by Running backs remain the king of fantasy football. Although it seems like there are more elite quarterbacks and wide receivers than ever before, the number of consistent, reliable running backs is dwindling. This makes it all the more important to value running backs in fantasy football. To help you with this, each week I’ll be looking at a few backfields that stand out based on current trends or new information we’ve learned.
The premise of this article will be similar to usual, but rather than examining the teams as a whole, I’ll focus on a few specific running backs that could be important to your semifinals (and finals). There were a lot of running back injuries last week, so I’ll focus on unexpected names you might need to start in Week 16 and how confident you should be with each option.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Star running back Alvin Kamara left Sunday’s game with a groin injury in the second half and was later diagnosed with an adductor injury. The timeline for Kamara’s return is currently unclear, but if he were ever out, second-year guard Kendre Miller would emerge as a valuable fantasy asset. Miller received eight carries after Kamara left the game and played nearly all of the snaps at running back, a sign that he would serve as a lead role if Kamara is out. Veteran Jamaal Williams is No. 3 behind Miller, but was unable to register a carry or target even after Kamara’s injury.
I would spend the rest of my FAAB budget on Miller this week, especially if I have Kamara. With Derek Carr, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Taysom Hill all injured, the Saints essentially have no choice but to play through their running backs, giving Miller a fair bit of room for fantasy. He’s at the top of my waiver priority list this week if he’s still available, and I’d happily include him as a top-20 option if he were the starter.
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Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Spears had a huge fantasy day in Week 15, putting up 24.2 fantasy points en route to a top-five finish at the position. Spears finally showed what damage he can do through the air, hauling in six catches for 87 yards and a score. He also made a scenic touchdown jump from one yard out. Starter Tony Pollard had a good fantasy day himself, rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown. However, the split between Pollard and Spears was much more in line with what we expected at the start of the season, with Pollard being used as an early down and short yardage back while Spears handled third down and passing work.
Pollard is clearly still the main guy in this offense, but I think Spears could move into FLEX territory in fantasy if Mason Rudolph continues to be the starter ahead of Will Levis, who was benched on Sunday. The Titans have a light schedule over the next two weeks, playing the Colts and Jaguars, meaning Spears could see more productive fantasy appearances.
It’s also worth noting that Pollard has been dealing with an ankle injury recently, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Titans cut him or cut him after the season ends. In any case, Spears is worth picking up this week if he’s still available, and I’d like to start him as a FLEX in PPR leagues.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns
Browns running back Nick Chubb broke his foot in Week 15 against the Chiefs and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. This paves the way for Jerome Ford to become a potential league winner. Ford had a fairly efficient day after Chubb went down, with seven carries for 84 yards and a touchdown, although his stats are strongly bolstered by a 62-yard score he broke off late in the fourth quarter.
Nonetheless, Ford is expected to average double-digit carries for the rest of the year, making him an important waiver addition this week considering the Browns face two relatively weak run defenses over the next two weeks (Cincinnati and Miami). . Ford is also quietly one of the better pass-catching running backs in the league. Like Miller, I would spend the rest of my waiver budget on him this week if still available.
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Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills
Seemingly out of nowhere, Johnson has developed into a phenomenal pass catcher over the last two weeks. During that time, he caught seven passes for 169 yards and one touchdown, giving him more fantasy points than receivers like Cooper Kupp, Zay Flowers and DK Metcalf.
Johnson hasn’t been on the field much, playing 21 offensive snaps in both games, but has a knack for finding the right spot when Josh Allen starts playing out of structure. I wouldn’t say James Cook is in danger of losing his starting role, but we could see Johnson remain more involved in the two-minute drill and other pass-only situations in the future.
The Bills play a terrible Patriots defense next week in a game that should be fruitful for all of the Bills’ offense. So I wouldn’t mind starting Johnson as a FLEX player in deeper PPR leagues if you’re looking for a replacement. I wouldn’t consider him in standard or semi-PPR formats given how reliant he is on passing work to score fantasy points.
Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo is a little more established than the other guys on this list, but his immediate impact as a rookie was still certainly a surprise. Guerendo has been pretty reliable in fantasy as San Francisco’s starter the last two weeks. He led the team in carries and snaps by far and fit seamlessly into the 49ers’ explosive running game. Guerendo also has a lot to offer from the air with six catches in two games. Overall, Guerendo is a higher echelon of fantasy running backs, and I would continue to trust him as a top-15 option as the 49ers fight to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
