Running backs are hard to come by in the current fantasy football landscape, and bell-cow RBs are even harder to find. So, if we are trading one lead back for another, there must be an excellent reason to do so.
Should we trade away Joe Mixon for Tony Pollard?
Joe Mixon Fantasy Value Rest of Season
The Bengals are back to their high-powered selves now that Joe Burrow’s balky calf seems healthy, and Mixon has been a significant benefactor. Hopefully, this current Ja’Marr Chase back issue is not a problem, so we can continue to count on the Bengals offense as we have grown accustomed to.
Mixon is the undisputed lead back for the Bengals with a whopping 69% rushing share, averaging 14 carries for 54 yards per week over the last three games. Mixon has also sprinkled in almost four catches for 26 yards and a 12% target share over the span. Make no mistake: Mixon is essential to the Bengals’ success.
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We have Mixon ranked as the No. 11 RB this week, and I see this RB1 ranking as a consistent place for Mixon to be for the rest of the season. His rest of the season schedule has two cake matchups upcoming, with the Texans and the Ravens both being in the bottom five against fantasy running backs.
Mixon has an average strength of schedule for the rest of the playoff push, with a challenge in weeks 15 and 16 against the Vikings and Steelers. If you can navigate your team to the fantasy championship with Mixon on your roster, you will be rewarded with a matchup with the Chiefs, who are surprisingly bottom ten against fantasy running backs.
Tony Pollard Fantasy Value Rest of Season
The common expectation in the fantasy community before the season was that when Ezekiel Elliott left the Cowboys, Pollard would become a top-tier running back alongside CMC and Ekeler. To the dismay of many, that has not come to fruition.
Pollard is still the lead back in Dallas, but just barely, with a 53.4% rush share in his last three contests. I think we have heard the name Rico Dowdle far too often lately. Pollard has averaged 13 carries for 33.5 yards and 3.3 catches for 31.3 yards per game over the last three.
Pollard has a tough road to the playoffs with three matchups against top 10 defenses against fantasy running backs, including the difficult Eagles (1) and Commanders (3). His playoff schedule is slightly better, with three mediocre defenses in the fantasy playoffs, with the hardest being during championship week in the Lions (19).
I see Pollard as an RB2 with RB1 upside the rest of the season, but I don’t view him the way I did in the preseason.
Should You Trade Mixon for Pollard in Week 10?
Our trade analyzer says that trading Mixon for Pollard is an even deal with a slight lean toward Pollard. I would not make this trade — there’s no benefit to moving Mixon’s guaranteed usage for Pollard. I would ride Mixon to the juicy fantasy championship matchup and only think of moving him if I got Pollard plus a WR1.
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