Doug Martin is back in the mix as a legit
RB2 as he out-touched Jacquizz Rodgers 14-4 in Week 5.
Grab a Helmet
Doug
Martin @ ARI – Martin exceeded expectations in his
first game back from suspension, even though there was some speculation
that the wouldn’t receive a full workload – a mindset I regret
having myself leading into Thursday Night Football. He logged
13 carries and finished with 74 yards and a TD – 10 more carries
than Jacquizz Rodgers, who started the first three games of the
season. Muscle Hamster’s resurgence in 2016 was muted by injuries
and a four-game PED suspension for Adderall that he served only
one game of last season. He entered a treatment facility, vowed
to get in better shape and deal with some of his personal issues,
and earned rave reviews for cleaning up his act. He trimmed down
and cut about 2 percent of his body fat by cutting out carbs and
doing more high-intensity training, and he’s still in his prime
as a high-upside NFL RB. The Cards defense has looked especially
porous, especially to smaller, shifty backs like Martin, who brings
a well-rounded set of skills to the table for the Bucs that’s
missing from his backfield mates. He’s a high end RB2 who I believe
will put up RB1 numbers in half of his remaining 12 games.
Alvin
Kamara v. DET – I included Kamara in my Week
1 Through the Wire column as a RB to consider, and his production
and ownership has only increased since then, with 18 rushing yards
and 4-20-0 on six targets in Week 1, to 54 total yards (mainly
via 3-51-0 on 7 targets receiving) in Week 2, to 37 rushing yards
and a TD (with 3-5-0/5 targets receiving) in Week 3, and his breakout
game in Week 4 where he logged 25 rushing yards on five carries
and an exceptional 10-for-10 on his targets for 71 yards and a
TD. That’s an impression progression – and Adrian Peterson’s departure
to help the Cardinals only adds to his allure in what has gone
from a committee to a timeshare. He’s likely getting more reps
in practice and could see another 7-10 targets in the Week 6 tilt
with Detroit. He’s worth starting in all formats.
Duke
Johnson @ HOU – Isaiah Crowell’s value is steadily
dipping, and Duke’s value is in the rise, especially in PPR leagues
where he has more opportunities to pick up fantasy points. The
third-year back now has 31 targets on the season and 20 targets
over his last three games, opportunities that have helped him
compile 23-270-1 receiving to go along with his 77 rushing yards
and two scores on the ground. He’s hitting his stride and facing
a Houston team that was devastated by season-ending injuries to
the amazing J.J. Watt and standout LB Whitney Mercilus. I’m expecting
DeShaun Watson to have a huge game and Browns new starting QB
Kevin Hogan to utilize TE David Njoku and Johnson on plenty of
check-downs. This could become a very fast-paced game that effectively
removes Crowell in the second half, and Duke has a great chance
at hitting double-digit fantasy points as a flex or RB3.
Grab a Gatorade
Jay
Ajayi @ ATL – Despite the favorable matchup against
the Falcons run defense and high ownership level of Ajayi, I’m
finding it hard to trust anybody on the Dolphins right now. Last
week Ajayi managed just 79 total yards (and lost a fumble) against
a terrible Titans defense in what should have been a relatively
high-scoring game. But, Jay Cutler’s feeble pass attempts and
general malaise have put the dampers on anything that resembles
excitement when it comes to this offense. The week before that,
Ajayi totaled just 54 yards from scrimmage in London. Listen –
I can’t fault you for starting Ajayi in PPR leagues or larger
formats where you don’t have options that offer upside in the
10-15 point range, but that’s about what the high end of your
expectations look like from here on out with Ajayi, a talent and
formidable fantasy asset that’s being wasted in a terrible football
environment, one where the fans are actually calling
for Matt Moore to take the snaps.
Frank
Gore @ TEN (Mon) – I took a risk including Gore in
this spot in a plum matchup against the Browns when I filled in
for Joseph in Week 3, and Gore posted a satisfactory 11 points
in standard scoring leagues when he ran for 57 yards and a TD.
Now, he’s coming off a game where he fumbled twice and yielded
a few more carries to Marlon Mack. While this matchup is a decent
one for Gore and the Colts in general, I’m expecting to see a
lot more of Mack in this one, if the rookie back is healthy come
game-time. With both regular starting QBs (Andrew Luck and Marcus
Mariota) hurt or hurting, this projects to be a slower-paced game
with each team trying to limit mistakes – and Gore’s two fumbles
last week aren’t going to help him in that regard. To reach value
for Gore, you’re basically praying for a goal line opportunity
and resulting TD, and while there’s enough activity for him in
the short passing game (6-72-0 on 7 targets over his last two
games) to make him viable in PPR leagues, I’d be steering clear
in standard scoring formats.
Jonathan
Stewart v. PHI (Thu) – Even though Stewart (ankle)
has been removed from the injury report ahead of the Thursday
Night game with Philly, I’m not inclined to trust him to
get a lot of touches on a short week following a game where we
saw another solid game from Christian McCaffrey. Stewart had just
21 rushing yards on 18 carries in Week 5 and is averaging just
3.25 yards per carry in 2017. He’s also failed to reach
the end zone via the run and the matchup with the Eagles doesn’t
promise to get any easier. Stalwart DL Fletcher Cox (calf) practiced
Tuesday and is expected to play, and he and the rest of the Eagles
D-line has been clamping down on opposing RBs, allowing only 239
rushing yards this season (the second-fewest in the league). I’m
looking for more upside from my RB2/3 and flex play, and the guys
up top are three options to post better numbers.
