Fantasy football managers face tough decisions every week when setting their lineups. Matchups, recent performance trends, and injury news can drastically shift the outlook for running backs.
Finding the right players to start or sit often makes the difference between winning and losing. This week, some intriguing situations demand close attention from anyone hoping for a fantasy football edge.
Start ‘Em: Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (vs. NYG)
D’Andre Swift has been on the injury report more often than not this season. It finally caught up with him last week as he missed his first game of the year. This gave Kyle Monangai a chance to shine in a dream matchup against the worst run defense in the league…and he delivered.
The rookie seventh-rounder saw a staggering 31 opportunities, which he turned into 198 yards. He posted 25.8 fantasy points without scoring a touchdown. That is mighty impressive.
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When Swift returns, he will regain his job. It’s not as if Swift was playing poorly. If it happens this week, Monangai is obviously not as strong a play. However, this recommendation stands regardless of Swift’s status.
The Bears are home against a Giants defense that trails only the aforementioned Bengals in fantasy points per game allowed to running backs. Monangai is an RB1 without Swift. But on a week where several viable fantasy running backs are on bye, he’s still at least a Flex play even if Swift returns.
J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
J.K. Dobbins looks completely rejuvenated. He’s clearly finally over all the injuries he dealt with earlier in his career and has his energy back. That’s great for his career and great for the Broncos. Unfortunately, his status as a useful fantasy running back is in question.
The issue with Dobbins is he doesn’t catch passes. He has 10 receptions on the season.
The rushing production is there. The efficiency is there. But without receiving work to fall back on, Dobbins is heavily reliant on touchdowns.
Over the first five weeks of the season, Dobbins scored in four games. He hasn’t scored since, resulting in just a single game with more than 9.0 fantasy points over that span.
Dobbins is going to be heavily reliant on the game script and the matchup. Fortunately, he has both this week.
The Raiders allow the 10th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Denver is the home team and the favorite in this matchup. They should experience positive game script and be able to run the ball 25+ times. As frustrating as Dobbins has been for the past month, fire him up in Week 10.
Sit ‘Em: Breece Hall, New York Jets (vs. CLE)
The last time we saw Breece Hall, he posted 32.8 fantasy points in one of the best games of his career. It also came against the Bengals, who are lapping the field in terms of fantasy points per game allowed to running backs.
It is not possible for a greater disparity in matchups than to go from facing the Bengals to the Cleveland Browns.
While Cleveland is not exactly going anywhere this season and struggles immensely on offense, their defense is elite. No team is allowing fewer fantasy points per game to running backs.
Amongst their accomplishments, the Browns held Derrick Henry to 23 rushing yards, Josh Jacobs to 30 yards, and De’Von Achane to 36 yards on 12 carries before he ripped off a 46-yarder.
Prior to his Week 8 explosion, Hall was coming off consecutive games with single digit fantasy points.
The Jets are likely to struggle to move the ball against this defense. You probably can’t afford to sit Hall, but it’s not going to be pretty.
Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (at DEN)
Halfway through his rookie season, Ashton Jeanty has proven two things. He’s an elite talent who would absolutely excel in a more favorable offensive environment…but he cannot overcome the current one.
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Last week, Jeanty had his second-best game of the season, posting 19.9 fantasy points against a very good Jaguars run defense. Naturally, he was unable to get anything going on the ground. Jeanty ran the ball 13 times for 42 yards. He got by because he caught five passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos are allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Jeanty has faced four top-10 run defenses this season. His rushing yardage totals in those games were 38, 67, 21, and 42. The volume will be there, but Jeanty will have to find the end zone to have a passable fantasy day.