Injuries have turned the once-elite Barkley (24 FPts/G in 2018)
into an afterthought in 2021. He’s played just eight games
this season and has yet to crack 60 yards on the ground. However,
he looks as healthy as he has been in a while. The Chargers are
vulnerable on the ground (26.3 FPts/G) and have allowed 15 rushing
touchdowns and 1426 rushing yards – both the second-most
in the league.
Collins missed Week 13 with a core muscle injury, but should
be ready to go in this favorable matchup against the Texans. Adrian
Peterson proved last week he wasn’t the answer (11 carries for
16 yards) and while he and Rashaad Penny could steal a few carries
this is Collins’ job. The Texans have yielded a league-high 1506
rushing yards and usually the game script favors opposing running
backs in the fourth quarter.
Kamara should return from his injury and at the perfect time
- against the worst run defense in the league. The Jets have allowed
34.6 FPts/G almost four fantasy points worse than 31st ranked
Seattle. Even yielding some carries to Tony Jones and possibly
a vulture touchdown from quarterback Taysom Hill, there should
still be plenty of room for Kamara to produce.
Grab some Pine
1) Any Jets running back vs. New Orleans
The Jets backfield is running short of healthy players. Michael
Carter is on IR, Tevin Coleman is recovering from a concussion.
That should leave Austin Walter and Ty Johnson. Neither should
be considered for any fantasy lineup against the Saints No. 1
run defense.
Don’t be fooled by Davis’ best fantasy performance of the season
against the Buccaneers (16.9 fantasy points). As long as Cordarrelle
Patterson is healthy, Davis will be living off backup scraps.
And Qadree Ollison joined the backfield, returning to the active
roster in Week 13. The hybrid RB/WR Patterson is the only viable
option in this backfield.
No one is really going to sit Chubb despite this unfavorable
matchup, just don’t expect much. The Ravens’ run defense
has been the No. 1 group over the past five games allowing just
12.6 FPts/G and zero touchdown. And given the decimation of the
Baltimore secondary (Marlon Humphrey joins Marcus Peters on the
IR), the Browns should use more play-action than normal and attack
the Ravens through the air. When these teams met in Week 12, Chubb
rushed 8 times for 16 yards and Kareem Hunt managed seven carries
for 20 yards.
