Week 1 Running Back Workloads - Breaking Down the Carries and Targets

RB Breakdown | WR & TE Breakdown

With week 1 in the books, it’s always beneficial to take a look at how each player was used within their respective offense.  This can give you a lot of insight into who to start each week, who to target on the waiver wire, and who is dead weight that you can cut from your roster.  While it’s not an exact science, feel free to contact us on Twitter ( and ), via ,  or just throw your questions into the comments section below for any clarifications or help with your lineup.

 

Heroes

• Holy Cadillac Williams!  He led all backs in looks in week 1.  As long as Steven Jackson is down, he’s a must own.
• Tim Hightower solidified his position as the workhorse in Shanahan’s offense.  Helu only had 1 carry.  He still might be a guy you look to sell high on if you can get a solid player (or 2) in return. 
• Just when you thought Cedric Benson was done, he hangs 121 yards on a defense that was thought to be stout against the run.  He wore down big time in the 2^nd half of last season though…another sell high candidate.
• This is why Ray Rice was being taken 1^st overall in many leagues…5 targets, 19 carries, and all of the goal line work. 
• Felix Jones dominated the workload in the Dallas backfield.  If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a solid RB2 candidate.  He didn’t have the greatest game from a YPC standpoint, but it’s unlikely anyone is selling him at a discount.
• Reggie Bush was all over the place for Miami.  Miami got down early so he didn’t have a ton of carries, but his 9 catches made up for that in PPR leagues.
• Deji Karim surprisingly had 13 carries.  If you’re an MJD owner, Karim should definitely be grabbed to handcuff him.
• Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews had a 50/50 carry split.  The big difference here is that Tolbert got the ball at the goal line, and also had 9 catches to boot. 
• Ben Tate didn’t miss a beat with Foster inactive.  He’s a must start for Foster owners while 2010’s MVP battles his hamstring injury.

 

Zeros

• Chris Johnson with only 9 carries?  Munchak already promised he’d be more involved in week 2, but CJ1K owners are left extremely frustrated.  You can try to buy low, but I’d be shocked if anyone is selling.
• LeGarrette Blount’s 5 carries will leave owners scratching their heads.  He’s not an asset in the passing game, and Earnest Graham actually managed 1 more carry and had 8 catches on 9 targets.  I’m not rushing out to pick up Graham, but he’ll probably be involved enough to take a nice chunk out of Blount’s value this year.
• Mendenhall’s 12 carries will be an anomaly in a game that the Steelers were blown out in.  Johnny noted that Mendenhall always struggles against the Ravens, so don’t panic.  He’ll have plenty of big weeks.
• Shonn Greene looks like a below average runner, and he contributes little to the passing game.  Don’t trust him as a weekly fantasy play unless he has a cupcake matchup.
• Brandon Jacobs only managed a measly 6 carries.  This will be the case win the Giants play from behind…and after struggling against the Redskins, it’s not looking like he’ll carry much weekly value for the time being.
• Marshawn Lynch managed 2.5YPC on 13 touches.  On a shoddy offense where TD opportunities are going to be minute, he’s not worth a weekly start.  Don’t consider him a weekly flex option by any means.

 

 

Rank	Player	CAR	REC	TGTS	CAR+TGTS
1	Cadillac Williams, STL	19	6	10	29
2	Tim Hightower, WAS	25	3	3	28
3	Frank Gore, SF	22	3	4	26
3	Jahvid Best, DET	21	4	5	26
3	Cedric Benson, CIN	25	1	1	26
6	Peyton Hillis, CLE	17	6	8	25
7	Ray Rice, BAL	19	4	5	24
7	Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX	24	0	0	24
7	Ben Tate, HOU	24	0	0	24
10	Darren McFadden, OAK	22	1	1	23
11	Matt Forte, CHI	16	5	6	22
11	Chris Wells, ARI	18	4	4	22
13	Felix Jones, DAL	17	3	4	21
13	Reggie Bush, MIA	11	9	10	21
13	Fred Jackson, BUF	20	1	1	21
13	Mike Tolbert, SD	12	9	9	21
17	Adrian Peterson, MIN	16	2	3	19
18	LeSean McCoy, PHI	15	2	3	18
19	Ryan Mathews, SD	12	3	5	17
19	Deji Karim, JAX	14	3	3	17
21	Chris Johnson, TEN	9	6	7	16
21	Jamaal Charles, KC	10	5	6	16
23	Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG	13	1	2	15
23	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	13	2	2	15
23	Danny Woodhead, NE	14	1	1	15
23	Earnest Graham , TB	6	8	9	15
27	DeAngelo Williams, CAR	12	1	2	14
27	Michael Turner, ATL	10	3	4	14
27	Ricky Williams, BAL	12	1	2	14
30	Rashard Mendenhall, PIT	12	0	1	13
30	Mark Ingram, NO	13	0	0	13
30	James Starks, GB	12	0	1	13
33	Joseph Addai, IND	8	2	4	12
33	LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ	5	6	7	12
35	Knowshon Moreno, DEN	8	2	3	11
35	Shonn Greene, NYJ	10	1	1	11
35	Derrick Ward , HOU	11	0	0	11
35	Willis McGahee, DEN	4	5	7	11
35	Darren Sproles, NO	2	7	9	11
35	Kahlil Bell, CHI	10	0	1	11
41	Ryan Grant, GB	9	1	1	10
41	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	7	2	3	10
41	Pierre Thomas, NO	5	4	5	10
41	Michael Bush, OAK	9	0	1	10
45	Jason Snelling, ATL	2	5	7	9
45	Dexter McCluster, KC	4	5	5	9
47	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE	7	0	1	8
47	Maurice Morris, DET	8	0	0	8
47	Justin Forsett, SEA	3	3	5	8
47	Johnny White, BUF	8	0	0	8
51	Brandon Jacobs, NYG	6	0	1	7
51	Delone Carter, IND	7	0	0	7
51	Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL	2	3	5	7
54	C.J. Spiller, BUF	5	1	1	6
55	LeGarrette Blount, TB	5	0	0	5
55	Montario Hardesty, CLE	5	0	0	5
57	Bernard Scott, CIN	4	0	0	4
57	Ronnie Brown, PHI	4	0	0	4
57	Jamie Harper, TEN	3	1	1	4
57	Tashard Choice, DAL	3	1	1	4
57	John Kuhn , GB	2	2	2	4
57	Marcel Reece , OAK	1	3	3	4
57	Jacob Hester , SD	0	3	4	4
57	Brian Leonard , CIN	2	2	2	4
57	Larod Stephens-Howling, ARI	3	1	1	4
57	Steve Slaton, HOU	2	1	2	4
67	Demarco Murray, DAL	2	1	1	3
67	Isaac Redman, PIT	3	0	0	3
67	Jackie Battle , KC	2	1	1	3
67	Dion Lewis, PHI	2	1	1	3
67	Jerious Norwood, STL	3	0	0	3
67	Montell Owens, JAC	3	0	0	3
67	Vonta Leach, BAL	0	1	3	3
67	James Casey, HOU	0	3	3	3
75	Steven Jackson, STL	2	0	0	2
75	Kendall Hunter, SF	2	0	0	2
75	Maurice Morris , DET	0	2	2	2
75	Thomas Jones, KC	2	0	0	2
75	Leon Washington , SEA	0	1	2	2
75	Toby Gerhart, MIN	2	0	0	2
75	Mike Goodson , CAR	0	1	2	2
75	Mewelde Moore , PIT	0	2	2	2
75	Greg Jones, JAC	1	0	1	2
75	Lex Hilliard, MIA	2	0	0	2
75	Owen Schmitt, PHI	0	0	2	2
85	Roy Helu, WAS	1	0	0	1
85	Danny Ware, NYG	0	1	1	1
85	Lance Ball , DEN	0	1	1	1
85	Michael Robinson , SEA	1	0	0	1
85	John Conner , NYJ	0	0	1	1
85	Kregg Lumpkin, TB	0	1	1	1
85	Brock Bolen, JAC	0	0	1	1
85	Spencer Larsen, DEN	0	1	1	1
85	Anthony Sherman, ARI	0	1	1	1
85	Henry Hynoski, NYG	0	1	1	1
85	Brit Miller, STL	1	0	0	1