Week 11 RB Recap

It has been awhile since a handful of widely available running backs got significant touches… but it happened in week eleven.

Analysis: Bobby Rainey carried the rock 30 times Sunday for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. He will be the “it” player on the wire this week so we won’t spend much time talking about a must add. With Mike James and Doug Martin out, Rainey was next in line and he solidified himself as the man in the Tampa backfield with his performance today. He is available in 40-98% of fantasy leagues.

Rashard Mendenhall ran the ball 13 times for 14 yards and 1 touchdown today while Andre Ellington rushed 8 times for just 3 yards. Mendenhall now has 26 carries in his last two games to Ellington’s 21 carries. The former Steeler is averaging 15 touches per game over that two week span and is available in 25-35% of fantasy leagues.

Rashad Jennings now has 57 carries and 2 touchdowns in his last three games. Darren McFadden is questionable to return next week but it is becoming hard to ignore Jennings and his 5.9 yards per carry average in his last three contests. Jennings is available in 15-55% of fantasy leagues.

Buying Low- Rashad Jennings

Rashad Jennings was on the end of double digit carries for the fifth time in six weeks Sunday against the Titans.

Analysis: Just one week after a three carry game Rashad Jennings carried the rock 16 times for 43 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. With Maurice Jones-Drew still out for a few weeks it appears the Jags will give the majority of the touches to Jennings despite his 2.8 yards per carry average this year. Jennings is having an extremely underwhelming season as he receives yet another opportunity to prove to the NFL he can be a feature back.

Although Rashad Jennings has not played well this year he did carry the rock 16 times Sunday which merits a fantasy pick-up at least until MJD returns in a few weeks. The Jags have Buffalo and then the New York Jets in the next two weeks, so the Jacksonville running game should not disappear in second half blow outs. It really is hard to pass on a back who should receive 15 carries next week and potential goal line carries but nothing about his play has been impressive thus far. Pick Jennings up at your own risk or to prevent desperate owners starting him against you next week because he has “potential” for a big fantasy game.

ADP Watch- Rashad Jennings

Rashad Jennings is a very interesting back to take a look at especially with the Jags and MJD at odds on a contract.

Analysis: Rashad Jennings is sporting a career 5.4 yards per carry average with five touchdowns and zero fumbles on 123 carries. It may be a small sample size but he can certainly be a feature back going forward. Even if MJD gets a deal done soon he will be more susceptible to injury this year. At the moment MJD is the 4th-10th back being taken off the board while Jennings is the 40th with an ADP in the 105-135 range. You can get away with drafting Jennings as your fourth back yet he may wind up as a RB2 if the MJD situation goes south.

Jennings makes a great low risk/high reward back at the moment considering his 175 rushing yards on just 36 preseason carries. To expect MJD to come in and carry the rock in every down and situation without proper camp time is crazy(see Chris Johnson last year). Jennings is a fine 225 pound back and if a trade is to happen he is an absolute steal.