The Los Angeles Rams have gone through as many running backs as any team in the NFL and will be relying on guys who weren’t on the roster to start the season.
Cam Akers started the first game but was traded because of the strong play of Kyren Williams. However, Williams got hurt and was put on the injured reserve.
Two running backs who got a lot of time last week were Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman. With that in mind, which one of these two should fantasy football managers have in their lineups?
Royce Freeman’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Freeman has been around the block in his NFL career but had a solid week for the Rams last year. The former Oregon star had 12 carries for 66 yards in the 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. One issue with Freeman is that he doesn’t get in the end zone, as he has only eight touchdowns in his career and none since 2019.
If there is a positive, he did receive 12 carries despite not playing anything besides special teams this season. This shows that Sean McVay has a lot of trust in him, knowing he can play solid football. While that is good to get you on the field, the lack of big-play ability isn’t fantastic for fantasy football managers.
The Rams are in action against the Dallas Cowboys this week, and the Cowboys are a below-average defense against the run. The Cowboys enter this game ranked 18th (111.7 yards).
Darrell Henderson’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
This is Henderson’s fifth year as a Rams running back, but he was a free agent this year after playing four years in Los Angeles. In Week 6, though, the Rams picked up Henderson and Freeman and put them on the practice squad.
MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings
Despite not being on the team most of the year, he was heavily involved with the offense, as he got 18 carries against the Steelers. While he wasn’t as effective as Freeman (61 yards), the fact he was on the field for so many plays and carries is a great sign. He knows the Rams offense well, and McVay knows what he can get with Henderson.
Last year against the Cowboys, he didn’t have any carrier but did have four catches for 30 yards. His play in the passing game is an advantage he has on Freeman.
Which of the Rams Running Backs Should You Start?
The Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer says that Henderson is the player to start. His projected 10 points include 33 rushing yards, three receptions, and 18 yards. That doesn’t seem like a massive stat line, but it outperforms the consensus projection for Freeman (7.5 points)
I am going to go with the Optimizer on this, as Henderson has a higher ceiling and more of a familiarity with the offense. With the Cowboys’ elite defensive line, you have to have a running back who knows the audibles and the pass blocking on the plays. Henderson is also more capable of making plays in the passing game, making him the right guy on Sunday.
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