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C.J. Spiller can’t catch a break man. Is there anyone else in the NFL as unlucky as Spiller? He’s like the Charlie Brown of professional football. When everyone else is getting chocolate bars and quarters on Halloween, C.J. is getting rocks. (Sad Trombone.) I’d like to tell you that I feel your pain, but I don’t. I avoided Spiller in drafts the way vegans avoid bacon. Which is the primary reason I don’t trust vegans, but anywho! Spiller is more than likely done for the foreseeable future and maybe the season. He was IR’ed with a designation to return, but his chances of returning from a separated shoulder are pretty slim. Just to make things that much more complicated, Fred Jackson decided to get hurt too, it’s a twofer! So now desperate fantasy owners are once again hitting the wavier wire to chase a third stringer promoted to the starting role. Enter Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon.

Each of the aforementioned runners has been discussed ad nauseam by industry experts over the last week. Some side with the Brown camp and his tremendous upside, others are keen on Dixon. Well who’s right? Who’s wrong? Who will be the chosen one in the Buffalo backfield? Here’s my take it’s going to be a week to week thing, and my money for week 8 is on Dixon to see the majority of work….so if you picked up Brown my reverse hex is on your side. Hexs, cruses, and spells aside, my persepctive is this; Dixon has been running with the ones all week, has been active and involved all season, and therefore is probably the safer option in Week 8.

Brown is the far more interesting back long term. He’s more explosive, exciting, and viable as a starter. The only real knock on Brown is his fumbling issues, which reared their ugly head at times in Illadelphia. I do have to admit, I have a soft spot for Brown after he racked up 347 yards and four TD’s in two games filling in for LeSean McCoy two years ago (helped me win in back to back weeks too!). So I’m well aware of what he can do. For what it’s worth, I expect Fred Jackson to miss the next three games and the bye, So there’s a minimum of three games for whomever the back is to show what he can do. At this point, Dixon is talking like he’s going to be the featured back. Earlier this week, he was quoted as saying  that he was looking forward to “getting back into that workhorse role”. Getting back? When? In College? So maybe Anthony Dixon is delusional, he also became Boobie Dixon at one point this week. So to recap he’s getting back to a non-existant “workhorse role” he never had and changed his name to Boobie. Some men just weren’t meant to lead. Long term I like Brown, for this week I like Dixon.

Jonas Gray – Around this time last week “The Hooded One” Bill Belichick had sullied the best laid plans of fantasy owners everywhere that used waiver priority and FAAB dollars on Brandon Boldin and Rookie James White. He instead decided to bestow the big back duties upon Jonas Gray a second year running back that he activated from the practice squad just hours before game time. The Norte Dame product only saw three touches but anyone that’s followed the Patriots backfield knows that game plan and scheme dictate usage. There’s going to be a game soon enough, where Gray gets 15-20 carries. In deeper leagues use the bench spot and stash him.

Charles Sims – Looking for an unheralded, widely available back, on the cusp of fantasy relevancy? Dumb question, of course you do! Well then check out Tampa Bay Rookie Charles Sims. The Buc’s third round pick returned to practice this week and looks set to be active for for their week 9 matchup with the Browns. The West Virgina/Houston (he transferred senior year) product wowed the Buc’s coaching staff in camp with his receiving ability out of the backfield. Unfortunately his pre-season was cut short with an ankle injury that required surgery. Now that he’s back I’d expect him to begin cutting into Doug Martin and Bobby Rainey‘s workload immediately. I’m not saying he’s going to be the featured back next week or even the week after, but if you told me that he’d be the starter in week 11 or 12 I wouldn’t be shocked. Add and stash him now.

 

Fuzzy Handcuffs 

These guys are fun, fun, fun! Not for everyday use but good to own, and a blast when they’re in the mix. We may wish for a bit more run but have to accept that they’re splitting time and getting the most of their opportunities. Most of these handsome devils could probably be studs if given the chance.

TeamStarter (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff(s) (carries/targets/rec)Depth Backs
Indianapolis ColtsTrent Richardson (14/5/4) (Questionable)Ahmad Bradshaw (10/3/3)Dan Herron
Cincinnati BengalsGiovani Bernard (7/5/2)Jeremy Hill (4/1/0)Cedric Peerman
San Diego ChargersRyan Matthews (injury)Branden Oliver (15/2/2)Donald Brown (injury) Ronnie Brown (1/1/1), Shaun Draughn
Philadelphia EaglesLeSean McCoy (Bye)Darren Sproles (Bye) (Questionable)Chris Polk
Detroit LionsJoique Bell (18/5/2)Reggie Bush (4/6/5) (Questionable)Theo Riddick, George Winn
New York JetsChris Ivory (21/4/4)Chris Johnson (13/3/2)Bilal Powell
Kansas City CheifsJamaal Charles (22/4/2)Knile Davis (10/1/1)De’Anthony Thomas, Cyrus Gray, Joe McKnight


Standard Issue Police

Whether you’re in the back of a squad car or sitting on the corner while the Po-Po search your whip, you’re going nowhere. Do you know why? Because those things are locked on your wrists with a death grip. Much like those cuffs, these running backs are firmly locked into their positions. Not for a lack of ability, but because the starters are firmly entrenched in their roles. These backs could have value on any given week but more than likely you’ll need an injury to make these guys startable.

TeamStarter (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff(s) (carries/targets/rec)Depth Backs
Denver BroncosMontee Ball (injury)Ronnie Hillman (14/4/4)Juwan Thompson (6/0/0), C.J. Anderson,
New Orleans SaintsMark Ingram (10/3/2)Khiry Robinson (3/0/0), Pierre Thomas (6/4/4) (out)Travaris Cadet (0/9/6)
Cleveland BrownsBen Tate (16/2/1)Isaiah Crowell (7/2/1)Terrance West
Buffalo BillsFred Jackson (3/3/3) (out)Anthony Dixon, Bryce BrownC.J. Spiller
Tampa Bay BucsDoug Martin (bye)Bobby Rainey (bye), Charles SimsMike James
Tennessee TitansShonn Greene (Injury)Bishop Sankey (16/1/0)Dexter McCluster, Leon Washington
Jacksonville JaguarsToby Gerhart (Injury)Denard Robinson (22/1/0), Storm Johnson (6/0/0), Jordan Todman
Green Bay PackersEddie Lacy (12/3/3)James Starks (7/1/1)John Kuhn, DuJuan Harris
New York GiantsRashad Jennings (injury)Andre Williams (18/3/0)Peyton Hillis (6/3/1)
Baltimore RavensJustin Forsett (23/1/0)Bernard Pierce (8/1/0)Lorenzo Taliaferro
St. Louis RamsTre Mason (18/0/0)Benny Cunningham (2/5/5)Zac Stacy
Houston TexansArian Foster (20/6/4)Alfred Blue (5/1/1)Jonathan Grimes
Pittsburgh SteelersLe’Veon Bell (12/8/8)LeGarrette Blount (7/1/1)Dri Archer
Washington RedskinsAlfred Morris (18/0/0)Roy Helu (5/3/3)Silas Reed
San Francisco 49ersFrank Gore (9/1/0)Carlos Hyde (3/2/2)
Atlanta FalconsSteven Jackson (8/1/1)Antone Smith (3/2/2) Davonte Freeman (2/5/5)Jacquizz Rodgers

Duct Tape Cuffs

These are of the homemade variety, you’ll use them in a pinch (i.e the starting stud goes down) but they’re always in your drawer (wavier wire) ready to step in and do their job. It may be to the bare minimum degree but they can buy you some time.

TeamStarter (carries/targets/rec)Handcuff(s) (carries/targets/rec)Depth Backs
Minnesota VikingsJerick McKinnon (19/4/2)Matt Asiata (6/2/1)
Carolina PanthersJonathan Stewart (13/2/1)DeAngelo Williams(Injury), Darrin Reaves (Injury)Chris Ogbonnaya, Fozzy Whitiker (Injury)
New England PatriotsShane Vereen (11/8/5)Jonas Gray (3/0/0)Brandon Bolden, James White
Oakland RaidersDarren McFadden (14/8/4)Maurice Jones-Drew (3/0/0)Latavius Murray, Marcel Reese, Jamize Olawale
Dallas CowboysDeMarco Murray (28/1/1)Joseph Randle (2/1/1)Lance Dunbar (3/0/0)
Miami DolphinsLamar Miller (18/3/2)Daniel ThomasDamien Williams, LaMichael James
Seattle SeahawksMarshawn Lynch (18/2/2)Robert Turbin (2/4/3) (Questionable)Christine Michael
Chicago BearsMatt Forte (12/7/6)Ka’Deem CareySenorise Perry
Arizona CardinalsAndre Ellington (24/9/6)Stepfan Taylor (12/2/2)Robert Hughes

Thanks for reading and Happy Handcuffing!

 

Don’t forget to send me all your Running Back Questions on twitter @ralphlifshitzbb.