Staying on top of fluid backfield situations from week to week for all 32 teams is quite the tedious task, even for fantasy diehards. To help with your fantasy preparations, my weekly RB Committee Report is intended to be your one-stop shop for tracking each and every fantasy backfield. Each week, we’ll go around the league to hone in on who’s trending up or down in terms of workload distribution and volume, as well as efficiency, in order to pinpoint which backs are making the most (and least) of their opportunities.
| STOCK UP | WK 12 RB SNAPS % / SEASON % | STOCK DOWN | WK 12 RB SNAPS % / SEASON % |
| Joe Mixon | 75.4 / 53.4 | Kareem Hunt | 65.5 / 67.9 |
| Samaje Perine | 70.4 / 40.1 | Jay Ajayi | 28.2 / 56.4 |
| Marshawn Lynch | 69.1 / 42.3 | Orleans Darkwa | 33.3 / 33.6 |
| Austin Ekeler | 38.2 / 22.4 | Tevin Coleman | 68.8 / 45.7 |
| Latavius Murray | 54.1 / 33.2 | Jerick McKinnon | 45.9 / 45.0 |
Arizona Cardinals
| Fantasy Starter | Backup to Know |
| Adrian Peterson | Kerwynn Williams (PPR) |
Adrian Peterson continues to dominate the workload, logging 23 touches per game as a Cardinal and playing more than half of the backfield snaps. However, he’s been entirely gamescript-dependent, averaging 19 PPR fantasy points during Arizona’s three wins since his arrival versus only four points in the team’s three losses. The Cardinals are seven-point underdogs against the Rams this week. It also bears mention that Peterson was held out of Wednesday’s practice with a neck issue.
Atlanta Falcons
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Devonta Freeman | Tevin Coleman |
Tevin Coleman has taken advantage of Devonta Freeman’s concussion, averaging 20 carries for 74 yards over the past three games with four touchdowns. It’s worth noting that Coleman had not played more than 44 percent of the snaps in any game this season prior to Freeman’s injury, and he’s posted only a 29.8 elusive rating (30th-best) since Week 10. Freeman is ranked ninth this season with a 61.9 elusive rating and is practicing in full for Week 13, albeit in a tough matchup against Minnesota. Figure on things going back to a 60-40 split in favor of Freeman.
Baltimore Ravens
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Alex Collins | Danny Woodhead (PPR) |
Alex Collins missed Wednesday’s practice with a calf injury. It’s not yet clear whether there’s any cause for concern or if it was merely a rest day. Danny Woodhead did see his snap rate jump from 22.0 percent to 32.8 percent in Week 12, although he’s still totaled only 14 touches in two games since returning from I.R. One of the most elusive backs in the league through the season’s first eight weeks, Collins has dropped off a bit over his last three outings, although touchdowns in back-to-back games have salvaged his fantasy output. Still, he’s averaging 15 carries over the last seven games and continues to pace the backfield in snaps.
Buffalo Bills
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| LeSean McCoy | Travaris Cadet (PPR) |
Travaris Cadet appears to have surpassed Mike Tolbert in the Bills’ weekly game plan, but this would still be an unattractive committee if LeSean McCoy were to miss time.
Carolina Panthers
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Christian McCaffrey | Jonathan Stewart (12+) |
Christian McCaffrey missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder issue, which will bear monitoring as the week progresses. The rookie has played 210 more snaps than Jonathan Stewart this season and is on pace for 86 catches, but Stewart holds a 159-135 edge in touches. McCaffrey ranks 12th in PPR scoring despite the limited volume, which has effectively tied his fantasy value to touchdowns (five).
Chicago Bears
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Jordan Howard | Tarik Cohen (PPR) |
Jordan Howard has been on the field for less than 50 percent of the Bears’ backfield snaps in each of the last three weeks and has not eclipsed 15 carries in any of those games, all losses. Negative game scripts are always a concern for Howard, who has dropped four of his 22 targets. However, after facing Philadelphia’s vaunted run defense, things should open up this week against the floundering 49ers. Tarik Cohen was marginally more involved than Benny Cunningham, but not enough to be fantasy relevant.
Cincinnati Bengals
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Joe Mixon | Giovani Bernard (PPR) |
Our top-graded running back in Week 12, Joe Mixon finally flashed the potential that has frustrated fantasy owners throughout the season. Despite a tough matchup against Cleveland, Mixon produced 165 yards on 26 touches while playing a season-high 75.4 percent of the offensive snaps. Still, Mixon ranks just 46th in elusive rating and was outside the top-30 PPR backs in fantasy scoring prior to Week 12. He’s also seeing less than a yard before contact behind a Bengals’ O-line graded 29th in run-blocking.
Cleveland Browns
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Isaiah Crowell | Duke Johnson (PPR) |
Duke Johnson out-snapped Isaiah Crowell, 38-32, as the Browns trailed for much of Week 12’s tilt at Cincinnati. Still, Crowell produced 105 yards on 17 touches, while Johnson had 67 yards on 10 touches. Sunday’s game was essentially a microcosm of the season: Johnson is 12th in elusive rating, 14th in PPR scoring on 102 touches while Crowell sits 50th in elusive rating and 34th in PPR scoring on 164 touches. The better back continues to be blocked from a higher fantasy ceiling.
Dallas Cowboys
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Alfred Morris | Rod Smith |
Our Pat Thorman summed up how Alfred Morris has out-performed Ezekiel Elliott in virtually every key metric. However, that doesn’t appear to matter to the Cowboys’ coaches, who gave Morris 12 fewer snaps than Rod Smith in Week 12, with both backs getting nine carries against the Chargers. Despite averaging 5.8 YPC, Morris will be tough to trust until Ezekiel Elliott returns in Week 16.
Denver Broncos
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Devontae Booker | C.J. Anderson |
There’s been a subtle changing of the guard in Denver, where Devontae Booker out-touched C.J. Anderson for the second straight week. Booker is averaging 3.5 YPC for the second straight season and has forced only seven missed tackles on 66 touches, while Anderson has gotten 15 carries only once since Week 6. This backfield is to be avoided in fantasy playoffs if at all possible.
Detroit Lions
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Ameer Abdullah | Theo Riddick (PPR) |
Ameer Abdullah was held out of Wednesday’s practice with a neck issue, but he’s fallen outside the top-30 PPR backs on the season and hasn’t eclipsed 55 rushing yards since Week 4. Theo Riddick continues to get 40 percent of the offensive snaps.
Green Bay Packers
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Jamaal Williams | Ty Montgomery (PPR) |
Facing what had been a tough Steelers’ run defense in Week 12. Jamaal Williams erupted for 135 yards and a pair of scores on 27 touches. Williams forced only two missed tackles on his 21 rushes and is averaging only 3.2 YPC on the ground during his three-game run as the Packers’ workhorse. But he’s had an impact as a receiver, logging eight catches on 11 targets for 107 yards and a score over the last two games. He’ll remain on the RB2 radar until Ty Montgomery (ribs) and/or Aaron Jones (knee) are set to return, which could be as soon as this week.
Houston Texans
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Lamar Miller | Alfred Blue |
Alfred Blue played 30.9 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps and got eight carries in Week 12, both season-highs. However, he managed only 15 yards on those carries while Lamar Miller went for 51 yards and a score on 17 totes. The epitome of a volume-based back, Miller ranks 49th in elusive rating this season and has produced the fewest fantasy points per opportunity (0.36) of any of the top-20 PPR backs.
Indianapolis Colts
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Frank Gore | Marlon Mack |
Marlon Mack has exceeded 10 touches only once since the opener despite being notably more elusive than Frank Gore (55.1 to 36.9). He may get his chance late in the season for the 3-8 Colts, but he need not be rostered outside of keeper leagues.
Jacksonville Jaguars
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Leonard Fournette | T.J. Yeldon (12+) |
Leonard Fournette is practicing in full this week despite a lingering ankle injury. The rookie is coming off his second dud performance in the last three weeks and dipped below 50 percent of the offensive snaps for the first time all season against Arizona in Week 12. T.J. Yeldon actually held a 34-28 edge in snaps and caught 5-of-6 targets for 42 yards. Yeldon has little standalone value but does make for an interesting handcuff, as he produced 137 yards and a TD on 11 touches in Fournette’s absence back in Week 9. Chris Ivory saw less than 10 percent of the snap share for the third straight week.
Kansas City Chiefs
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Kareem Hunt | Charcandrick West (12+) |
What’s up with Kareem Hunt? Through the Chiefs’ first five games, he was getting 2.79 yards before contact, tops among all RBs averaging at least six carries to that point. In his six games since, he’s gotten only 0.72 yards before contact. Granted, Hunt did next to nothing against a woeful Bills’ run defense, forcing only one missed tackle and finishing with 17 yards on 11 rushes. Still, while his snap share has dipped slightly over the last three weeks, he does lead the league in broken tackles (33) since Week 6, further fueling the frustration for fantasy owners.
Los Angeles Chargers
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Melvin Gordon | Austin Ekeler (12+) |
Austin Ekeler continues to produce when called upon. He’s averaged 82 yards on 11 touches over the last three games to go with three TDs. Ekeler is seventh out of 46 RBs in elusive rating since Week 10 while Melvin Gordon sits 33rd. Gordon played 70 percent or more of snaps in five of the first six games but hasn’t hit that mark in five straight. For what it’s worth, despite his smallish 5-foot-10, 195-pound frame, Ekeler was a workhorse at Division II Western State Colorado where he put up video game-like numbers. Still, Ekeler would likely form a timeshare of sorts with Branden Oliver and Andre Williams if Gordon were to miss time.
Los Angeles Rams
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Todd Gurley | Lance Dunbar (12+) |
Replacement-level backups
Miami Dolphins
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Kenyan Drake | Damien Williams (PPR) |
Damien Williams is hurt, but before you go firing up Kenyan Drake in lineups this week, know that his average of 0.05 yards before contact is far and away the worst in the league behind the Dolphins’ league-worst run-blocking line per PFF grades. This week, Miami faces Denver’s top-graded run defense. Still, Drake checks in at No. 4 out of 56 RBs in elusive rating since Week 8, having forced a missed tackle once every five touches while getting 4.87 yards after contact. We just have yet to see what he can do with double-digit carries, a usage trend that goes back to his college career at Alabama.
Minnesota Vikings
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Latavius Murray | Jerick McKinnon |
By now it’s become clear that Latavius Murray is the back to own in Minnesota after he saw a season-high 54.1 percent of the offensive snaps in Week 12. Despite Minnesota’s O-line generating only 0.15 yards before contact at Detroit on Thanksgiving, the Vikings still ran it 52.1 percent of the time. Murray had both of the team’s carries inside the 5 and held a 20-14 edge in touches, finishing with 84 yards and a touchdown. Murray has found the end zone five times in his last five games and is averaging 4.5 YPC in that span.
New England Patriots
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Dion Lewis | Rex Burkhead (PPR) |
Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead drew 28 snaps apiece in the Patriots’ win over Miami, with Lewis holding a slight 16-15 edge in touches. However, while Lewis produced 112 rushing yards, it was Burkhead who rewarded fantasy owners with two scores. The duo has alternated spots pacing the backfield in snaps over the past three weeks, and both have become viable RB2 options.
New Orleans Saints
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Mark Ingram | Alvin Kamara (PPR) |
Alvin Kamara is so good that he needs only a handful of opportunities to be the league’s top-scoring fantasy RB. The most elusive back in the league, Kamara is averaging a ridiculous 4.03 yards after contact after totaling 188 yards and two scores. Week 12 was the rare occasion in which Mark Ingram failed to join Kamara as an RB1, finishing with only 36 yards on 13 touches. Fantasy owners will hope for a rebound similar to Week 10 when Ingram posted the week’s top RB score.
New York Giants
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Orleans Darkwa | Wayne Gallman |
Orleans Darkwa has been the Giants’ most productive back for much of the season, but rookie Wayne Gallman continues to see around 10 touches per game and has actually forced one more missed tackle than Darkwa on 50 fewer touches. With coach Ben McAdoo pulling the plug on veteran Eli Manning this week, it’s certainly feasible that Gallman starts ceding a bigger piece of the pie.
New York Jets
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Bilal Powell | Elijah McGuire |
All three of the Jets’ running backs were in action against Carolina and split the workload pretty evenly. The result was Bilal Powell leading the way with 5.6 fantasy points. There’s simply no fantasy appeal here.
Oakland Raiders
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Marshawn Lynch | Jalen Richard (12+) |
It took Michael Crabtree (ejection) and Amari Cooper (concussion) exiting the Raiders’ Week 12 game for Marshawn Lynch to see his most usage this season, as Beast Mode turned 29 touches into 111 yards and a TD against a solid Denver run D. Lynch entered Sunday averaging only 11 carries per game but has now posted his top-two graded games in back-to-back weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| LeGarrette Blount | Jay Ajayi |
The Eagles’ 31-3 drubbing of the Bears was a textbook LeGarrette Blount game script, as he wound up pacing the backfield with 15 touches compared to six for Jay Ajayi and five for Corey Clement. Ajayi has not seen more than eight touches in any of his three games with Philadelphia, as the red-hot Eagles have been content to let Blount do the clock-killing while continuing to mix in Clement, who has six touchdowns on the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Le’Veon Bell | James Conner |
Le’Veon Bell has played 116 more snaps than the next-closest RB in the league. For those with a roster spot to spare – not just Bell owners – Bell has played just one 16-game season in his four-year career and handled all 32 RB touches in Week 12. Rookie James Conner (4.7 YPC) would be a plug-and-play RB2 if Bell were to miss time.
San Francisco 49ers
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| Carlos Hyde | Matt Breida |
Carlos Hyde wasn’t able to get much going on the ground against Seattle, although he did get 23 touches, including his second game in three weeks with 11-plus targets. Only Christian McCaffrey and Le’Veon Bell have been targeted more than Hyde (68) this season. He ranks ninth in PPR scoring and 17th (out of 51) in elusive rating, while rookie Matt Breida has seen only one carry in two of the 49ers’ last three games.
Seattle Seahawks
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Mike Davis | J.D. McKissic (PPR) |
Mike Davis (groin) appears likely to return this week, which would be the best-case scenario for any fantasy success here. Never mind that Davis is an unheralded third-year back who’s played in one game this season and has all of six carries for 18 yards. The fact that he’s the lead back by default tells us all we need to know about the state of this backfield. While worth a speculative add for some fantasy playoff insurance, Davis, nor any Seahawks’ running back, should be started against Cleveland this week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Doug Martin | Jacquizz Rodgers |
Doug Martin has missed practice this week with a concussion and appears unlikely to play at Green Bay. It’s been a dreadful year for Martin, who ranks dead-last out of 51 RBs in elusive rating (14.6) this season with only six missed tackles on 119 carries. Jacquizz Rodgers flashed a bit last season with an increased workload, but he’s gotten minimal touches even with Martin struggling. There’s also the matter of Peyton Barber, who vultured a couple of goal-line TDs in Week 12. Things could certainly open up with the return of Jameis Winston, but this is a backfield to avoid in the fantasy playoffs and daily formats alike.
Tennessee Titans
| Starter | Backup to Own |
| DeMarco Murray | Derrick Henry |
Derrick Henry is up to fifth out of 51 qualifiers in elusive rating, averaging 3.58 yards after contact along with a missed tackle forced once every 4.95 carries. DeMarco Murray sits 35th in elusive rating, with 2.03 YAC and a missed tackle every 7.58 carries. Murray has one 100-yard rushing game on the season and is averaging 2.5 yards per carry over his last six games. In that same span, Henry is averaging 4.7 YPC and has about doubled Murray in rushing (333 to 179) despite an even split of carries (71 to 73). If it weren’t for Murray’s six TDs, he’d be off the fantasy radar. The Titans coaches have to see by now that it’s time to pass the torch.
Washington Redskins
| Starter | Backup to Know |
| Samaje Perine | Byron Marshall |
That’s now two games since the Redskins lost Chris Thompson and Robert Kelley, and all rookie Samaje Perine has done is post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. Perine doesn’t make many people miss (only six tacklers on 51 touches since Week 11), but he’s averaging 3.23 yards after contact since taking over. He’s as safe an RB2 as there is this week when Washington takes on the Cowboys’ No. 30-graded run defense.
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