We’ve all become accustomed to expect the unexpected in 2020. J.K. Dobbins led the Ravens in snaps played in Week 11 and had himself a big game, but both he and fellow RB Mark Ingram tested positive for COVID-19 this past Sunday night and all of a sudden it’s up to Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to fill the void in Baltimore’s backfield against the Steelers on Thanksgiving night. Edwards, who had early season success against the Steelers will likely get the majority of the work, but with the way this 2020 season is going would it really surprise you if Hill had a big game?
As is always the case there are several story lines regarding RBs that we’ll be following. Will D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery , both in the NFL’s concussion protocol, suit up in Week 12? Also, we seem to ask these questions every week, but which of the 49ers RBs will be active come game time and will Seahawks RB Chris Carson finally be active in Week 12?
As always, Fantasy Alarm will keep you up to date on all the latest breaking fantasy football related 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). Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Cincinnati Bengals
As we’ve mentioned in a previous column Giovani Bernard has been effective when he’s had to fill in and lead the way in the Bengals backfield. In 13 career games with 15 or more carries, he’s rushed for 1003 yards on 228 carries (4.4 YPC). However, in the four games in which Bernard has had to fill in for the injured Joe Mixon , he’s only averaged 3.27 YPC. In Week 7, his first game as Mixon’s replacement, Bernard played 76% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps. That percentage rate fell to 54% in Week 11. Samaje Perine played 46% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps, which was his highest rate of the season, in Week 11. Bernard led the team in carries in Week 11 (9) but Perine was the busier back as the game wore on. Perine didn’t get his first carry until there was 10:15 left in the second quarter but from that point forward he (five carries) and Bernard (four carries) basically split the work out of the backfield. With Bernard, who has spent his career as a backup, starting to possibly wear down a bit, it might be time to consider rostering Perine just in case his playing time continues to increase.
New England Patriots
It’s been a tough season for Patriots RB James White both on a personal and professional level. However, with Rex Burkhead suffering a season ending knee injury we can likely expect White to be more involved in the Patriots’ offense doing what he does best, which is catching passes out of the backfield. Over the past two seasons White has averaged a little more than five catches per game, but his fantasy production has been a bit uneven thus far this season. However, with Burkhead sidelined last week White had six grabs for 64 yards. Sony Michel , who was activated from the IR last week, was inactive in Week 11 and will likely have a role in the Patriots’ backfield, but White should serve as the teams’ primary check down option moving forward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Throughout his career when Tom Brady couldn’t find an open receiver downfield or was in danger of being sacked, he almost always looked to throw the ball to one of his pass catching RBs. Shane Vereen , Dion Lewis and James White made a living out of catching Brady passes. This past Monday night when Brady needed them most, RBs Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette combined to drop four of the five pass attempts Brady sent their way. LeSean McCoy ’s days as a featured back are long gone, but he has 513 career receptions and he played zero snaps on Monday night. Don’t be too surprised if we don’t see a bit more of McCoy on the field moving forward.
Tennessee Titans
As we approach the final stretch of the 2020 season we’re heading into what has become primetime Derrick Henry season. By this time of the season many bell cow RBs who carry the ball as much as Henry does start to slow down as their body starts feeling the effects of the grind and the normal wear and tear of the regular football season. Not Henry! Henry averaged 6.44 YPC, 125 rushing yards per game and scored 8 TDs in the final five games of the 2018 season. In 2019 Henry averaged 6.45 YPC, just over 149 rushing yards per game, and scored 10 TDs over the last six weeks of the season. Henry has had a very good season thus far, which includes his patented 200 plus rushing yard game, and it looks as if he’s starting to heat up even more. Over his past two games he’s averaging 5.02 YPC and a modest (by his standards) 118 rushing yard per game average. If your league’s trade deadline hasn’t already expired and there’s a chance that you can land him in a trade, go for it and don’t be afraid to over pay for him. If it’s too late to trade for him, you always have the option of using him in your DFS lineup.