RB Jonathan Taylor vs DEN
Denver is allowing the third-most receptions and the sixth-most receiving yards to running backs this season, but that’s not Jonathan Taylor’s wheelhouse, and Anthony Richardson isn’t one to dump it off to his running backs. The Broncos are bottom-5 in rush yards, touchdowns, and yards per carry allowed this season, and the Colts could be chasing points in this one. Taylor is more of a mid-low RB2 this week than anything.
RB Tyrone Tracy vs BAL
Baltimore is allowing the second-fewest rush yards and yards per carry this season, and the Giants have the week’s lowest implied total at just 14 points against Baltimore. New York has been competitive over the past two games in workable matchups against the Cowboys and Saints, but they’ve been trashed against quality competition like the Ravens, meaning touchdowns could be hard to come by for Tracy - and he’s relied on them for his production these past few weeks.
RB D’Andre Swift vs MIN
No Roschon Johnson last week, a good matchup on paper against a banged-up 49ers run defense, and Swift finished with just 5 PPR points. His role has been slashed since Shane Waldron was canned, and he’s averaging just under 3 yards per carry over his past three games. The Vikings shut him down in their last game three weeks ago, and they’re allowing the fourth-fewest rush yards per game, the 8th-fewest yards per carry, and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs this season.
RB James Cook vs DET
Detroit is bottom five in rush yards per game, yards per carry, receptions, and receiving yards allowed per game this season, and have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs this year on top of the fewest over the past four games. We just watched Cook get scripted out of last week’s shootout against the Rams, and it could be another one this week in Detroit. He has some upside if he can find the end zone, but Josh Allen scored all three of Buffalo’s rush touchdowns last week and could continue to be a thorn in James Cook’s side the rest of the way. He has top-12 upside, but the floor is also very low –especially if this turns into a back-and-forth in the passing game.