FANTASY FOOTBALL: The RB ‘dead zone’ is deader than ever

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Coming into drafts this season, there was a typical notion that after the highest tier of RBs, there was a drop off within the mid-range choices that in all probability wouldn’t be value their value, adopted by the lottery decide sorts.

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This midrange was affectionately referred to as the ‘RB Useless Zone’ by many and featured not-quite-elite gamers like Joe Mixon, David Montgomery and Chris Carson.

Nicely, this week anybody who grabbed these gamers are trying DOA.

Montgomery had been performing nicely, coming into the week as a top-10 fantasy RB. However whereas he averted a critical knee harm final week, he has been dominated out for at the least 4 weeks with a sprain. That places Damien Williams – the previous Tremendous Bowl hero with the Chiefs who opted out of final season – in line for a function function. In his six profession video games with 12+ carries, Williams has averaged 21.3 factors per recreation, however that was with the Chiefs. He must be an honest RB2 in opposition to Vegas this week.

–Mixon suffered a low grade ankle sprain final Thursday and has been thought of day-to-day by Bengals coach Zac Taylor. That’s really some excellent news contemplating the nightmare of a excessive ankle sprain that Mixon and his managers needed to take care of final 12 months. Experiences are that he’ll check out the ankle on Saturday earlier than a closing resolution is made, but when he can’t go, then it appears like Samaje Perine and Chris Evans will cut up carries within the backfield.

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–Seemingly out of nowhere, Chris Carson popped up with a neck harm earlier this week and sat out Thursday night time’s loss to the Rams. Relying on which report you noticed, the harm may very well be long-term or Carson is each day. Both means, it’s one thing that managers should be careful for. Alex Collins performed 71% of Seattle’s snaps in opposition to L.A., however didn’t impress a lot with 8.2 factors.

RUNNING THE NUMBERS

Cordarrelle Patterson has 5 TDs this season, which is greater than the remainder of the Falcons mixed. However, he has performed simply 24.3% of snaps, although he will get the ball on 46% of them. Speak about outlier utilization. The duel-threat Patterson additionally ranks because the RB3 and WR5 in complete factors … Damian Harris, who has been an early down, pure rusher most of his profession, turned New England’s pass-catching RB with James White out for the season. If this results in a three-down function for Harris, his worth would soar, however good luck predicting the Pats’ backfield … An early season waiver-wire darling, Ty’Son Williams was inactive final week for the Ravens. Latavius Murray obtained 78% of the group’s rushes and appears to have taken over the lead duties. We’d maintain Williams for one more week, but when he’s benched once more, it’s time to drop him … A bit of little bit of concern for these with Aaron Jones: The Packers RB cut up carries evenly with AJ Dillon final week, with 15 a bit. Jones did outsnap the sophomore 45-29, however the state of affairs bears watching … With the Titans’ high two WR choices each out week, it wasn’t one other broad out that obtained the largest profit out of the state of affairs, it was Jeremy McNichols. The operating again led the group in targets, receptions and yards in opposition to the Jets.

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ROOKIES’ TIME TO SHINE

Those that drafted Justin Fields and Trey Lance are about to have their endurance repay.

Whereas this week shall be Fields’ third profession begin, the Bears lastly named him the group’s starter this week after holding off on the inevitable official announcement for a lot too lengthy. Fields confirmed indicators of enchancment final week in opposition to Detroit, however has but to essentially showcase his operating means which may make him a fantasy stud.

One participant who may gain advantage massively from Fields’ promotion is Darnell Mooney. The WR had a 41% goal share in Week 4, tops within the NFL. The place this leaves star WR Allen Robinson within the combine stays to be seen, although.

Whereas it took some time for Jimmy Garoppolo to lastly be dominated out on Friday for this week’s recreation in opposition to Arizona, there’s concern that the 49ers QB may very well be out a number of weeks with a calf harm. That thrusts Lance into the beginning function after performing nicely in aid in opposition to Seattle.

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So long as Lance stays within the beginning function, he must be a fringe QB1 and shall be value stashing if he does cede the job again to Jimmy G.

SIT/START

Begin Daniel Jones, QB, NYG at DAL

Has the third most dashing yards amongst QBs this season and is the QB6 total.

Sit Jameis Winston, QB, NO at WAS

Washington has given up essentially the most factors to opposing QBs, however Winston has averaged simply 153.3 passing yards per recreation.

Begin Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR vs. PHI

After a good first begin in opposition to Dallas, he’ll tackle a Eagles defence that enables 150.3 dashing yards per recreation.

Sit Myles Gaskin, RB, MIA at TB

Not solely is he dropping snaps to Malcolm Brown, however he’s additionally dealing with the league’s finest run defence.

Begin Laviska Shenault, WR, JAC vs. TEN

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Has been touted for a bigger function within the offence with fellow WR D.J. Chark out for the season.

Sit Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF at ARI

After getting six targets in Week 3, noticed simply three final week and appears to be an afterthought as soon as once more.

Begin Corey Davis, WR, NYJ vs. ATL

Leads the Jets in each receiving class and faces off with an terrible Falcons secondary.

STAT CORNER

Panther QB Sam Darnold is the one participant in NFL historical past with 5 dashing and 5 passing TDs within the first 4 video games of a season. He solely had 5 profession dashing TDs coming into the season.

ADD OF THE WEEK

Dalton Schultz, TE, DAL

Heading into this week’s waiver claims, the fourth highest-scoring TE was obtainable in 69% of Yahoo leagues, however that has actually modified.

DROP OF THE WEEK

Rondale Moore, WR, ARI

After two big weeks to begin his profession, Moore has grow to be a sufferer of a balanced passing offence, which very a lot limits his alternatives with the ball.

WAIVER WIRE DEFENCE

Dallas Cowboys DEF

Regardless of being a top-five fantasy DEF thus far, the Cowboys are rostered in simply 41% of Yahoo leagues and face a Giants group with a historical past of turnovers.