Fantasy football managers are always looking for that edge, and sometimes it starts with asking tough questions about the back of your roster. Instead of locking in players on name value alone, consider whether their situations actually give them weekly upside.
This intro will walk through a few running backs whose roles, usage, and team context may not match their current roster rates, prompting a closer look without giving everything away up front.
Cut: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Rostered: 82%
The general rule of thumb is that any NFL starting running back needs to be rostered in fantasy. Well, it’s hard to make a case for Tony Pollard anymore.
The Tennessee Titans are a very bad football team. Thus, Pollard doesn’t really have much touchdown upside. He’s also not particularly involved as a receiver, taking away any PPR floor.
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With Cam Ward playing poorly and the Titans unable to sustain drives, Pollard can’t really ever get going. He’s now gone five consecutive games without reaching double-digit fantasy points.
The Titans are obviously going to be underdogs against anyone. But it wouldn’t hurt to face at least one soft run defense. No can do per the NFL schedule makers. By no means is Pollard a must-drop. Rather, he’s someone you should not feel compelled to keep if there is someone better you want to roster.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Rostered: 71%
It’s pretty wild that Isiah Pacheco has maintained such a high roster rate all season. He opened the year as the starter and served in that role for eight weeks before he got hurt. During that span, he topped out at 12.8 fantasy points, cracking double digits twice, and only because of two flukey touchdowns.
While Pacheco was out with his sprained MCL, Kareem Hunt started and did exactly what he did last year: looked infinitely better than Pacheco. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Hunt started and maintained the lead-back role. He’s the better running back.
READ MORE: Fantasy Football Cut List Week 14: Tony Pollard, Isiah Pacheco, Ricky Pearsall, and Others
Pacheco touched the ball five times in his first game back, totaling 33 yards. The Kansas City Chiefs face a difficult run defense in three of their last four games of the fantasy season. Even in the event of a Hunt injury, you’re still probably not starting Pacheco.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders
Rostered: 55%
It was another low for Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The not actually talented rookie ran the ball four times for 20 yards. His 13 snaps and 14.4% snap share represented his lowest of the season.
Quite simply, it is over. The seventh-round rookie had his chance and was unable to keep hold of the lead-back role. Chris Rodriguez is entrenched as the starter, while Jeremy McNichols serves as the passing-down back. There is no path for JCM, and it is very likely he will be out of the NFL by 2027.
