Committee Report: Relevant backup fantasy RBs heading into Week 3

Even for fantasy diehards, staying on top of fluid backfield situations from week to week for all 32 teams is quite the tedious task. Last week, we introduced the RB Committee Report as your go-to weekly resource for tracking fantasy backfields and usage trends. A lot has changed in the running back landscape since last week, so let’s dive in.

STOCK UP	WK 2 RB SNAPS % / SEASON %	STOCK DOWN	WK 2 RB SNAPS % / SEASON %
Derrick Henry	44.1 / 36.4	Kerwynn Williams	27.3 / 19.1
Chris Carson	62.2 / 59.5	Marlon Mack	15.5 / 23.1
Tarik Cohen	62.5 / 51.9	Adrian Peterson	23.1 / 18.9
D’Onta Foreman	25.8 / 13.1	Eddie Lacy	0.0 / 14.3
Duke Johnson	54.9 / 65.0	Alfred Morris	1.4 / 10.8

Arizona Cardinals

Fantasy Starter	Backup to Own
Kerwynn Williams	Chris Johnson

Andre Ellington paced the Cardinals backfield with 30 snaps, followed by Kerwynn Williams with 18 and Chris Johnson with 17. However, Johnson’s debut performance after being cut and then re-signed two weeks later was the most notable, as he took over for an ineffective Williams in the second half and finished with 44 yards on 11 carries, both team-highs. Coach Bruce Arians added some fuel to the fire on Monday, saying that the veteran Johnson could move up the depth chart. Still, it’s best to take a wait-and-see approach with Johnson until he is able to siphon off a bigger share of the workload.

Atlanta Falcons

Starter	Backup to Own
Devonta Freeman	Tevin Coleman

Devonta Freeman treated fantasy owners to a 24-point Week 2 effort against Green Bay, but Tevin Coleman isn’t going anywhere. Coleman put up 13 fantasy points of his own and has played 39.2 percent of the offensive snaps through two weeks. Despite seeing the second-fewest yards before contact (0.1) out of 51 qualifiers, Coleman ranks among the leaders with 3.9 yards after contact and remains a key figure in the passing game.

Baltimore Ravens

Starter	Backup to Own
Terrance West	Javorius Allen (12+ teams)

Javorius Allen played a team-high 43 snaps, compared to 16 for Terrance West and eight for Alex Collins. West is dealing with a soft tissue injury that has kept him out of practice this week. Although West is still technically listed atop the depth chart, any absence would further open the door for Allen, who started six games as a rookie in 2015 and has logged a team-high 35 carries for 137 yards through two weeks. Coach John Harbaugh added on Monday that Collins earned more playing time after getting eight garbage time snaps. Collins carried the ball on seven of those snaps and produced 42 yards. He is a player to monitor at this point.

Buffalo Bills

Starter	Backup to Own
LeSean McCoy	Mike Tolbert (12+)

Mike Tolbert got only four touches after turning 12 carries into 42 yards and a TD in Week 1. LeSean McCoy (12 carries for nine yards) has dealt with a wrist and a groin injury in the early going, but he’ll continue to be featured as long as he is healthy enough to suit up. The Broncos present a tough matchup this week, particularly if LT Cordy Glenn’s ankle injury keeps him shelved.

Carolina Panthers

Starter	Backup to Own
Christian McCaffrey	Jonathan Stewart

Christian McCaffrey out-snapped Jonathan Stewart, 44-26. However, the veteran managed 40 yards on 15 carries, while the rookie was bottled up for 10 yards on eight totes. Newton also missed McCaffrey on what should have been an easy touchdown from two yards out in the fourth quarter. While McCaffrey has been serviceable in PPR with nine catches for 72 yards, neither player has been particularly effective on the ground. A timeshare will remain in order for the foreseeable future.

Chicago Bears

Starter	Backup to Own
Jordan Howard	Tarik Cohen

Jordan Howard owners officially have reason to panic. Howard popped up on the injury report with a shoulder injury going into the weekend, and then was seen with his arm in a sling following the Bears’ Week 2 game. He was held to seven yards on nine carries and was out-snapped by Tarik Cohen (39-31), who has caught eight passes in each of his first two games as a pro. Averaging a ridiculous 6.0 yards after contact along with 12 missed tackles on 28 touches, Cohen owns a league-best 257.1 elusive rating. He’s the real deal and at the very least has earned himself a regular role on passing downs.

Cincinnati Bengals

Starter	Backup to Own
Joe Mixon	Giovani Bernard (PPR)
	Jeremy Hill

Having started the season with two home losses and zero touchdowns, the Bengals axed offensive coordinator Ken Zampese, and it’s fair to wonder just when coach Marvin Lewis will hand over the backfield reins to rookie Joe Mixon. The three-man rotation has simply not allowed any one back to get into a rhythm, and as such, none are advisable fantasy options for the time being. Jeremy Hill once again got the first carry, but he finished with only 17 yards on six carries against Houston on Thursday night after logging 10 snaps in the opener. Mixon had a team-high nine carries for 36 yards against the Texans, with 26 of those yards coming after contact. Giovani Bernard turned his five carries into 10 yards along with two catches for 16.

Cleveland Browns

Starter	Backup to Own
Isaiah Crowell	Duke Johnson (PPR)

Things are getting interesting in Cleveland’s backfield. A week after not seeing a single carry in the opener, Duke Johnson put up 80 total yards on seven touches (four carries), including an Odell Beckham-like one-handed grab over the shoulder. Johnson actually out-snapped starter Isaiah Crowell, 37-32, and he could continue to see that kind of volume with Corey Coleman landing on I.R. and Cleveland needing help in the passing game. The Browns have a soft enough schedule over the next few weeks to support two fantasy RBs. In more positive news for Johnson, Matthews Dayes was relegated to two snaps after seeing more action than expected in the opener

Dallas Cowboys

Starter	Backup to Own
Ezekiel Elliott	Alfred Morris

Ezekiel Elliott was held to eight yards on nine carries, but Alfred Morris (one snap) played behind Rod Smith (four snaps). With Elliott looking more and more likely to avoid suspension, Morris can be dropped by owners in need of the roster spot.

Denver Broncos

Starter	Backup to Own
C.J. Anderson	Jamaal Charles

C.J. Anderson has enjoyed a resurgent first couple of weeks, occupying 71.2 percent of the Broncos’ backfield snaps and ranking second in the league with 199 rushing yards. But don’t sleep on Jamaal Charles, who has averaged 4.5 yards on 19 carries and looks reminiscent of his old self. In fact, Charles ranks third in the league with a 119.7 elusive rating, having averaged 3.42 yards after contact and forced seven missed tackles. Still, it’s a fluid situation with last year’s leading rusher, Devontae Booker, slated to return from a wrist injury and LT Garett Bolles (bone bruise) week to week.

Detroit Lions

Starter	Backup to Own
Ameer Abdullah	Theo Riddick (PPR)

Ameer Abdullah ran for a career-high 86 yards despite missing the latter part of the fourth quarter on Monday night with an ankle injury. However, this remains one of the least appealing fantasy backfields. All but two of Abdullah’s 116 yards this season have come after contact, and the Lions still have not had a 100-yard rusher in a game since Reggie Bush in 2013.

Green Bay Packers

Starter	Backup to Own
Ty Montgomery	Jamaal Williams (12+)

So much for my offseason skepticism of Ty Montgomery’s expected workload. Having been on the field for 88 percent of the Packers’ offensive snaps and produced 203 yards from scrimmage through two weeks, Montgomery is officially a workhorse back in Green Bay. Jamaal Williams is droppable in redraft leagues.

Houston Texans

Starter	Backup to Own
Lamar Miller	D’Onta Foreman (12+)

D’Onta Foreman warrants a speculative add following his Week 2 performance against Cincinnati. After getting just one carry in the opener, Foreman rotated in with Lamar Miller and produced 40 yards on 12 carries, forcing a couple of missed tackles along the way. Miller still held a 49-17 edge in snaps and produced 87 yards on 21 touches. As rookie Deshaun Watson endures his growing pains, the Texans figure to lean on the ground game, perhaps enough to support two fantasy running backs in deeper leagues.

Indianapolis Colts

Starter	Backup to Own
Frank Gore	Marlon Mack

Frank Gore (32 snaps) and Robert Turbin (28) split the Colts’ backfield reps fairly evenly in Week 2, with Gore turning 13 carries into 44 yards and a score. The veteran now has 88 yards on 24 carries (3.7 YPC) through two games. Rookie Marlon Mack played 11 snaps against Arizona and touched the ball seven times, but was unable to get anything going behind an OL that generated an average of -0.31 yards before contact. For comparison’s sake, last season the Colts generated 2.07 yards before contact. Whether it’s Scott Tolzien or Jacoby Brissett under center, opposing defenses have little reason to fear Indy’s passing game. It also bears mention that Mack has gotten all three of the Colts’ goal-line carries to date.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Starter	Backup to Own
Leonard Fournette	Chris Ivory (12+)

Leonard Fournette played 40 snaps to Chris Ivory’s 27 in Week 2, with most of Ivory’s work coming in the second half and Jacksonville trailing Tennessee. After a 65-to-35 percent run/pass split in their opener, the Jaguars flipped the game script to a 37/63 run/pass split, which favors Ivory. While Fournette had the bigger fantasy day thanks to a TD, it’s worth noting that Ivory’s 86.3 elusive rating ranks fifth-best through two weeks and is nearly double that of Fournette’s 44.0 rating. Ivory has also faced eight or more defenders in the box 73 percent of the time, tops in the league.

Kansas City Chiefs

Starter	Backup to Own
Kareem Hunt	Charcandrick West (12+)

Andy Reid continues to lean on Kareem Hunt as his featured back, giving the rookie 38 of the 42 backfield touches to date. Given that Hunt’s 73 PPR points are 25 more than the second-closest RB, it’s safe to continue expecting a bellcow workload. Hat tip to our Scott Barrett, who noted back in July that Andy Reid’s lead back has averaged 19.5 PPR points per game. Charcandrick West is no Hunt, although in the 12 career games that he’s gotten double-digit carries, he has averaged 14 PPR points.

Los Angeles Chargers

Starter	Backup to Know
Melvin Gordon	Branden Oliver (12+)

Branden Oliver touched the ball three times in Week 2 and does not need to be owned in any format.

Los Angeles Rams

Starter	Backup to Know
Todd Gurley	Malcolm Brown (12+)

Not that Malcolm Brown was ever pushing for his job, but Todd Gurley reminded everyone why he was a first-round pick on Sunday with this hurdle en route to 27 PPR points against Miami in Week 2. With the Rams offense showing signs of life in the early going, Gurley has a chance to reach his RB1 potential that left fantasy owners frustrated a year ago.

Miami Dolphins

Starter	Backup to Know
Jay Ajayi	Kenyan Drake (12+)

Nothing to see here. Jay Ajayi played 64 of the Dolphins’ 68 RB snaps and got 30 of the 31 touches, finishing with 122 yards on 28 carries. Kenyan Drake never logged double-digit carries in a game last year as a rookie and never cracked 100 carries in any of his four seasons at Alabama.

Minnesota Vikings

Starter	Backup to Know
Dalvin Cook	Latavius Murray (12+)

Rookie Dalvin Cook logged 56.1 percent of the RB snaps in Week 2, which was down some from his opening week 78.5-percent share but still significantly higher than any other Vikings’ RB. With Minnesota in catchup mode against the Steelers, passing-down back Jerick McKinnon doubled his Week 1 snap count from 11 to 22 but still saw only six touches. Neither McKinnon nor Latavius Murray (nine snaps in two games) warrants fantasy ownership behind Cook, who is averaging 5.6 YPC, including 3.2 YPC before contact. The Vikings’ OL has shown improvement after generating only 1.18 yards before contact last season.

New England Patriots

Starter	Backup to Own
Mike Gillislee	James White (PPR)

James White and Mike Gillislee shared the team lead with 30 snaps apiece last week, with Gillislee having clearly slotted into the LeGarrette Blount role. Eleven of Gillislee’s 18 carries came in the second half with New England nursing a lead, as he finished with 69 yards and a TD. Along with his closer role, Gillislee has been given five of the team’s six carries inside the 5-yard line. White caught eight passes for 85 yards, lining up both in the slot and out of the backfield. Even with Danny Amendola out, Rex Burkhead played only eight snaps after being on the field for 10 snaps in the opener. Dion Lewis has also become something of an afterthought with 20 snaps and seven touches through two weeks.

New Orleans Saints

Starter	Backup to Own
Mark Ingram	Alvin Kamara (PPR)

Perhaps Adrian Peterson “didn’t sign up for nine snaps.” But it also seems wishful thinking when he suggested last week that it would “take a game or two to get adjusted,” considering the all-time great is not involved in the passing game and is one of three halfbacks on a Drew Brees-led offense. Peterson has played 18.9 percent of the backfield snaps yet somehow remains owned in 99 percent of ESPN leagues. Mark Ingram out-snapped Alvin Kamara by a 36-17 count against New England in Week 2, and that included 27 snaps on passing downs. Through two weeks, Ingram has played 48.8 percent of the snaps and ranks as fantasy’s RB18, while Kamara has played 37.8 percent of the snaps and is the RB33.

New York Giants

Starter	Backup to Know
Paul Perkins	Shane Vereen (PPR)
	Orleans Darkwa

Where to start with this hot mess? Paul Perkins has taken heat – some warranted – although the OL has afforded him a league-low 0.1 yards before contact. With the Giants often playing from behind, Shane Vereen has out-snapped Perkins by a 48-46 margin and is currently the RB19 in PPR. Perkins should be parked on fantasy benches until further notice. Further complicating matters are the expected “drastic” changes coming for the Giants’ beleaguered offense. ESPN Giants’ reporter Jordan Raanan thinks this may be the week the team features Orleans Darkwa, who has averaged 5.2 yards on six carries compared to Perkins’ 1.9 YPC average on 14 totes. Darkwa makes for an interesting speculative add but should not be trusted in lineups just yet.

New York Jets

Starter	Backup to Own
Bilal Powell	Matt Forte

This remains merely a “break glass in case of emergency” fantasy backfield. Matt Forte played a team-high 54.4 percent of the backfield snaps through two weeks and is fantasy’s RB27 in PPR behind 127 scrimmage yards. As the RB49, Bilal Powell (42.1 percent) has left owners in the lurch after such a strong finish in 2016. It will be tough to start either back in fantasy lineups this season unless one siphons off a bigger piece of the pie.

Oakland Raiders

Starter	Backup to Own
Marshawn Lynch	Jalen Richard (12+)

Jalen Richard had six carries for 58 yards and a TD to go with another 51 yards on two catches against the Jets. Richard was PFF’s most elusive RB a year ago, but his Week 2 usage was largely due to the Raiders being up big in the second half and easing off starter Marshawn Lynch, who has been a solid RB2 with 30 carries for 121 yards and a score through two weeks. If Lynch were to miss time, Richard would likely be the 1A to DeAndre Washington’s 1B at this point.

Philadelphia Eagles

Starter	Backup to Own
LeGarrette Blount	Darren Sproles (PPR)

Coach Doug Pederson has shown a troubling tendency to abandon the run in the early going. He went away from Darren Sproles after a solid first half against Kansas City, but as the Eagles’ pass-catching back, Sproles still saw a team-high 50 snaps with the Eagles playing from behind. Wendell Smallwood (14 snaps) and LeGarrette Blount were only marginally involved, with Blount failing to draw even a single carry. A clearly disgruntled Blount directed reporters to “ask Doug Pederson” after the game. Sproles has logged more snaps than Blount and Smallwood combined, with his 59.6-percent share topping his career-best mark of 48.7 percent from a year ago. Even still, Sproles is only the RB29 in PPR formats. There’s simply no fantasy appeal in this backfield.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Starter	Backup to Own
Le’Veon Bell	James Conner

James Conner played only four snaps as Le’Veon Bell carried the mail. Still, Conner will remain a premium handcuff for Bell owners who have the roster space to keep him stashed.

San Francisco 49ers

Starter	Backup to Own
Carlos Hyde	Matt Breida

With Carlos Hyde going off for 143 total yards against Seattle in Week 2, Matt Breida saw only nine of the 49 offensive snaps. Hyde has looked increasingly comfortable in new coach Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme and is firmly in the RB1 mix (RB11 through two weeks). Breida remains a fine handcuff for the oft-injured Hyde, who has averaged 3.9 yards before contact (and 3.1 yards after), tops among all RBs with at least 7 carries.

Seattle Seahawks

Starter	Backup to Own
Thomas Rawls	Chris Carson
	C.J. Prosise (PPR)
	Eddie Lacy (12+)

We learned that Chris Carson leading the Seahawks in backfield snaps in Week 1 was no fluke, as Carson posted 100 total yards on 21 touches in the team’s Week 2 win over San Francisco while playing 62.2 percent of the backfield snaps. To date, his 100.1 elusive rating ranks trails only Kareem Hunt’s 160.9 mark among 23 qualifiers. Thomas Rawls returned from his ankle injury and started the game, but he wound up playing only 16 snaps and had five carries for 16 yards as coach Pete Carroll rode the hot hand. Even if Carroll was just easing Rawls back in, it’s tough to envision a scenario where he doesn’t stick with Carson for the foreseeable future. C.J. Prosise did not get a carry in Week 2, instead seeing six targets in the passing game (three catches for 22 yards), although he dropped a would-be touchdown. Eddie Lacy was inactive.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starter	Backup to Own
Doug Martin (suspended)	Jacquizz Rodgers

Jacquizz Rodgers got a team-high 19 carries for 67 yards and a TD in Tampa Bay’s delayed season opener, solidifying himself as the back to own with two more weeks left in Doug Martin’s suspension. Third-down back Charles Sims got four touches, while Peyton Barber (10 carries for 47 yards) was called on to run down the clock with the Buccaneers holding a big lead. This is still Martin’s backfield when he returns.

Tennessee Titans

Starter	Backup to Own
DeMarco Murray	Derrick Henry

DeMarco Murray saw 37 snaps to Derrick Henry’s 30 in Week 2, although Henry was the hot hand and finished with a 14-10 edge in touches. Through two weeks, Henry is averaging 5.9 yards on 20 carries, with 4.1 YPC coming after contact. His 82.0 elusive rating ranks seventh-best out of 52 qualifiers. Murray ranks 44th in that department with a 15.5 elusive rating and only 1.9 yards after tackle to go with two forced missed tackles on 24 touches, compared to four missed tackles on 20 touches for Henry. Murray is also dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of practice on Wednesday. Even if Murray is active against Seattle this week, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Henry wound up with the bigger role once again.

Washington Redskins

Starter	Backup to Know
Robert Kelley	Samaje Perine (12+)
	Chris Thompson (PPR

A week ago, coach Jay Gruden said of rookie Samaje Perine that “we don’t forget fumbles.” But when starter Rob Kelley went down with bruised ribs late in the first half against the Rams in Week 2, Perine took over and carried 21 times for 67 yards. However, keep in mind that Perine failed to impress during preseason, and he netted a 0.0 elusive rating against the Rams. Kelley did return to limited practice on Wednesday, increasing the likelihood that Gruden divvies up the backfield work between Kelley, Perine, and even Chris Thompson, who has turned three of his 13 touches into touchdowns. In other words, proceed with caution.