NFC Goal Line Gossip: Week 9
NFC Goal Line Gossip: Week 9
As you continue to manage your lineup amid bye weeks, and a sudden excess of injuries to vital RBs, you’ve found the place for a detailed look at how the backfields are evolving on every team from a fantasy perspective. I’ll examine how all 32 starters are performing, which backups are providing threats to their allotment of touches, and how challenging their next matchups will be. Not to mention, when the backs who have been sidelined with health issues will return, and how you can improve your rosters until they do.
All of this should assist you in determining which RBs should be in your starting lineups. Even though the aforementioned bye weeks are slowly coming to a close, there are still three NFC teams that will be impacted this week. If you have Adrian Peterson, Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Jahvid Best, Maurice Morris, or Keiland Williams affix them securely to your bench.
With that, here is comprehensive information that you need, toward helping you maximize your chances of winning your fantasy matchup in week 9. Check out the AFC Goal Line Gossip
Arizona Cardinals: There had been considerable speculation that Beanie Wells would be unable to perform in week 8, or that at best he would be severely limited. But he overcame problems with his right knee to start for the Cardinals, and register 22 carries. Even more impressively, Wells amassed 83 yards and a TD, against the third ranked Baltimore defense. The one piece of disconcerting news remains his knee issue, which will likely exist for the remainder of the season. Still, fantasy owners should plan on starting him against the Rams’ 32nd ranked rush defense, as he should easily improve his season totals of 506 yards, and seven TDs.
Atlanta Falcons: With his 30th birthday approaching, and 1,254 rushing attempts under his belt, Michael Turner might have lost a small portion of the explosiveness that he once possessed. However, he is still extremely productive, and is delivering an excellent season for fantasy owners. With 621 rushing yards, he is well on his way to a fourth 1,000-yard season. His six TDs also have him on pace for a fifth consecutive year with 10+. He now returns from his bye with an opportunity to deliver exceptional numbers, against the 31st ranked Indianapolis rush defense. The Colts have allowed a mammoth 144 YPG and 10 rushing TDs.
Carolina Panthers: It has been frustrating for Jonathan Stewart’s owners to witness the ongoing time share that effectively diffuses his ability to generate significant fantasy points. He has consistently been Carolina’s more dynamic runner. And with 23 catches for 220 yards, has easily been a more productive receiver than DeAngelo Williams. Yet, Stewart spent much of the year being limited to a modest number of rushing attempts. However, Stewart’s allotment has recently been increasing. After averaging just 7.3 attempts in the first six games, that number has soared to 13.5 in the last two. That includes the 13 that he utilized to gain 49 yards against the Vikings. That nearly doubled Williams’ seven carries with which he generated 26 yards. After he returns from his bye in week 10, Stewart can be started as a low No. 2 against Tennessee, while Williams should remain on your bench.
Chicago Bears: When Matt Forte generated 1,000 total yards in his first seven games, he became the first RB to accomplish that feat since Priest Holmes and Tiki Barber in 2004. 672 of his 1,091 yards have been produced on the ground, which becomes even more impressive considering that he had only managed 119 through his first three games. But the 138 YPG that he has averaged in his past four games, has combined with the receiving prowess that he has demonstrated all season, to boost Forte near the top in fantasy point production among all backs. He entered his bye week third in rushing, and first in receiving yards with 419. He should excel on Monday night, despite a challenging matchup with Philadelphia’s 11th ranked defense.
Dallas Cowboys: When DeMarco Murray lined up for his first career start in week 8, nobody expected a duplication of the 253-yard rushing performance that he registered against St. Louis in week 7. But he almost matched his massive 10.1 YPC, by registering an impressive 9.3, while gaining 74 yards on just eight carries in Philadelphia. His anemic workload occurred because the Cowboys fell far behind early in the contest. Otherwise, he has now delivered considerable production in two straight games based upon his opportunities. Felix Jones could return on Sunday, but Murray will not recede into the same nondescript role that he possessed prior to his record setting explosion. Start him as a No. 2 against Seattle’s 11th ranked run defenders (102.9 YPC).
Detroit Lions: With Jahvid Best unavailable once again, Maurice Morris and Keiland Williams divided the workload in Denver. Morris was most efficient member of the tandem, gaining a season high 58 yards on 13 carries (4.5 YPC), while Williams rushed for just 25 yards on 11 attempts (2.3 YPC). Morris also scored his first TD of the year, on a one-yard run. While Morris provided reasonable production, his viability is dependent upon the status of Best. Fantasy owners should scrutinize their status closely following the Lions’ bye week. Detroit will then have a return engagement with the Bears’ 23rd ranked defense in week 10.
Green Bay Packers: It will be interesting to see if Mike McCarthy will now finally expand James Starks’ workload, and reduce the role of Ryan Grant. Starks has been the more effective runner in six of Green Bay’s seven games, but has not been an exciting option for fantasy owners, because he has averaged 11.8 APG. While Starks has failed to garner double digit carries just once, he still deserves more opportunities. Grant has averaged 8.14 YPG, but that is skewed significantly by his 17 carry effort in week 3. Otherwise, his 6.7 APG becomes far less significant. Yet, that number is high enough to impact Starks. Hopefully, we will hear that he is finally being entrusted with a sizable workload. Otherwise, he can be used only as a No. 3, against the Chargers’ 18th ranked rush defense.
Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson has benefitted immensely from the QB switch in Minnesota, exploding for 337 yards in the two games since Christian Ponder’s insertion into the lineup. That includes 86 rushing yards on 21 attempts against the Panthers, which was the sixth time that AP has generated 80+. That enhanced his league leading season total to 798 (4.8 YPC). He also leads the NFL with nine rushing TDs, and with the most attempts (167). As if these weren’t enough reasons for fantasy owners to revel in his accomplishments, he also caught five passes for 76 yards and a TD in Carolina, after entering the contest with just 49 yards for the entire year. He will collect some well deserved rest, then resume must start status in week 10, against the same Packer unit that he torched for a season high 175 yards in week 7.
New Orleans Saints: The absence of Mark Ingram (heel) was supposed to provide Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles with expanded workloads. Instead, the backfield became even more congested, when Chris Ivory made his first appearance of 2011, and pilfered six carries for 18 yards. As a result, Thomas was only allotted seven attempts, which is exactly what he has averaged all year. While he only managed 23 yards, he did produce his first TD of the season. Sproles ran six times for 16 yards, but delivered another excellent performance as a receiver, adding 60 yards on six receptions. He has now caught 51 passes, which leads all backs, and is second only to Wes Welker. He remains a No. 2 against the Buccaneers, while Ingram’s health will determine his value, and impact the viability of Thomas. Ivory is not yet worthy of a roster spot.
New York Giants: This rushing attack is scaring nobody, as the G-Men are ranked a miserable 30th, averaging just 85.6 YPG. Ahmad Bradshaw has managed only 63 YPG, which is skewed by his 104-yard performance in week 6. Otherwise, he has failed to even reach 60 yards in five games. That includes week 8, when he managed just 50 on 13 carries, and suffered a reoccurrence of the foot issues that have plagued him during his career. Brandon Jacobs returned after missing two weeks with a knee injury, but registered just 10 yards on four carries. He has managed just 126 yards and two TDs, in what has been a disappointing season. If he is healthy, Bradshaw can be employed as a No. 2, while Jacobs is a low end No. 3 against New England’s ninth ranked rush defense (101 YPG).
Philadelphia Eagles: LeSean McCoy production has been exceptional throughout the season, regardless of how formidable the opposing defense is. Despite a difficult matchup with a Dallas rush defense that entered the game allowing just 69.8 YPG, he sliced through the Cowboys for a career high 185 yards and two TDs. It was the second straight game in which he has surpassed 100 yards, and the fourth time this season. He has vaulted into second among RBs in rushing yardage for the season with 754, and in rushing TDs with eight. McCoy of course remains a must start in his matchup with the 12th ranked Chicago rush defense, that has only allowed four TDs.
San Francisco 49ers: The bye week did nothing to reduce Frank Gore’s recent momentum, as he gashed the Browns for 134 yards and a TD on a season high 31 attempts. He has now erupted for 527 yards in his last four games, easily exceeding 100 yards in all four contests, while also scoring in each game. His 132 YPG average has enabled him to overcome a painfully slow start, and ascend into fifth among all backs with 675 yards for the season. Fantasy owners should expect more outstanding results, against Washington’s 21th ranked rush defense, that was just ravaged by Fred Jackson.
Seattle Seahawks: Marshawn Lynch’s erratic production has caused great uncertainty for fantasy owners on a weekly basis. After gaining a disappointing 44 rushing yards in his first two games combined, his yardage totals ricocheted from 73, down to 24 and back up to 98. But the most devastating surprise occurred in week 7, when he experienced back spasms after the Seahawks had turned in their inactive list, resulting in an unforeseen DNP, and a big, fat zero in the scoring column. Anyone who was willing to risk starting him again in week 8, was rewarded with an anemic 24 yards on 16 attempts, although he did generate his third TD of the year. His erratic production, and his 3.6 YPC, combine to make him a No. 3 at best in his matchup with Dallas’ fourth ranked rush defense.
St. Louis Rams: Steven Jackson’s quad injury, and the Rams’ propensity to fall substantially behind, had conspired to limit his production this season. But there were no issues for Jackson in week 8, as he exploded for 159 yards on 25 attempts against the Saints. It was his highest yardage total since 2008, as Jackson has now rushed for 325 of his 449 yards in his last three games. He also scored twice, which doubled his season TD total to four. The 6.3 YPC that he registered improved his average for the year to 5.3. And in one more piece of good news for owners, he is averaging 20 carries over his past four games. You can confidently start him as a No. 1 against Arizona’s 15th ranked rush defense (113.1 YPC).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It is unfortunate that a torn Achilles prematurely ended Earnest Graham’s season. Not only had he performed effectively during LeGarrette Blount’s absence, but Graham had been a mainstay in the top five among all backs with his stellar reception total throughout the year. Now, Blount is the only back from this roster for fantasy owners to even consider. Because the Buccaneers have not attempted to upgrade the No. 2 slot beyond current backup Kregg Lumpkin, who should not be considered worthy of a fantasy roster slot. Fortunately, Blount appears likely to return for Sunday’s matchup with New Orleans’ 24th ranked rush defense. If he does, employ him as a No. 2.
Washington Redskins: Fantasy owners entered week 8 with great trepidation about starting Ryan Torain against the Bills, due to the risk of another shocking decision by Mike Shanahan. However, Tim Hightower’s season ending injury actually reduced the degree of lineup high jinks that Washington’s HC could deliver. But another early deficit, combined with deficiencies at QB and the offensive line, reduced the Redskins’ ability to establish the run. After Torain’s paltry 14 yards on eight attempts, he has a whopping nine yards in the past two weeks. Helu recorded just three receptions for 20 yards and no carries. The signing of Tashard Choice provides even more reason to make life simple, and look elsewhere when these backs face the 49ers’ top ranked rush defense.
