Let’s face it. There are just too many teams featuring backfields who don’t have a single reliable running back that fantasy players can start on a regular basis right now. When it comes to RB’s in PPR scoring formats, Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey and Vikings back Dalvin Cook are the cream of the crop. Raiders rookie Josh Jacobs and Browns second-year back Nick Chubb have also been very reliable. However, even Packers RB Aaron Jones , who has at least three TD’s in two games this season, and Cowboys back Zeke Elliott, have been inconsistent from time-to-time this season.

When it comes to teams featuring backfields that should be avoided and can’t be trusted by fantasy football players this week, none have been more frustrating recently than the following:

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have long been notorious for infuriating fantasy players because of their use of a running-back-by-committee approach, but for a while this season, Jordan Howard was a startable option on a weekly basis. Unfortunately he missed last week’s action due to a shoulder injury. If he can’t go this week, the Eagles backfield will feature a mish mosh of Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and maybe even a little Jay Ajayi this week. Of the three, Sanders has the best fantasy value this week… but don’t get your hopes too high.

Kansas City Chiefs

Think back to Andy Reid’s preseason press conference where he suggested that the Chiefs might employ a committee approach to their backfield. The guy wasn’t lying. Darrel Williams and LeSean McCoy both played a significant number of offensive snaps in Week 11 and Damien Williams would have played a bunch as well if he hadn’t gotten hurt in the middle of the game. Chiefs RB’s know that if they fumble the ball like McCoy did a few weeks ago they might find themselves right in Reid’s dog house. It’s gotten to the point where fantasy players can’t figure out which Chiefs RB to start. If Damien Williams misses time due to his rib injury at least fantasy players will have one less Chiefs running back from which to choose from.

New England Patriots

Not surprisingly, the Patriots are using a three-headed monster in their backfield. Sony Michel has been getting the most carries from among the three but he’s only averaging 3.3 YPC this season. James White led Patriot RB’s by playing 43-percent of the team’s offensive snaps. His numbers haven’t exactly been electrifying this season, but he’s always worthy of a start in PPR scoring formats. Lastly, when Rex Burkhead is healthy, he’s going to play. He played in 28-percent of the Pats’ snaps last week and while he only recorded five carries and three receiving targets, they still took away potential production from Michel and White. Michel is still worth a start in fantasy based on the fact that he’s averaging just over 15 carries a game, but he’s yet to post a 100-yard rushing game this season, so temper your expectations.

There’s been too much negativity in this article so let’s leave you on a high note. As we alluded to last week, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt can co-exist. Chubb has 47 carries and has averaged 4.43 YPC in the two games Hunt has played in. Hunt already has 13 catches in those two games. Both RB’s have a very favorable matchup against the Dolphins who’ve given up the seventh-most fantasy points per game this season.

Team

Primary RB

Change of Pace

3rd Down Back

Handcuff

IR/PUP/Susp./Holdout/Injured

Arizona Cardinals

Kenyan Drake /David Johnson

   

Chase Edmonds hasn’t played since week 8 (hamstring) The Cardinals are on a bye this week.                          

Atlanta Falcons

Brian Hill

Quadree Ollison/Kenjon Barner

Kenjon Barner

Kenjon Barner

Ito Smith on IR, Devonta Freeman (foot) could miss this week’s game, but watch his progress.

Baltimore Ravens

Mark Ingram

Gus Edwards /Justice Hill

 

Gus Edwards

 

Buffalo Bills

Devin Singletary

Frank Gore

 

Frank Gore

 

Carolina Panthers

Christian McCaffrey

Reggie Bonnafon  

 

Reggie Bonnafon

 

Chicago Bears

David Montgomery

 

Tarik Cohen

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon

 

Giovani Bernard

Giovani Bernard

 

Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb

Dontrell Hilliard

Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt

 

Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott

 

 

Tony Pollard

 

Denver Broncos

Phillip Lindsay

Royce Freeman

 

Royce Freeman

 

Detroit Lions

Bo Scarbrough

Ty Johnson

J.D. McKissic

 

Kerryon Johnson , Tra Carson on IR

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones

 

Jamaal Williams

Jamaal Williams

 

Houston Texans

Carlos Hyde

Duke Johnson

 

Duke Johnson

Lamar Miller

Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Williams /Jordan Wilkins

 

Nyheim Hines

Jordan Wilkins

Marlon Mack – broken hand

Jacksonville Jaguars

Leonard Fournette

 

 

Ryquell Armstead

Alfred Blue

Kansas City Chiefs

*Damien Williams /LeSean McCoy

Darrel Williams

  

*Rib injury-watch his status as game time approaches

Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Gordon

 

Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler

 

Los Angeles Rams

Todd Gurley

Malcolm Brown

 

 

 

Miami Dolphins

Kalen Ballage

Myles Gaskin

Patrick Laird

  

Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook

Alexander Mattison

 

Alexander Mattison

 

New England Patriots

Sony Michel

Rex Burkhead

James White

 

James Develin

New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara

 

 

Latavius Murray

 

New York Giants

Saquon Barkley

 

 

Wayne Gallman /Elijhaa Penny

 

New York Jets

Le’Veon Bell

  

Bilal Powell /Ty Montgomery

 

Oakland Raiders

Josh Jacobs

DeAndre Washington

Jalen Richard

DeAndre Washington /Jalen Richard

 

Philadelphia Eagles

*Jordan Howard

Boston Scott /Jay Ajayi

Miles Sanders

Miles Sanders

Darren Sproles ,*missed Week 11 matchup, but watch his progress

Pittsburgh Steelers

*James Conner

Trey Edmunds

Jaylen Samuels

Jaylen Samuels

Benny Snell (knee), *dealing with a shoulder injury, but watch his status as game time approaches

San Francisco 49ers

Tevin Coleman

Raheem Mostert

Kyle Juszczyk

Raheem Mostert

Jerick McKinnon on IR, *Breida dealing with ankle injury and missed last week’s contest

Seattle Seahawks

Chris Carson

Rashaad Penny

 

 Rashaad Penny

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ronald Jones

Peyton Barber

Dare Ogunbowale

Peyton Barber

 

Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry

 

 Dion Lewis

Dion Lewis

 

Washington Redskins

Adrian Peterson

Wendell Smallwood /Derrius Guice

 

Wendell Smallwood

Chris Thompson