scoring. He extended his touchdown streak to 12 games but scored twice in only one contest. In addition, McCaffrey gained more than 100 yards in each of his starts (152, 116, and 119) while averaging 3.7 catches. Last season, he had 108 combined yards with one touchdown and nine catches vs. the Cardinals while playing with Carolina. With San Fran against Arizona in other matchups, McCaffrey gained 185 yards with one score and 10 catches.
The Cardinals sit 25th defending running backs (75/325/1 with 15 catches for 82 yards and three touchdowns on 17 targets). The Cowboys ran the ball well against them in Week 3 (33/185 – 5.6 yards per rush). Their pass rush (11 sacks) has been better than expected out of the gate, and Arizona played from the lead in all three of their games through the third quarter.
McCaffrey is an absolute beast on a path to being the best running back in the game in 2023. The 49ers will ride him hard when needed (100% of their snaps in Week 2) while resting him when playing from a big lead. His floor has been three times his salary, putting him a second touchdown away from 30.00 fantasy points. The second half could be in the hands of Elijah Mitchell on many plays, so McCaffrey will need to get his scoring and yards early in the game. He is rated as the top running back…
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Week 3 DFS: Running Back Report
Week 3 DFS: Running Back Report A late surge in the fourth quarter by Brian Robinson (two touchdowns) pushed him to the top of running back scoring in Week 2, edging out Kyren Williams (28.00), Saquan Barkley (27.20, and D’Andre
A late surge in the fourth quarter by Brian Robinson (two touchdowns) pushed him to the top of running back scoring in Week 2, edging out Kyren Williams (28.00), Saquan Barkley (27.20, and D’Andre Swift (27.10). Six other running backs scored more than 20.00 fantasy points. Here are the top five back in scoring in PPR leagues after two games:
- Christian McCaffrey (48.40)
- Kyren Williams (22.70)
- Brian Robinson (42.50)
- Tony Pollard (42.10)
- Bijan Robinson (20.75)
There have already been three significant injuries to running backs (Austin Ekeler, Nick Chubb, and Saquon Barkley), sending fantasy managers to an ultra-thin waiver wire to solve their injury woes.
Also, check out FullTime Fantasy‘s Week 3 DFS QB Report, WR Report, and TE Report.
Top Tier Options
Tony Pollard, DAL (DK – $8,000/FD – $9,400)
Over the first two weeks of the season, the Cowboys have played from the lead for about 150 minutes while never trailing in a game. They’ve struggled to run the ball in other matches (4.1 and 3.0 yards per rush) despite averaging 37 carries. Pollard has been on the field for 64% of their snaps in both contests, leading to 191 combined yards with two touchdowns and nine catches (42.10 fantasy points in PPR formats). He is well behind last year’s pace in yards per rush (3.6 – 5.2 in 2022) and yards per catch (5.4 – 9.5 in 2022). Pollard scored eight of his 12 touchdowns at home last season.
The Cardinals defended running back well over the first two games (44/149/1 – 3.4 yards per carry). They’ve allowed two receiving scores to backs, with minimal damage in catches (8) and receiving yards (46). Arizona finished 27th in running back defense (27.39 FPPG) in 2022.
Pollard had seven rushes inside the five-yard line and 12 inside the 10 yards. I didn’t like to see Rico Dowdle on the field near the goal line last week on one series. But Dowdle failed to reach paydirt in his two chances. Pollard’s 32 touches in Week 2 were career-high. His salary in the DFS market requires an impact game. That is something he achieved only once in 2022 (149 combined yards with three touchdowns and one catch). I see a correct game coming in big plays, giving him a chance to be the top running back of the week.
Bijan Robinson, ATL (DK – $8,000/FD – $9,000)
The fantasy market got a taste of the potential in Week 2 vs. the Packers. Atlanta gave him 24 touches compared to 16 by Tyler Allgeier, leading to a wide edge in combined yards (172 to 48). His snap count rose from 63% to 72%. Robinson had 39 touches on the year while averaging 6.2 yards per rush. Two of his plays gained at least 20 yards.
His first road start comes in Detroit, matching him against the electric Jahmyr Gibbs. The Lions played well vs. the run over the first two games (23/90 and 25/82/2 – 3.6 yards per rush), with 37.8% of their yards allowed coming from…
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Mid-Round Running Backs to Target
Reading between the tea leaves is a big part of having success in fantasy sports. Understanding the direction of a player, either by his natural progression or his status coming off an injury, can lead to finding a potential value
And speaking of strategy, the FullTime Fantasy Draft Kit is loaded with exclusive, league-winning tips and advice to help you DOMINATE YOUR LEAGUE! This includes our No.1 rankings, sleepers, fades, and much more!
Identifying Mid-Round Value
In the early draft season, there are too many values at different positions in fantasy football. This creates almost a false ADP for someone jumping into drafts in August. The flow of players in June and July, before the general public catches up with drafting inventory, is built on different buying opportunities.
As training camp news flows and players start getting positive reviews, the ADPs begin to change. This tightens up the player pool and makes it more challenging to execute an early draft plan. Once this happens, the better drafters will make tradeoffs at specific points. This is to secure the most critical players for their fantasy team.
This thought process brings me to the running back options after the first 17 or 18 backs come over the table. Typically, in the BestBall formats that I have been drafting, the running backs come off in this order midway through the fifth round:
- Kenneth Walker
- Alexander Mattison
- Miles Sanders
- Cam Akers
- J.K. Dobbins
- Dameon Pierce
- David Montgomery
- D’Andre Swift
- Javonte Williams
- James Conner
- Rachaad White
- James Cook
- Isiah Pacheco
Running Backs to Target
Behind each player’s name is a skill set and a story, requiring the casual drafter to understand before deciding who to select. These running back aren’t equal, and a couple will become difference-makers in 2023. Here’s my quick back story on each player.
Kenneth Walker – Excellent rookie season showcasing explosive runs and scoring. He struggled in pass protection, and Seattle brought in competition to play on passing downs. In addition, Walker had a slight groin issue in mid-August that is progressing.
Alexander Mattison – Tempting player based on him expected to start for a high-scoring offense and his success at times as a fill-in for Dalvin Cook. He gained 3.7 yards on his last 208 rushing attempts and 6.8 yards per catch over 47 receptions. With Cook in New York, Mattison has a higher chance of being a wasted pick in the fifth round than an impact player. If he struggles out the gate…
WHO ARE THE TOP MID-ROUND RUNNING BACKS TO TARGET ON YOUR DRAFT DAY?
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Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Flex Positions
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Flex Positions In the fantasy market, there are all kinds of formats. A fantasy manager needs to start two running backs, three wide receivers, and one, possibly, two flex players in the 12-team high-stakes market. The added length to the starting lineup in the Fantasy Football World Championships (FFWC) requires drafters to be creative when building their roster. In addition, it puts a premium on depth at the wide receiver position. As we worked through the final fantasy points for the top 24 wide receivers and top 48 wide receivers over the previous four seasons, it is pretty easy to see most teams will start wide receivers at the first flex position. Here’s a look at the RB3 and WR4 scores over the last four years just for comparison for the ideal Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Flex Positions. Also, the 2023 FullTime Fantasy Football Draft Kit is absolutely LOADED with EXCLUSIVE sleepers, fades, breakouts, customized cheat sheets, and tons of valuable content to help you DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT DAY! Recent Flex Success Last year 36 wide receivers outscored the top RB3 option (Raheem Mostert – 170.40 fantasy points). And 54 wideouts had more points than the top TE2 option (Gerald Everett – 139.50). In most PPR leagues, the best team structure is to start two running backs and four wide receivers. You can also add the occasional running back or tight end delivering enough value over the course of the season to be starter worthy at a flex position. The first flex position comes from a mixture of running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. Each fantasy manager can find short-term options at different times of the year due to injuries. In 2022, there was an even split between running back and wide receiver as the top plays at the first flex position with a high of 170.40 fantasy points and a low of 160.50 fantasy points. The previous year, seven wide receivers, five running backs, and one tight end filled the FLEX1 bucket. Here’s a look at the drop-down if your league uses a second flex position: Adding a Second Flex Spot The goal for a drafter is to find a flex two option that will average over 10.00 fantasy points per week. Also, to attempt to have your top two running backs average close to 30 combined fantasy points per week. In 2022, the top options to start at the second flex position came from wide receivers (8) and running backs (4). When reviewing the data in this series of articles, some fantasy managers may conclude that I’m making the case to be WR-heavy in the early rounds of the draft. However, the history in the high-stakes fantasy market shows winning an overall championship requires two strong running backs plus a third serviceable option. Draft position dictates each team-building opportunity. The change in draft flow from year to year forces drafters to make different decisions. The success, strength, and depth of the running back and wide receiver positions set the foundation for game-planning the following season. In 2023 in the high-stakes market, drafters have focused on wide receivers (10) over the first 14 picks. That is partly due to some cloudiness with multiple running backs and contract uneasiness. Last year, six wideouts scored more than 300 fantasy points in PPR formats compared to only four running backs. The debate/challenge this draft season is when to build running back depth. With many wideouts coming off the board early, there will be buying opportunities in the second and third rounds. If a fantasy manager builds a wide receiver strong roster early, he or she gains strength in two areas. If their players perform up to expectations. First, the fantasy point edge at wideout creates a possibly early lead in the standings. Second, a wide receiver strong team should have fewer lineup decisions in many weeks. To finish this type of game plan, a fantasy manager then needs to hit on at least one RB2 later in the draft. By rostering multiple outs at running back, a drafter will need to negotiate the early weeks of the season until they find a secure starting option. Three-down backs with high-scoring abilities offer the most significant edge in value in the fantasy market. But there are limited options each season. Unfortunately, drafters only see four viable options this season – Christian McCaffrey, Austin Ekeler, Bijan Robinson, and Saquon Barkley. Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs have drama issues, leading to them sliding in drafts until the fantasy market knows their status for 2023. If a fantasy manager decides to draft three running backs early, they need to make sure they don’t end up with three players with league-average value at running back. Their lead running back has to deliver a separator score. And their second option has to beat the second group of WR2s. The team drafting an elite wide receiver in the middle of round one will need to decide the best path to land the highest upside RB/WR combinations over the next three or so rounds. The wide receiver options in 2023 will have a wide range of values and opinions by drafters. So a fantasy manager will need to be quick in his decision-making when on the clock. The front of a draft typically has many outs on the 2/3 and 4/5 turns. Value plays a big part in team building in that area. I see a clear drop-off at running back in the middle of round four. And the wide receiver options on the 4/5 turn feel like coin tosses. This will lead to many drafters gravitating toward quarterbacks and some tight ends in the fifth round. Either way, a fantasy manager in a league with dual flex positions will be required to load up at WR. Even with receiver depth, a team can’t win a championship without building a solid base of RBs. The running back position will be full of ups and downs. That
2023 Fantasy Football Fades
2023 Fantasy Football Fades Knowing which players to avoid is a vital part of any successful fantasy draft strategy. Being proactive means avoiding disappointments before they bottom out. In this case, my 2023 Fantasy Football Fades explores five highly-coveted players
Knowing which players to avoid is a vital part of any successful fantasy draft strategy. Being proactive means avoiding disappointments before they bottom out. In this case, my 2023 Fantasy Football Fades explores five highly-coveted players who are being over-drafted in 2023.
For me, the most challenging category each football season in the fantasy market is the fade/bust category. In most cases, a player underachieves expectations due to an injury. I’m looking for players coming off career years that look overpriced in drafts. In addition, some players will be ranked with more established options, putting them in a one-year wonder category.
Josh Jacobs (RB) Las Vegas Raiders
There is no doubt Jacobs has talent and upside, but he is coming off a massive workload (393 touches), leading to an exceptional season (2,053 combined yards with 12 touchdowns and 53 catches). Unfortunately, the Raiders failed to pick up his fifth-year option before last year, putting him in the “franchise tag category.”
Jacobs turned 25 in February, and he wants to get paid. When training camp opened in July, his flight left town. His holdout could be lengthy, creating a fantasy dilemma. His 2022 stats suggest a value in the second round. I expect regression in his output and some injury risk by not being at training camp. Jacobs was an excellent buy last year, but I sense a potential trap even if he slides to the third round in PPR formats.
Over the past seven seasons, a running back has led the NFL in combined yards, with each outcome resulting in…
WHAT PLAYERS SHOULD YOU AVOID THIS SEASON?
FIND OUT WHO SHAWN’S TOP-5 FANTASY FOOTBALL FADES IN 2023…
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A Strategy Guide for Drafting RBs
A Strategy Guide for Drafting RBs Opportunity reigns supreme in fantasy football. However, no position is as susceptible to nagging injuries as much as the running back. That means backup running backs with high-touch upside should be on every drafter’s radar. A Strategy Guide for Drafting RBs explores the statistical target points of these handcuff RB targets and where to target them in your draft. Oftentimes we see these under-the-radar backups become fantasy football breakouts when given the chance to start. After filling out your starting lineup, these are the potential difference-makers you want to target in the mid-to-late rounds of your fantasy football drafts. This Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: RB will help you identify those highly coveted backup running backs to target in 2023. Running Backs 25 to 36 Point Totals (2019 – 2022) RB3/Flex: Rostering a third productive running back in fantasy football can be gold if you have strength in your other positions. An excellent third option will help you in bye weeks. Also, that player could also be serviceable at the flex position. The third set of 12 running backs from 2022 averaged 156.78 fantasy points in full-point PPR leagues or 9.80 points per week. That fell in line with the previous three seasons (154.61, 151.06, and 152.82). Typically, a tier of 12 backs will hold about a 60-point edge each year over the next grouping. In 2022, the RB1s averaged 282.90 fantasy points in PPR formats, with the top four players (341.88) carrying the load. The RB2s scored between 227.40 and 179.70 fantasy points. The RB3s averaged 156.78 fantasy points. The 60-point gaps don’t sound like much, but it adds up throughout a fantasy season. Making the postseason will be challenging if a roster is weak at two positions. Fantasy Point Totals RB3 Observations It is imperative to draft some upside running backs on your team, but they will hurt you if you are forced to play them due to an injury to one of your top options if they are not getting regular playing time. Fantasy football is a simple game. Most of the action will happen inside the first 12 rounds of drafts in 12-team leagues. Every fantasy team should have their starting lineup after eight or nine rounds. Therefore, their decisions from rounds nine to 12 will be critical. Especially if your team has a weakness at a position. In 12-team PPR leagues, a top roster must score close to 2,050 fantasy points over a 14-week schedule (to be in the playoff hunt. A top team could score more than 2,200 points. A fair goal from your starting quarterback and first two running backs would be to score 55 fantasy points (QB – 23+ points, RB1 – 18+ points, and RB2 – 14+ points). A top RB, a solid RB2, and a mid-tier quarterback should deliver that score from an early-draft position. By selecting later in the draft, an elite quarterback with two-second level running backs may deliver a similar score. It then would come down to the wide receiver and tight end positions to reach your target number to draft a competitive team. After looking over each group of running backs, it is interesting to see how close the final scores are each year when considering the vast changes in playing time and the high rate of injuries at the position. The player pool changes yearly, creating different tiers at each starting roster position. The key is gaining an edge whenever possible. Also, identifying when there is an apparent drop-off in talent at each position using a tiered cheatsheet. Running Back 37 to 48 Point Totals (2019 – 2022) The fourth group of 12 running backs averaged 7.10 fantasy points in PPR leagues in 2022, making it difficult to time if forced to slide them into their starting lineup. When building your running back depth on draft day, the first goal is finding an edge at RB1. This player needs to be a three-down back with value in rushing, receiving, and touchdowns. If the available options don’t meet these qualifications, a drafter must gain an edge at another position. Another great way to prepare to DOMINATE your draft is using FullTime Fantasy’s Mock Draft Simulator. The most successful fantasy managers will make these evaluations before draft day once they know their draft position. The goal is to determine the best start for a fantasy team based on the current draft flow or ADPs. The more thought a drafter does before the draft, the better chance of making better decisions when on the clock on draft day. It is also important not to be naïve when identifying an upside player. A ton of information is written in the fantasy football market, and the fantasy community will come to the same conclusion with breakout-type players. In some cases, there may only be one running back viewed as a difference-maker going early in the second round. If drafting late in the first round, the data points to a “targeted back” being available with your second pick. This deduction leads to looking at the best options at other positions with their first selection while most likely settling in at the wide receiver position unless a top running back with three-down ability slides in the draft. After reviewing the best options at wide receiver, the player pool may dictate multiple players of similar value. When seeing this develop, a fantasy manager must be open to moving the “targeted back” up to the first round to avoid being sniped by another sharp drafter. By doing this, a fantasy manager accepts the closeness in value at the wide receiver position while knowing there may be a chance their number one wide receiver option may still slide to them in the second round. Often late in the draft season, the edge players with upside will see their draft value rise. However, it’s essential to consider each player’s real upside. Be careful not to overvalue players, where you draft
Top Five Running Back Sleepers
Top Five Running Back Sleepers There are some strategies that advocate targeting running backs early and often. However, many other #ZERORB drafters bypass early RBs altogether. Regardless of your approach, running backs remain a pivotal focus in fantasy football. By
Top Five Running Back Sleepers
There are some strategies that advocate targeting running backs early and often. However, many other #ZERORB drafters bypass early RBs altogether. Regardless of your approach, running backs remain a pivotal focus in fantasy football.
By in large, top-tier running backs will accumulate the most points in fantasy lineups. That makes them an integral part of each and every lineup. Knowing which mid-to-late-round running back sleepers to target can make all the difference between a middling roster and a real championship contender.
Here are the Top Five Running Back Sleepers to target in your 2023 fantasy football draft or auction.
Breaking Down The Field
I researched the running back outcomes in 2022 to keep the same theme with the quarterback and wide receiver week-to-week data. Over 18 weeks, running backs scored 30 fantasy points or more in PPR formats in 26 games. Four of these scores reach the 40-point mark (Joe Mixon – 55.10, Alvin Kamara – 42.80, Christian McCaffrey – 40.60, and Josh Jacobs – 48.30). Austin Ekeler (4) and Josh Jacobs (4) posted the most impact games.
The top 12 running backs posted 17 of the 26 games with more than 30 fantasy points, compared to five by RB2s. Backs scored between 20 and 29.99 fantasy points 107 times, with RB1s accounting for 51 of those showings. They finished with a 106:67 boom or bust ratio (15 fantasy points or more/fewer than 10.00 fantasy points). The second 12 running backs had a much weaker ratio (58:100).
Austin Ekeler scores 20 or more fantasy points in nine games, giving him a 52.9% win rate in his impact ratio. Christian McCaffrey (8) and Derrick Henry (8) finished tied for second in this area.
The highest floor ratio (76.5) went to Christian McCaffery (13 games), followed by Austin Ekeler (12) and Saquan Barkley (12), then Derrick Henry (10) and Nick Chubb (10).
After Week 10, only three back scores ranking outside the top 38 scored more than 20 fantasy points in a game (Brian Robinson – 20.50, JaMycal Hasty – 20.50, and Zack Moss – 21.10).
Here’s a look at the top 24 running backs from last season with their highlighted week-to-week scores…
WHO ARE THE TOP FIVE RUNNING BACK SLEEPERS TO TARGET IN YOUR 2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTS?
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Fantasy Football: Deal or No Deal Alvin Kamara
Fantasy Football: Deal or No Deal Alvin Kamara The Saints’ offense has had many changes in the offseason. It started with a $150 million deal for four years in March for Derek Carr. The ball finally dropped on Alvin Kamara’s suspension (three games). That created a potential buying opportunity for him in early August as the fantasy market tries to evaluate his “new value” with Jamaal Williams and Kareen Hunt added to the backfield. Now it’s time for Fantasy Football: Deal or No Deal Alvin Kamara. First, New Orleans has the foundation of being much better at passing the ball if Michael Thomas can deliver 80% of his previous self and Chris Olave delivers on his expectations. Over the two last seasons, the Saints threw the ball only 504 and 512 times due to Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, Taysom Hill, and Andy Dalton starting at quarterback in the post-Drew Brees era. In addition, they played without their star wideout (Thomas) over this span. In my first run of the projections in June, I had Kamara suspended for 10 games. Once he settled his court case, I lowered his missed time to six games. The NFL decided on three weeks for his off-the-field incident. That meant Kamara was a deal in most early drafts if he stays healthy. Looking back at the Saints’ offensive profile, the running back position in New Orleans’ offense has been active for several years, especially with Brees behind center. Here’s a look at their running back production over the past three seasons: The Saints’ defense ranked in the top 10 in points and yards allowed from 2020 to 2022, leading to a more ball-controlled offense and bottom-tier ranking in pass attempts. Despite the regression, their backs still had 113, 88, and 85 catches over this span, averaging 7.46 targets per game. They caught 30, 31, and 25 % of the team’s completions over the previous three seasons. In the first run of the 2023 fantasy football projections, I didn’t see enough strength in the Saints’ other backs to support their previous value in catches. My starting point was 18% of the team’s completions (about 60 catches), well below their previous opportunity. This season, I have New Orleans throwing the ball 592 times with two active wideouts (Chris Olave and Michael Thomas). Despite the increase in pass attempts and a better overall offense, I only have the Saints’ backs catching 77 passes, which looks out of line (too low). Potentially Adding Kareem Hunt Here’s a look at the Saints’ backfield if they signed Kareem Hunt: Over the first three weeks, Williams and Hunt would see almost all of New Orleans’s running back action. Hunt assumes the Kamara slot in the offense. That points to about a third of the carries and the majority of snaps on passing downs. Williams should get the first crack at goal-line chances in the run game. Once Kamara returns, I expect him to see about 60% of the early down action and most of the chances on passing downs. Ideally, Kamara would average between three to four catches with about 15 rushing attempts. However, I feel I have him unprojected in catches, leaving more upside to his outlook. I view Kamara as a fifth-round back who is getting drafted late in the seventh round. Since his suspension, he still ranks 30th at running back in PPR formats. Kamara should be a mid-tier RB2, and I have no problem if someone drafts at the 18th running back. Over his 88 career games, he averaged 4.9 catches for 42.6 yards and 0.25 touchdowns or 10.66 fantasy points in PPR formats. Based on this alone, Kamara would have ranked 22nd in fantasy scoring in 2022. As far as Hunt, he should be a natural handcuff to Kamara while having a better career body of work than Jamaal Williams. I have enough confidence in Hunt to use him as a cheat RB2 on a WR-strong team over the first three weeks. The bottom line with the Saints’ offense is that they will be much better than in 2022 if their key offensive personnel stay healthy. The running back position should push close to 100 catches. Also, I need to address this shortfall in their projections next week. In 2016, Le’Veon Bell sat out the first three games but still helped fantasy teams win their league and overall championships. Finally, in the high-stakes market, the sharp drafters tend to focus on pass-catching backs late. Kamara should be shining brightly in PPR formats, and he almost falls into the free category in early August. Also, If you have time to prepare, make sure you mock in our Mock Draft World Championships. No better way to practice for the real thing. NEW THIS YEAR: FullTime Members get 5 Free On-Demand Mock Drafts in our contest! Head to MockDraftNow.com and enter your REDEMPTION CODE you received by email. How it Works: First, draft your team using our On-Demand Simulator. Secondly, if you like it, enter it into the best-ball contest. Just sit back and watch your team climb the leaderboard! Finally, the winner gets to choose from the fantastic prizes below. Everyone’s first team is free! CLICK HERE. Lastly, if you don’t know just how awesome and amazing the Panini Flawless Football briefcase is, make sure and watch the video starting at the 8-minute mark! Trading cards are back! Are you a Die-Hard Fantasy Football Player? CLICK HERE to Start Your Road to the 2023 Fantasy Football World Championships.
Top 10 Fantasy Football Handcuffs
Top 10 Fantasy Football Handcuffs No position is as volatile or susceptible to injuries as running backs. Part of building a competitive fantasy football roster is to include an insurance policy. Targeting those handcuff running backs is a viable strategy
No position is as volatile or susceptible to injuries as running backs. Part of building a competitive fantasy football roster is to include an insurance policy. Targeting those handcuff running backs is a viable strategy and safety net.
With so many teams employing committee backfields, selecting your early-round running back’s direct backup makes sense. Whether you play in redraft, bestball, or in high-stakes leagues, knowing the fantasy-relevant handcuff running backs is crucial.
Here are the top 10 fantasy football handcuffs to target in the 2023 draft season.
David Montgomery (Detroit Lions)
With Jahmyr Gibbs added to the Lions’ offense, Montgomery tends to be an afterthought as an RB3 (ranks 29th) in the high-stakes market. Despite being listed as a handcuff back, he will be the early down back for Detroit with value in scoring and catches. Detroit’s running backs gained 2,795 combined yards with 29 scores and 82 catches (31.5 FPPG in PPR formats) in 2022.
Montgomery projects to be a better option than Jamaal Williams (262/1,066/17 with 12 catches for 73 yards) this season. I don’t expect as many touchdowns. But Montgomery will be more active in the passing game. At the very least, Montgomery is a cheat RB2 who should outperform his ADP in 2023.
Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders)
Gibson ended up being a fantasy disappointment in 2022 due to the emergence of Brian Robinson. He rushed for more than 60 yards in only one (18/72) of his 15 matchups while offering only two showings (7/72 and 7/58/1) with more than three catches.
Despite his shortfall, Gibson finished 28th in running back scoring in PPR formats. A new offensive coordinator (Eric Bieniemy) invites more chances for Washington’s running backs in the passing game. Gibson will be a rotational player on early downs, with most of his action coming in the passing game. Pass-catching backs tend to have a higher floor, giving Gibson RB3 status this year…
WHAT OTHER RUNNING BACK HANDCUFFS SHOULD FANTASY DRAFTERS TARGET IN 2023 FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTS?
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