Fantasy football managers have another challenging week ahead of them. As this article is being written it’s looking like Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (groin) may not be active this week. Check on his progress as game time approaches, but we’re hoping that fantasy managers who roster Cook were smart enough to also roster Alexander Mattison, who is one of the most crucial handcuffs in fantasy football. If Cook is forced to miss time Mattison will serve as the Vikings’ lead back this week with Mike Boone having a change of pace role. 

Fantasy players who invested a third or fourth round pick on Le’Veon Bell in preseason drafts have to be wondering what’s next for the former premiere fantasy RB. They’ve been waiting a few weeks for the opportunity to get him in their lineups, and finally got to start him in Week 5 and now, he’s unemployed. That won’t last for long. 

The previous two examples show the importance of having an overabundance of depth at the RB position on your fantasy roster. Some fantasy analysts strongly advise you to roster your lead RB’s handcuff. Others suggest that if you’ve constructed a roster with enough depth, creating a fantasy team featuring a lead back and his backup isn’t quite as critical. Both schools of thought agree on one thing. When it comes to RBs in fantasy football, you need to have a backup plan. You never know from one week to the next whether the RB who’s been helping to carry your fantasy team will end up suffering an injury that will cause him to miss time.

Fantasy Alarm will keep you up to date on all the latest breaking fantasy football news as it happens. In the meantime, the following analysis provides a closer look at a few of the NFL backfields that deserve your attention.  We hope that it helps you better manage your fantasy football team(s).

Arizona Cardinals

Many fantasy managers have been complaining about how they wasted a first or second round pick in preseason drafts on Kenyan Drake . When your lead back’s handcuff is scoring more fantasy points than your lead back you’re bound to have issues on your fantasy team. According to Fantasy Football Today, Chase Edmonds is averaging 11.7 fantasy points per game (FPPG) in PPR scoring compared to Drake’s 10.3 FPPG. It doesn’t seem like much, but Drake is averaging just one yard per carry after contact this season as compared to the two yards per carry after contact he was averaging over the previous two seasons. Unfortunately with just .9 yards per carry after contact this season Edmonds isn’t doing much better in that category. Edmonds played 45% of the offensive snaps this past Sunday, his highest percentage of the season. However with 67% snaps played, the Cardinals backfield still belongs to Drake. Based on Edmonds’ fantasy production thus far, you could consider slipping him in to you fantasy team’s flex spot in PPR leagues when he has a favorable matchup in deeper leagues.

Atlanta Falcons 

Dan Quinn became the NFL’s second coaching casualty this week, and with the Falcons getting off to an 0-5 start there’s obviously not a lot he did right this season. However, maybe we could give him and his coaching staff a little credit for the way they’ve managed RB Todd Gurley ’s usage so far this season. If new interim Falcons head coach Raheem Morris can learn anything from the previous coaching regime it’s on how to get the most production out of Gurley. Gurley is averaging just under 16 carries per game and is on pace to carry the ball 253 times. That would be the most carries he’s had since the 2018 season. Gurley’s tied (with Ezekiel Elliott ) for having the most red zone carries (22) this season and has scored five TDs thus far. 

Los Angeles Chargers

Last week we were speculating as to which one of the Chargers’ backs might lead the team’s backfield in touches with Austin Ekeler expected to miss upwards of six weeks due to a hyperextended knee and hamstring injury. Unfortunately for fantasy managers it looks as if it’s going to be close to a 50/50 split in workload between Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson . Jackson played 59% of the offensive snaps compared to Kelley’s 35%. However their usage was closer where it counts, which is on the field. While Jackson caught five passes compared to Kelley’s lone grab, their workload split was a bit closer on the ground. Last week we speculated that Kelley might lead the team in carries in Week 5 however, Jackson had 15 carries compared to Kelley’s 11. Things might change over the next few weeks but at this stage when it comes to your fantasy lineups, neither should be considered much more than a flex option or bye week fill in, in deeper leagues. 

Miami Dolphins

Jordan Howard who scored three TDs while rushing for just 14 yards in his first four games of the season was a healthy scratch this past Sunday. Matt Breida played his highest percentage of offensive snaps (31%) of the season and even Lynn Bowden Jr. had three carries on Sunday. What does this all mean? If you’ve been starting Myles Gaskin every week (and some of us have had to), it seems that Breida is his handcuff. You can probably pick Breida up off of your league’s waiver wire for free in many leagues and should only do so if you’re dumping dead wood off of your roster and have a deep bench.

New York Jets

Le’Veon Bell (hamstring) was reinstated from the IR and made his first appearance since Week 1 this past Sunday against the Cardinals. His Sunday appearance was just a dress rehearsal as Jets head coach Adam Gase was intent on trying to trade Bell and rid himself of a player that he never wanted the Jets to sign in the first place. In the end, the Jets were unable to move Bell and his huge contract and “in the best interests of both parties” were finally forced to release him on Tuesday night. According to Connor Hughes, who covers the Jets for The Athletic, the move frees up nine million dollars off the Jets’ 2021 salary cap. The Jets probably should’ve released Gase as well, but while he’s still coaching the team let’s hope that he’ll finally design an offensive scheme that gets rookie RB La’Mical Perine more involved in the Jets’ offense moving forward.

 

AFC EAST
 Buffalo BillsMiami DolphinsNew England PatriotsNew York Jets
Primary RBDevin SingletaryMyles GaskinDamien HarrisFrank Gore
Change of PaceZack MossMatt Breida/Lynn Bowden Jr.Rex Burkhead / J.J. Taylor 
3rd DownT.J. Yeldon James White 
HandcuffZack MossMatt BreidaRex Burkhead / James WhiteLa'Michal Perine
Injured  Sony Michel 
Notes
Moss has been out since Week 3 (toe)
Jordan Howard was a healthy scratch Week 5
 
 
AFC SOUTH
 Indianapolis ColtsJacksonville JaguarsHouston TexansTennessee Titans
Primary RBJonathan TaylorJames RobinsonDavid JohnsonDerrick Henry
Change of PaceJordan Wilkins Duke Johnson 
3rd DownNyheim HinesChris Thompson  
HandcuffJordan WilkinsChris Thompson / Dare OgunbowaleDuke JohnsonJeremy McNichols / Darrynton Evans
InjuredMarlon MackRyquell Armstead / Devine Ozigbo Senorise Perry
Notes
 
 
 
 
AFC NORTH
 Baltimore RavensCincinnati BengalsCleveland BrownsPittsburgh Steelers
Primary RBMark IngramJoe MixonKareem HuntJames Conner
Change of PaceGus EdwardsGiovani BernardD'Ernest JohnsonBenny Snell/Anthony McFarland Jr.
3rd DownJ.K. DobbinsGiovani Bernard Jaylen Samuels
HandcuffGus Edwards / J.K. DobbinsGiovani BernardD'Ernest JohnsonBenny Snell
Injured  Nick Chubb 
Notes
 
Trayveon Williams has been inactive Week 1- 5
 
 
AFC WEST
 Denver BroncosKansas City ChiefsLas Vegas RaidersLos Angeles Chargers
Primary RBMelvin GordonClyde Edwards - HelaireJosh JacobsJustin Jackson/Joshua Kelley
Change of PaceRoyce FreemanDarrel Williams / Darwin ThompsonDevontae Booker 
3rd Down  Jalen Richard 
HandcuffRoyce FreemanDarrel WilliamsJalen Richard / Devontae BookerJustin Jackson/Joshua Kelley
Injured    
Notes
Phillip Lindsay has missed Weeks 2, 3, and 4 with a toe sprain. Watch his progress for Week 6
 
Theo Riddick was transferred back to the practice squad after Week 4
Austin Ekeler has been sidelined since Wk 4 (hamstring injury) and was originally expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks.
NFC EAST
 Dallas CowboysNew York GiantsPhiladelphia EaglesWashington Football Team
Primary RBEzekiel ElliottDevonta FreemanMiles SandersAntonio Gibson
Change of PaceTony PollardWayne GallmanBoston Scott / Corey ClementPeyton Barber
3rd Down Dion Lewis  J.D. McKissic
HandcuffTony PollardWayne Gallman / Dion LewisBoston Scott / Corey ClementJ.D. McKissic / Peyton Barber
Injured Saquon Barkley  
Notes
 
 
 
 
NFC SOUTH
 Atlanta FalconsCarolina PanthersNew Orleans SaintsTampa Bay Buccaneers
Primary RBTodd GurleyMike DavisAlvin KamaraRonald Jones
Change of PaceBrian Hill / Ito SmithTrenton CannonLatavius MurrayLeonard Fournette
3rd Down   Ke'Shawn Vaughn / LeSean McCoy
HandcuffBrian HillTrenton CannonLatavius MurrayLeonard Fournette
Injured Reggie BonnafonTy Montgomery 
Notes
 
Christian McCaffrey hasn't played since Wk 2 (high ankle sprain). He's being reevaluated this week. Follow his progress.
 
Fournette was inactive in Week 4 and 5 due to an ankle injury
NFC NORTH
 Chicago BearsDetroit LionsGreen Bay PackersMinnesota Vikings
Primary RBDavid MontgomeryAdiran PetersonAaron JonesDalvin Cook
Change of PaceCordarrelle PattersonKerryon JohnsonJamaal Williams / Tyler Ervin / A.J. DillonAlexander Mattison/Mike Boone
3rd Down D'Andre Swift  
HandcuffRyan Nall / Artavis PierceKerryon JohnsonJamaal WilliamsAlexander Mattison
InjuredTarik CohenBo Scarbrough  
Notes
 
 
 
Cook (groin injury) may not play Wk 6. If he's out Mattison would be the lead back with Boone having a change of pace role.
NFC WEST
 Arizona CardinalsLos Angeles RamsSan Francisco 49ersSeattle Seahawks
Primary RBKenyan DrakeDarrell HendersonRaheem MostertChris Carson
Change of PaceChase EdmondsMalcolm Brown/Cam AkersJeff WilsonCarlos Hyde / Travis Homer
3rd Down  Jerick McKinnonDeeJay Dallas
HandcuffChase Edmonds Jerick McKinnon/Jamychal Hasty / Jeff WilsonCarlos Hyde
Injured  Tevin ColemanRashaad Penny
Notes
 
 
 
Hyde has been inactive since Week 4 due to a shoulder injury