There are some more risky, but intriguing, running backs to choose from this week, and while we were rewarded for our faith last week in Gus Edwards, Deejay Dallas, and JaMycal Hasty, it’s still tough to want to roll those dice again. But you might have to, and if you do, here are the best options out there to roll the dice on.
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Running Backs
Damien Harris, New England Patriots (48% rostership on Yahoo/45% on ESPN)
To put it politely, the Patriots passing attack is pathetic, and they really have no choice but to try and run the ball. While there are a whole slew of running backs in New England who get touches, it’s Damien Harris that they rely on the most. With no timetable still on Sony Michel’s return, Harris is likely to remain the main guy getting touches. It’s not the best role to be targeting, as he gets no passing game work and there’s no guarantee he’ll get the high-value touches especially playing next to Cam Newton, but he’s getting the volume, and we have to respect that.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts (3%/1%)
I don’t feel particularly good about this, because I still believe that Jonathan Taylor is the most talented running back and by a good margin, but the Colts coaching staff seems pretty fed up with his lack of production. Before the garbage-time drives, Jordan Wilkins had outcarried Taylor 14-11. Perhaps the most damning thing to me was that at the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Colts had 2nd-and-goal on the 1 yard line, gave the carry to Taylor, he didn’t score, then they immediately subbed Wilkins in for Taylor, gave Wilkins the carry on 3rd-and-goal, and he scored the touchdown then. Taylor didn’t get a single carry after that moment. I don’t think this is immediately going to become a bell-cow situation for Wilkins, but I do think he is the lead back for now.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (30%/8%)
This is the blueprint for success in the Baltimore backfield. Not just for Gus Edwards but in general, when they only have two running backs they can rely on (plus Lamar Jackson), the work is there. Edwards had plenty of volume and pretty much all of the high-value touches, and that’s huge in an offense that isn’t moving the ball well through the air at all. His shelf life may be short, with Mark Ingram likely to be healthy soon, but that’s kind of where we are at with the waiver wire this week.
FAAB Budget: 8%
Carlos Hyde, Seattle Seahawks (25%/39%)
Deejay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks (25%/19%)
So one thing didn’t change here, and that is that we still don’t know the status of Chris Carson (or Carlos Hyde for that matter). But, we did learn something on Sunday, which is that it doesn’t matter what running back they throw out there, they will be fantasy-relevant with how strong this offense is. Deejay Dallas is likely only relevant for one more week, and that relies on both Carson and Hyde being hurt again. If he starts, he’s going to have another solid week. The same can be said for Hyde if he’s healthy. We won’t know Carson’s status until Saturday it sounds like, so this add might be all for nothing, but you got to take the shot.
FAAB Budget: 8%
JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers (42%/62%)
It seems like this is now JaMycal Hasty’s backfield, which obviously no one expected coming into the season. But Tevin Coleman aggravated his injury, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are both out still, and Jerick McKinnon isn’t trusted to be the lead back anymore for whatever reason. So while Hasty didn’t exactly wow in his performance last week, he will still be getting the work, and could be relevant for a while longer than any of the running backs ahead of him on this list. However, the 49ers offense isn’t as exciting, especially without George Kittle, so that tempers my excitement a bit.
FAAB Budget: 8%
Tyler Ervin, Green Bay Packers (1%/1%)
Aaron Jones is likely to miss Thursday night’s game as he’s still dealing with his calf injury. Both Jamaal Williams and A.J. Dillon are on the COVID-19 list and will not be able to play. That leaves Tyler Ervin as the last man standing in Green Bay. This is very similar to the Deejay Dallas situation last week as even though these offenses are pass-heavy, there is still so much production that Ervin can still score plenty of fantasy points. He’s almost certainly just a one-week add, but he could win your week.
FAAB Budget: If you are desperate for a win, I’d go as high as 15%
Wide Receivers
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (44% rostership on Yahoo/68% on ESPN)
How Sterling Shepard still qualifies for this list is beyond me. He now has 6+ catches in every single one of his healthy games this year and was rostered in 67% of leagues before he was hurt. Shepard is fantastic value in PPR leagues and he is fairly matchup-proof as he just had a great game against the tough Tampa Bay defense. Go get yourself a great high-floor wide receiver.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans (48%/52%)
Derrick Henry doesn’t catch any passes. Apparently, the Titans are no longer interested in throwing to their tight ends. Adam Humphries is likely to miss some time after that nasty hit on Sunday. Someone has to get targets, and so far this year Corey Davis has been getting plenty of those. He’s had 8 or more targets in three of the five games he’s played in this year, so I feel pretty good about his involvement in the offense. I guess I am ready to get hurt by Davis again.
FAAB Budget: 10%
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers (34%/32%)
The Packers did not acquire a wide receiver at the deadline. They clearly have no one else to throw to besides Davante Adams, Davante Adams, and sometimes Robert Tonyan. Allen Lazard is likely to return soon, and he and Aaron Rodgers clearly have a good rapport. I think Lazard will do very well opposite from Adams and might even be better as a WR2 rather than being the guy they have to rely on.
FAAB Budget: 5%
Tight Ends
Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers (3% rostership on Yahoo/3% on ESPN)
George Kittle is set to miss around 8 weeks, and in the two games without Kittle earlier this year, Jordan Reed received 14 targets and scored 14 points per game in PPR. I think he’s a clear upgrade over many of the touchdown-dependent TEs that are rostered out there, like Jimmy Graham or Tyler Higbee.
FAAB Budget: 3%
Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers (46%/62%)
I’m not going to pretend like Eric Ebron has a ton of upside, but what he does have is a very solid floor. In PPR leagues, Ebron has scored 7 or more points in 5 of the 7 games, and has had multiple games of being relevant without scoring a touchdown. A lot of us have been chasing production at tight end and end up with big fat zeroes in the statline, so maybe it’s time to settle down with someone like Ebron who is safe and will take care of us and probably also make us pancakes on Sunday mornings.
FAAB Budget: 1%, but 100% if pancakes are actually involved
(Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire)