Welcome back to another edition of the running back start and sit article! As you know by now, in this analysis, we have reviewed the adjusted line yards of the offensive and defensive lines to identify the top matchups for Week 14. Below you will see the matchup rank for each player. The matchup rank represents the rank of the defense based on our adjusted line yards metric.
To see the full analysis and where each offense, defense, and matchup ranks, go check out our new adjusted line yards metric here on Razzball.com.
If you want to see the original data, you can find it on FTN!
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Top Running Back Starts
- Player: James Cook
- Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
- Matchup Rank: 4th
It seems like the Buffalo Bills finally realized that they needed to give the ball to James Cook over the past three games. Cook has averaged 19 opportunities over this three-game stretch, turning them into over 107 total yards per game. This week, Cook gets a prime matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have allowed at least 73 yards rushing to every lead back since Week 8!
- Player: Keaton Mitchell
- Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
- Matchup Rank: 8th
The Ravens will continue to use a committee with Keaton Mitchell, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, but the tide seems to be turning towards Mitchell officially. In their last game, Mitchell led the team in carries with nine, turning them into 64 rushing yards. Also helping Mitchell is that the Ravens gave him a season-high 14 routes leading to two targets. This usage should help Mitchell get back on track vs. a Rams DST that has been vulnerable vs. speedy backs this year.
- Player: Alexander Mattison
- Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
- Matchup Rank: 2nd
Alexander Mattison hasn’t been much of a fantasy asset over the past six games, only scoring double-digit fantasy points in PPR once over that timeframe. The major issue Mattison is the lack of touchdowns as he has only scored one since Week 6. The good thing for Mattison is his usage continues to be solid, as he has seen at least 16 carries in three of the last five games. This week, Mattison faces a Raiders DST that has allowed at least 85 yards rushing or a TD to a running back in five of the last six games.
- Player: Zack Moss
- Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
- Matchup Rank: 5th
It’s the season for forgiving, and after a complete dud last week vs. the Titans, it’s time to forgive, forget, and put Zack Moss back in your lineups in Week 14. We have seen this plenty of times this season (Zack Charbonnet) where we finally get to see the top handcuff get his shot then he falls flat on his face in his first start. However, like Charbonnet, I think Moss gets his mojo back vs. the Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed at least 13.9 PPR points to an RB1 in four straight games.
Top Running Back Sit(s)
- Player: Travis Etienne
- Opponent: Cleveland Browns
- Matchup Rank: 30th
The only top-20 running back with a terrible matchup this week is Travis Etienne. The RB3 in fantasy has been dominating this season, as he is top 10 in nearly every running back category. The issue for Etienne is that the Jaguars rushing offense has been stuck in the mud over the past month, as Etienne has averaged under 50 rushing yards per game over the past four weeks. On top of all that, the Jaguars might be starting backup quarterback C. J. Beathard this week, which could cap Etienne’s scoring upside. Overall, he’s not a must-sit, so bring your Travis Etienne start-sit questions to our Sunday live show this weekend on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube channel.
Week 13 Recap
Start Najee Harris vs. the Cardinals – Somehow, a red-hot Haris couldn’t do better than the RB24 in PPR vs. the Cardinals. That being said, Top 24 is a HIT baby!
Start Devin Singletary vs. the Broncos – AND just like that, Devin Singletary is no longer the starter for the Texans. MISS
Start Rhamondre Stevenson vs. the Chargers – Stevenson had 10 touches for 40 yards before going down early. VOID
Sit Austin Ekeler vs. the Patriots – This bold call was a big-time hit as Ekeler was bottled up vs. the Patriots. HIT
Sit Joe Mixon vs. the Jaguars – This marks the third time this season that one of my sits was the RB1 in fantasy….yikes. BIG MISS
Score – 2 out of 4
If you have lineup questions or want more information on starts and sits, don’t forget to join us LIVE every Sunday for our Sunday Live Start and Sit Show on the Razzball Fantasy YouTube Channel!
For more from Bobby and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @bobbylamarco.
Sources: Razzball.com, PFF.com, FantasyPros, FFToday, Pro Football Reference and Football Outsiders
