The RB start/sit coin flips can be some of the most difficult week over week. They also tend to dictate matchups. Fantasy football managers who attempt to take the emotion out of it and evaluate the data are the ones who tend to have the most success. At the very least, you have a consistent process to fall back on — or you can choose to rely on me.
Many like that option. I’ll take the blame if it goes sideways, and you can victory lap otherwise!
What should you make of the fringe options at the position this week? I’m glad you asked.
Data from TruMedia, unless stated otherwise.
Which Running Backs Should Fantasy Managers Start in Week 2?
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
This backfield isn’t a committee. The overall snap shares were similar, but break it down further and there is only one answer as to which running back in Washington you want sniffing your lineup.
Snap share between the 30s:
- Brian Robinson Jr.: 50%
- Ekeler: 50%
Snap share inside the 30:
- Robinson: 77.8%
- Ekeler: 33.3%
Robinson has made nice skill set strides up to this point in his career and is a legitimate threat as both a between-the-tackles runner and a receiver in space. He gave fantasy managers 15.2% more production, given his area of touches, than the average back last season, and that rate was 24.2% in the Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers.
I think it’s fairly safe to assign Robinson a 15-20 opportunity projection with decent scoring equity weekly – that’s going to land him in your fantasy lineups consistently.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (vs. PIT)
At the beginning of the preseason, Williams’ roster spot was being questioned. By the end of August, we were penciling him in for 18-20 touches.
Both were wrong.
Williams is still the best bet in Denver’s backfield, especially after the two primary threats to his work put the ball on the ground in Seattle. But a 52.2% snap share in an unappealing offense isn’t exactly a profile I’m going out of my way to play.
Jordan Mason and J.K. Dobbins were the primary breakouts at the position in Week 1, and while regression is a near certainty, I’d be happy to plug in both over Williams if given the opportunity.
Which Running Backs Should Fantasy Managers Sit in Week 2?
Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders (at BAL)
Hand up if you had “Alexander Mattison 31-yard touchdown catch that includes hurdling a defender” on your Week 1 bingo card.
Yea, me neither. We were under no illusion that White was going to be this highly efficient runner, but we did think his volume would be safe. Now, I’m not so sure.
White opened the season with carries of zero, zero, and negative-one yards, inspiring nightmares about what we saw from a better runner in Josh Jacobs last season, the year following a 2,000-yard campaign.
I’m worried. Jacobs finished Week 1 53.7% below expectations in terms of fantasy point total, a number White nearly matched on Sunday (negative-48.7%). Factor in that he lost a fumble on his lone explosive run and that Mattison might be more of a threat than we assumed and the bottom is at serious risk of falling out.
White, Devin Singletary, and Jerome Ford are clumped at the back end of my Flex tier for this week; while I’m confident they all get their 15+ touches, I’m not sold any of them reach 15 fantasy points.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (vs. NYJ)
Am I getting Jaylen Warren vibes from Spears? We want him to be given more work, but the Titans are actively clipping his wings for our purposes. He had just eight touches last week and was pigeon-holed – he played 92.9% of third-down snaps (Pollard: 14.3%), but that was essentially his entire role.
He remains very rosterable because the skill is evident and he’s only an injury away from 16-18 touches. There is hope in Spears’ profile — hope that is going to be sitting on your bench until we have a reason to think that Tennessee wants to unleash him.