Cincinnati Bengals RB Joe Mixon and Dallas Cowboys RB Tony Pollard continue to put up steady, consistent numbers each week. But lately, Mixon has been able to get in the end zone a little more often than Pollard. Should that be enough for fantasy football managers to pick Mixon over Pollard this week?
Should You Start Joe Mixon or Tony Pollard This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say that Mixon is the player to start. His projected 16.6 points include 48 rushing yards, five catches, and 35 receiving yards. That projected stat line still outperforms the consensus projections of Pollard’s 14.4 points.
My ranking for these two running backs aligns with the consensus. While Mixon is facing a much tougher defense this week in the Baltimore Ravens than Pollard’s opponent, the Carolina Panthers, Mixon’s ability to score touchdowns lately gives him a slight edge over Pollard this week.
Fantasy Outlook for Mixon This Week
Despite being on the field for 73% of the Bengals’ offensive plays last week — the eighth consecutive game he had been on the field for at least 70% of snaps — Mixon finished with a season-low 13 touches against the Houston Texans.
However, that did not stop him from being at least a little productive. For the third straight week, Mixon had a rushing touchdown, even if none of those touchdowns during this current streak has been for more than five yards.
Outside of this past week, Mixon is averaging nearly 19 touches a game (18.7), so the opportunities are there for him to put up some numbers.
Now, it could be argued that Pollard is the better choice among the two because of the competition they are facing this week. Mixon is facing the Ravens, the second-best defense in the NFL, while Pollard is facing the 28th-ranked defense of the Panthers.
While that is certainly a fair argument, it should be noted that the first time the Bengals faced the Ravens back in Week 2, Mixon finished with 95 yards from scrimmage — 59 rushing, 36 receiving — which is his second-highest total of scrimmage yards this season.
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In 12 career games against the Ravens, Mixon has five total touchdowns, but four of those five scores have come in his last five games against Baltimore.
Fantasy Outlook for Pollard This Week
Pollard is coming off a fairly uneventful performance in last week’s blowout over the New York Giants. He carried the ball 15 times for 55 yards — 3.7 yards per carry — and did not record a catch in the game. It was the first time all season Pollard did not have a target, let alone a reception.
But thanks to a visit to Carolina to face the Panthers, Pollard has a chance to put up some numbers against a defense that is giving up the third-most points in the NFL (26.9 points per game).
Along with the defense he will be facing, the consistency is appealing for those considering starting Pollard. He’s had three straight games with at least 50 rushing yards.
The concern is a lack of touchdowns. Pollard has scored twice all season.
The PFN Start/Sit Optimizer projects Pollard to finish with 52 rush yards and three catches for 24 yards.
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