The 2023 NFL regular season is nearly halfway over. Fantasy football players can start to see which of their draft picks were an excellent selection and which they were better off leaving for someone else in the league.
This week, four teams are on a bye, leaving fantasy players with difficult decisions, especially at the running back position. One of those decisions could be between starting D’Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson, or Darrynton Evans.
Let’s dive into it.
Should You Start D’Onta Foreman, Roschon Johnson, or Darrynton Evans This Week?
According to the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say Foreman is the player to start. He is projected to score 8.6 half-PPR fantasy points. His projections include 60.6 rushing yards, 0.3 rushing touchdowns, 0.5 receptions, 2.6 receiving yards, and zero receiving touchdowns.
Johnson’s projection is for 7.3 fantasy points with 41.1 rushing yards, 0.2 rushing TDs, 1.1 receptions, 8.22 receiving yards, and 0.1 receiving TDs this week. Meanwhile, Evans’s projection is for 4.1 fantasy points with 24.7 rushing yards, zero rushing TDs, 0.4 receptions, 14.4 receiving yards, and zero receiving TDs.
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However, I disagree with the Start/Sit Optimizer. I would start Johnson, followed by Foreman, and then Evans. The rookie running back led the Chicago Bears backfield in snaps played last week (24) despite missing the previous 2.5 games with a concussion. Meanwhile, Foreman played 21 snaps compared to 18 for Evans.
Yet, Evans scored the most fantasy points in Week 8. He had 11.5 half-PPR fantasy points after scoring an 11-yard rushing touchdown in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
D’Onta Foreman’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Foreman is the RB42 for the year, averaging 9.2-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, he was a healthy inactive from Week 2 through Week 5. The veteran likely wouldn’t have earned a spot on the game-day roster without Khalil Herbert suffering an ankle injury.
The former Longhorn has been solid over the past three weeks, averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, he scored under 7.3 fantasy points twice, including last week. However, Foreman scored three touchdowns in the Week 7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Roschon Johnson’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Johnson is the RB53 for the year, averaging 5.7 half-PPR fantasy points per game. Unfortunately, the talented rookie has missed the past 2.5 games with a concussion. Yet, fantasy players have high hopes for the former Texas star moving forward.
The rookie running back had three fewer rushing attempts than Foreman in Week 8. However, he led the backfield with three receptions and four targets. Despite coming off the concussion, Johnson played the most snaps of any Bears running back.
Darrynton Evans’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
Evans is the RB66 for the year, averaging 7.1 half-PPR fantasy points per game. He signed with the Bears before the Week 6 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Chicago lost Herbert and Johnson to injuries the previous week and needed depth in the backfield.
The veteran running back scored the only touchdown for the Bears against the Chargers in Week 8. However, he had only four rushing attempts in the game, five fewer than Foreman and two fewer than Johnson. While Evans had a solid performance last week, the veteran running back belongs on the waiver wire.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!