DFS NFL RB Coach: Week 17

High End Options

David Johnson is a machine with 20 total TD’s this season.  With all the cheap value, he will be easy to fit into your lineups this week.  There is not a safer play out there right now and he will look to finish off his season with another game with at least 100 total yards. 

LeSean McCoy continues to put up monster numbers when healthy.  I am a little concerned about how the team reacts to the firing of Rex Ryan but the match-up is solid.  The Bills are 8^th in run blocking per PFF, 10^th in overall offense per PFF, 1^st in YPG, 1^st in YPC, and 1^st in rushing TD’s.  New York has laid down in several games of late and is the 30^th ranked overall defense per PFF.

Mid-Level Options

DeMarco Murray will look to lead the Titans to victory with the injury to Marcus Mariota.  The game is meaningless for Houston with their playoff seeding locked in.  The Texans will likely play some of their healthy starters but any defensive players with injury issues will be rested.  Tennessee is one of the best running teams in the league so even they can exploit even tough match-ups.  They are 3^rd in run blocking per PFF, 7^th in overall offense per PFF, 3^rd in YPG, 4^th in YPC and 8^th in rushing TD’s.

Jordan Howard racked up 202 total yards in his last game against Minnesota and he will look to duplicate that effort.  Minnesota has given up 72 points in their last two games so things seem to have fallen apart.  Chicago is 8^th in YPC this season so they can run the ball when they try.  If the Vikings don’t show up again, he could have another massive game.

Bilal Powell will look to take advantage of a leaky run defense for Buffalo.  Powell is also a threat in PPR formats as well if they fall behind.  The Bills defense is 23^rd in overall defense per PFF, 28^th in YPG allowed, 27^th in YPC allowed and 31^st in rushing TD’s allowed.  The Jets are a bit of a mess but Powell is still worth consideration in GPP’s.

Low Cost Options

Alex Collins could be in line for the start this week against the 49ers.  Thomas Rawls has a shoulder injury that may keep him outs so Collins could get his shot at the pathetic 49ers defense.  San Francisco ranks 32^nd in run defense per PFF, 31^st in overall defense per PFF, 32^nd in YPG allowed, 32^nd in YAC allowed and 32^nd in TD’s allowed. 

DeAngelo Williams or Fitzgerald Toussaint will get the start with Le'Veon Bell likely to be rested.  We will need to see if the coaches announce anything on who starts.  I would lean Toussiant gets most of the work  but Williams may get some touches since he has been injured for a while.  If we get clarification on who sees the work, it is a prime match-up.  Pittsburgh is ranked 6^th in run blocking per PFF and 9^thoverall offense per PFF.  The Steelers take on a defense who 27^th in run defense per PFF, 28^th in overall defense per PFF, 31^st in YPG allowed, 30^th in YPC allowed and 25^th in rushing TD’s allowed.

Isaiah Crowell will get one last chance to end a disappointing season.  Duke Johnson could miss Week 17 so that should lead to more chances for Crowell.  Cleveland is 4th in YPC this season but the game flow has always been against them.  Pittsburgh will be benching their best players so this game should have a positive game flow for Cleveland which they have rarely seen this season.

Jerick McKinnon has become a PPR machine of late with 25 catches in his last 4 games.  The Bears defense is exploitable where they rank 25^th in overall defense per PFF, 27^th YPC allowed, 21^st YPC allowed and 25^th in rushing TD’s allowed.  The running game for the Vikings has been awful all year so I would limit using McKinnon to full PPR formats.

Alfred Morris or Darren McFadden will likely get the start for Dallas  since they are likely going to rest their starters.  This situation will be based on who we think gets more action.  I would lean to guess that Alfred Morris is deemed the least valuable of the two so he will get more carries.  The Cowboys rank 2^nd in run blocking per PFF, 2^nd YPG, 2^nd YPC and 2^nd in rushing TD’s. 

Corey Grant could be in line for the start for Jacksonville with all of their injuries to their RB’s.  We will have to wait and see who is available to play for the Jaguars.  Indianapolis is awful on defense where they rank 30^th in run defense per PFF, 32^nd in overall defense, 3^rd in YPC allowed, 22^nd in YPG in allowed and 29^th in YPC allowed.