It’s been an amazing lesson for fantasy football owners and analysts this season with Melvin Gordon.
Gordon was pegged as a low-end RB1 as a rookie in 2015 and severely disappointed. He was not a factor in scoring touchdowns last season and came into this season with far lower expectations, with a grade closer to a low-end RB2/RB3.
He’s shown that sometimes your fantasy story isn’t written completely in your first year. Gordon went for 261 all-purpose yards in week 9, giving him three consecutive games with more than 100 total yards.
He’s a bona fide RB1 and has the most points among running backs this season. He has another unbelievable matchup in week 10 against Miami, before he goes on a bye, allowing the rest of the fantasy owners to get a break from the onslaught of Gordon.
It’s a guarantee in starting Gordon. For the rest of the questionable calls, here’s the week 10 running backs start ’em, sit ’em list.
Start
Terrance West vs. Cleveland Browns
It’s been a rough two weeks for West. He’s generated 37 total yards in the last two weeks, despite getting several opportunities.
It’s tough to pull the trigger on West, but this matchup is too mouthwatering to ignore. Cleveland is terrible against the run. The Browns own the second-worst rush defense in the NFL, allowing 146.4 yards per game.
Cleveland also has allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns at 12 this season, making this Thursday night matchup one not to avoid.
Despite the troubles, West is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 option in Baltimore. He has at least 15 touches in three of the last five games, and this game should be no different. Don’t take too much stock in the last two weeks. West will get back on track in week 10.
Chris Ivory vs. Houston Texans
Finally, some balance in Jacksonville.
A new offensive coordinator showed the ability to take the ball out of Blake Bortles hands in week 9, allowing the Jaguars’ running backs an opportunity to gain some yardage. And by far, Ivory was more impressive than T.J. Yeldon.
Ivory still had a fumble, but he rushed for 107 yards on 18 carries. That should be enough for him to garner in the 15-touch range in week 10 against a team that doesn’t do much against the run.
Houston’s rush defense is surprisingly one of the worst in the NFL. The Texans own the fifth-worst rushing defense, allowing 125.8 yards per game. The Jaguars need to have more balance for more success and I expect them to keep going with the same strategy in week 10.
With some byes eliminating some other choices at running back in week 10, Ivory can be in the mix as an RB2.
Jordan Howard vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We shouldn’t have been shocked in week 8 when Howard went crazy against Minnesota. He registered 202 total yards against Minnesota’s once-stingy defense. Surprising, but not shocking.
That effort was the third time he’s gone for more than 100 yards rushing in the last five games. With a more stable quarterback at the helm, it should open up the running game for the Bears.
And that will lead to another solid outing against Tampa Bay.
The Bucs don’t stop the run. Tampa Bay has the ninth-worst rushing defense in the NFL, giving up 117.9 yards per game.
Howard has the unique ability to run and catch the ball out of the backfield, so he has the opportunity at being a borderline RB1 in week 10.
Sit
Charcandrick West vs. Carolina Panthers
Regardless of Spencer Ware’s availability, West should be benched.
He started in week 9 against Jacksonville and was supposed to be one of the best sleeper candidates in Daily Fantasy Football. However, he was basically a no-show, generating 39 yards on 13 carries.
The Chiefs are a high volume rushing team, but West just doesn’t find enough holes to be a competent fantasy running back. He had nowhere to go in week 9 and that will once again be the case against Carolina in week 10.
The Panthers have a top-five rushing defense. Opposing running backs have mustered only 3.3 yards per carry. That’s not a good sign for West.
If Ware comes back from the concussion, then give Ware a shot. If he’s still out, then there’s not a backfield option worth starting for Kansas City.
Ryan Mathews vs. Atlanta Falcons
It’s beginning to look like Mathews shouldn’t even be owned in 12-team leagues.
He has played 11 or fewer snaps in four of the last six games. That’s not enough volume to keep believing he can produce in fantasy football.
He has two touchdowns in the last two weeks, but those are deceiving. You can’t make a living out of a touchdown-dependent running back who averages only single-digit touches per game.
And while Atlanta’s defense isn’t a top-tier unit, the rushing defense actually hasn’t been that bad. The Falcons are a top-10 rushing defense and are limiting opposing teams to less than 100 yards per game on the ground.
Mathews shouldn’t be considered in a starting role any longer in fantasy. In all actuality, he should be a drop candidate in 12-team leagues.
Rashad Jennings vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Much like West, Jennings is a tempting start. The Bengals haven’t been very good against the run this season, giving up 116 yards on the ground.
They’ve been far below-average in the last two weeks against Washington and Cleveland against the run, and you’d expect the same result against New York.
Even if the Giants succeed in running the football, Jennings can’t be trusted.
He’s coming back from injury, but he has yet to break the 30-yard mark in the last three weeks, despite recording at least nine carries in each game.
He spent week 9 evenly splitting time with Paul Perkins, making Jennings even more ineffective than usual. It’s tough to trust the Giants in the running game because they are a high-volume passing team. Even if they decided to run more against the Bengals, it’s unclear whether Jennings would actually receive the bulk of the work.
He’s not a trustworthy weapon for your fantasy roster, even with multiple byes.
