The RB position has been riddled with injury all season. No surprises, running backs get hit more than any other position player on the field. If a RB gets 20 touches, even if he scores twice, that’s 18 hits. Those add up generally resulting in some kind of injury this late in the season. The guys at the top of this list have been lucky enough to avoid the injury bug, so far. Not every fantasy owner has 2 studs on their team to fill the RB spots, guys like Joe Mixon (concussion), Alex Collins (migraines), Ameer Abdullah (neck), and Adrian Peterson (neck) have all had very good stretches this season to make them very fantasy relevant. All four have a questionable tag heading into this Week 14 so pay attention to their injury status throughout the week. Luckily, none play on Thursday so they have all week to get cleared.
Melvin Gordon has not fallen prey to the injury bug, yet. But, he has come back to Earth over the past few weeks. This season has been a tale of two halves for Gordon; he exploded into the season averaging 21.3 FPPG over the first 6 games. He was catching balls out of the backfield and scoring often. Austin Ekeler got sprinkled into the offense a bit (likely to prevent Gordon from the injury bug due to usage) and took some of those touches away. Also, took a bit of scoring away with 5 TDs on the season. Over the past 6 games, Gordon has scored just 12.7 FPPG, but has at least been consistent in that range. I can see him breaking out this week. He’s facing a Washington defense that has gotten shredded lately by RBs. Over the past 4 games, they have allowed 23.3 FPPG to opposing RBs. Gordon is surely going to take advantage. The Chargers have been rolling; and with an opponent traveling cross-country after virtually getting eliminated from playoff contention (not technically, but likely), Melvin Gordon should run wild this week.
Leonard Fournette has been trending in the wrong direction of late. The rookie appeared to be in line to lead fantasy football in scoring after scoring 21.7 FPPG over the first 6 games, and was running through everyone. Four of those first 6 games were against opponents in the top 9 in fantasy points against for RBs. After claiming the NFL was “slower and easier than he expected” in the preseason, he was certainly making it look so. Then he failed to show up for team meetings and got benched for Week 7. After the Week 8 bye, he missed the Week 9 game against the Bengals with an ankle injury. He hasn’t been the same since. Averaging just 11.1 FPPG in the last 4, he looks a touch slower and easier to bring down. It could be the ankle, or it could be the defenses have figured out how to slow him down a bit. He’s too talented to shut down completely, but almost everyone can be limited. This week, the Seahawks come to Jacksonville for a big game for both teams. While Seattle’s offense has a tendency to sputter on the road, the defense doesn’t. In their past 4 road games, the Seahawks are allowing just 7.5 FPPG to opposing RBs. Watch out for a Fournette dud this week.
Here’s the complete list of RBs for Week 14:
- Le’Veon Bell (PIT) vs ravens
- Alvin Kamara (NO) at falcons
- Melvin Gordon (LAC) vs redskins
- LeSean McCoy (BUF) vs colts
- Mark Ingram (NO) at falcons
- Todd Gurley (LAR) vs eagles
- Lamar Miller (HOU) vs 49ers
- Kareem Hunt (KC) vs raiders
- Jordan Howard (CHI) at bengals
- Devonta Freeman (ATL) vs saints
- Christian McCaffrey (CAR) vs vikings
- Tevin Coleman (ATL) vs saints
- Jamaal Williams (GB) at browns
- Leonard Fournette (JAX) vs seahawks
- Alfred Morris (DAL) at giants
- Carlos Hyde (SF) at texans
- DeMarco Murray (TEN) at cardinals
- Duke Johnson, Jr. (CLE) vs packers
- Frank Gore (IND) at bills
- James White (NE) at dolphins
- Jay Ajayi (PHI) at rams
- Jerick McKinnon (MIN) at panthers
- Isaiah Crowell (CLE) vs packers
- Marshawn Lynch (OAK) at chiefs
- Rex Burkhead (NE) at dolphins
- Kenyan Drake (MIA) vs patriots
- Matt Forte (NYJ) at broncos
- Latavius Murray (MIN) at panthers
- Joe Mixon (CIN) vs bears
- Dion Lewis (NE) at dolphins
- Javorius Allen (BAL) at steelers
- Derrick Henry (TEN) at cardinals
- C.J. Anderson (DEN) vs jets
- Austin Ekeler (LAC) vs redskins
- Samaje Perine (WAS) at chargers
- Theo Riddick (DET) at buccaneers
- Orleans Darkwa (NYG) vs cowboys
- Alex Collins (BAL) at steelers
- Rod Smith (DAL) at giants
- Kerwynn Williams (ARI) vs titans
- J.D. McKissic (SEA) at jaguars
- Tarik Cohen (CHI) at bengals
- Marlon Mack (IND) at bills
- Andre Ellington (HOU) vs 49ers
- Bilal Powell (NYJ) at broncos
- LeGarrette Blount (PHI) at rams
- Giovani Bernard (CIN) vs bears
- Chris Ivory (JAX) vs seahawks
- Devontae Booker (DEN) vs jets
- Jonathan Stewart (CAR) vs vikings
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