Chris Johnson is officially the most frustrating player in all of Fantasy Football. In his first three games, he rushed for a total of 45 yards against decent, but not great run defenses. So what does he do against the hardest defense he’s faced this year? He carries the ball 25 times for 141 yards. He didn’t even get all of those yards off of one break-away carry. His longest run was 19 yards. However, I wouldn’t trust him just yet. In week 5, he faces an even more challenging defense in Minnesota who only let Mikel Leshoure get 26 yards last weekend. The Titans may have figured a few things out this week, but Chris Johnson is still no more than a flex play this week.
C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson should also be avoided this week. After accumulating just 62 yards on the ground combined against New England in week 4, this dynamic duo now has to do battle with the most difficult rush defense in the league, San Francisco. We still don’t know how the carries will be split with both running backs available to The Bills so keep an eye on both players this weekend, but let them sit this one out on your bench.
Speaking of dynamic running duos, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart should also ride the pine for your fantasy teams this weekend. It’s always hard to know what to do with a Carolina RB, but when faced with the rock-solid Seattle defense, the decision is much easier. Don’t play either of them. Cam Newton seems to have regained his ability to move forward so that just subtracts from their value even further.
Unfortunately for Carolina, Seattle should be able to run just fine against them. Marshawn Lynch is in line for at least 100 yards and a score this weekend as Carolina has one of the worst run defenses in the entire league. Start him as a RB1 with full confidence.
Disappointed with Ryan Mathews’ lack of a TD this season so far and Jackie Battle’s continued presence on the field? Well this Sunday night should ease some of your concerns a bit. Facing The Saints this week, Mathews should finally crack the century mark in rushing yards and may even break one for a score. Battle still has value as well, but don’t use him as anything more than a flex play if you need him because this will be Mathews’ week to shine.
Were you lucky enough to score Alfred Morris in your fantasy league? If so, the good times are bound to keep rolling when Mr. Ryan and his Falcons go to Washington. Atlanta is in the bottom third of rush defenses and if Morris can put up over 100 yards and a score against Tampa Bay, he should have no problem doing the same against Atlanta.
Things should also finally get back to normal for Matt Forte owners this week. Finally back from injury, Forte carried the ball 13 times for 52 yards against Dallas last week, but should see an increase in both numbers next week. Somewhere to the tune of 17 carries for 90+ yards and a possible score sounds about right. Michael Bush is always a threat for stealing goal-line carries, but you didn’t draft Forte for his TD scoring abilities anyway.
