Week 9 Running Back Carries & Targets: Steven Jackson Thriving With Josh McDaniels

RB Targets | WR/TE Targets

 

For the second straight week, Steven Jackson has seen 30 or more looks and has consecutive games of over 125 rushing yards for the first time since week 8 of 2009.  For those worried about him early in the season, it’s good to see that Josh McDaniels hasn’t forgotten who the best player on his offense is.  If anyone was worried about Cadillac Williams stealing some carries, well, he has only 10 carries in the last 4 weeks. 

Now for the rest of the uppers and downers from week 9…

 

Heroes

• Demarco Murray continues to impress as the Cowboys’ lead back.  After averaging 8.5 ypc in the 3 games since Felix Jones was injured, there’s no question he’ll be the lead back going forward.  Jones will get his touches, but Murray has clearly emerged as the back to own in Dallas.
• Mike Tolbert saw 28 looks in Ryan Mathews’ absence.  Mathews is expected to be back for Thursday’s showdown with Oakland, but Tolbert sees enough work to be worthy of an every week flex spot going forward.
• Roy Helu’s 17 targets were absolutely ridiculous for a running back, as John Beck turned into Captain Checkdown.  The Redskins will probably have Tashard Choice in week 10, so don’t be surprised if Shanahan decides all of the sudden to make him the lead back…In all seriousness, Helu should have some flex value going forward.  Torain is in the doghouse and rarely gets work on passing downs.
• Marshawn Lynch’s 23 carries were a season-high, and his 135 rushing yards were the most since a 151-yard game his in his rookie year.  Don’t get too excited, and look to sell high going forward (even though nobody is probably buying).
• Willis McGahee busted off a couple of big carries to finish with 163 rushing yards.  Most surprising? His 4 targets in the passing game, despite his broken right hand.  It’s very apparent the Broncos’ brass are not Knowshon Moreno fans.  McGahee is flirting with RB1 status going forward.
• Filling in for an ailing Darren McFadden, Michael Bush rattled off 129 total yards and a reception touchdown.  It’s looking like McFaddden will be inactive for Thursday’s game, so Bush will once again be a RB1 play.
• Chris Johnson held off Javon Ringer this week, seeing 20 looks to Ringer’s 6.  Owners will gladly take a 15 point game from the first round bust.  At this point, that would appear to be his ceiling.
• Talk about doing a lot with a little…Ben Tate put up a Sproles’esque line, racking up 17.5 points on only 12 carries.  Against crappy teams like the Browns, Tate will definitely be worthy of a look for your flex spot.
• Chris Ivory sneaking out 15 carries to lead the Saints backfield in touches was quite a surprise.  About the only person this won’t affect is Darren Sproles.  Ingram, Pierre Thomas, and Chris Ivory are going to be pretty much off-limits on a weekly basis once Ingram returns.

 

Zeroes

• On the other end of the spectrum from Ben Tate, you have Chris Ogbonnaya.  Despite 14 touches, the 3^rd-string turned starter running back picked up a whopping 3.1 points in PPR leagues.
• C’mon Michael Turner, it was only the Colts.  He seemed like a lock for a buck-thirty and 2 TDs, but owners had to settle for a mere 14.8 point day.  Truth be told, Turner doesn’t deserve to be here, but still, IT’S THE COLTS!
• Beanie Wells has no trouble putting up fantasy points against the Ravens, but can only muster 20 yards on 10 carries against the hapless Rams.  And this my friends, is a prime example of why fantasy football is the leading cause of broken TVs and drywall holes on Sunday.
• Ryan Grant’s 4 carries (to Starks’ 13) are a new low for the Packers running back this season.  He can be safely dropped.  Starks isn’t exactly lighting up the stat sheet though, making him a shaky start each week.
• Daniel Thomas, despite his one 100-yard game against Houston in week 2, has sucked.  Since the Houston game, Thomas is averaging only 3.2ypc, and saw a season low 7 touches against the Chiefs.
• Despite everyone thinking Javon Ringer would continue to push Chris Johnson for more carries, it didn’t happen.  Ringer saw only 6 looks, and this inconsistency will be all he is good for going forward.  Personally, I would never start him.  He's still just a mere handcuff.
• Ryan Torain’s two touches in week 9 have shown that A.) Don’t try to predict Mike Shanahan and B.) Torain is clearly in the doghouse.  While common sense would tell us that Shanahan will give Torain 30+ touches next week, Torain in all honesty is better off not on your team at all.  Let him be someone else’s problem.

 

Rank	Player	CAR	REC	TGTS	CAR+TGTS
1	Steven Jackson, STL	29	1	2	31
2	Matt Forte, CHI	24	3	5	29
3	Demarco Murray, DAL	22	4	6	28
3	Mike Tolbert, SD	19	4	9	28
5	Roy Helu, WAS	10	14	17	27
6	Arian Foster, HOU	19	5	7	26
6	Fred Jackson, BUF	18	3	8	26
8	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	23	1	2	25
8	Ray Rice, BAL	18	5	7	25
10	Willis McGahee, DEN	20	2	4	24
11	Brandon Jacobs, NYG	18	4	5	23
12	Frank Gore, SF	19	1	3	22
12	Michael Bush, OAK	19	2	3	22
14	Michael Turner, ATL	19	1	2	21
14	LeSean McCoy, PHI	16	5	5	21
16	Cedric Benson, CIN	20	0	0	20
16	Chris Johnson, TEN	14	4	6	20
18	Shonn Greene, NYJ	19	0	0	19
18	Donald Brown, IND	16	1	3	19
20	Jackie Battle , KC	14	1	2	16
20	LeGarrette Blount, TB	13	2	3	16
20	Reggie Bush, MIA	13	3	3	16
23	Chris Ivory , NO	15	0	0	15
23	Rashard Mendenhall, PIT	13	1	2	15
25	Chris Ogbonnaya, CLE	13	1	1	14
25	James Starks, GB	13	1	1	14
27	Ben Tate, HOU	12	0	1	13
27	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE	12	1	1	13
27	Pierre Thomas, NO	8	4	5	13
27	Danny Woodhead, NE	7	3	6	13
31	Beanie Wells, ARI	10	2	2	12
32	Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL	10	1	1	11
32	Dexter McCluster, KC	7	1	4	11
34	Joe McKnight, NYJ	9	0	1	10
34	Ricky Williams, BAL	9	1	1	10
34	Marion Barber, CHI	9	1	1	10
34	Darren Sproles, NO	4	5	6	10
38	Danny Ware, NYG	7	0	2	9
39	Jason Snelling, ATL	8	0	0	8
39	Kendall Hunter, SF	8	0	0	8
39	LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ	5	3	3	8
39	Kregg Lumpkin, TB	2	4	6	8
43	Daniel Thomas, MIA	7	0	0	7
43	Bernard Scott, CIN	6	0	1	7
45	Derrick Ward , HOU	6	0	0	6
45	Javon Ringer, TEN	4	1	2	6
45	Knowshon Moreno, DEN	2	2	4	6
48	Thomas Clayton, CLE	5	0	0	5
48	Justin Forsett, SEA	2	2	3	5
48	Marcel Reece , OAK	0	3	5	5
51	Delone Carter, IND	4	0	0	4
51	Lance Ball , DEN	4	0	0	4
51	Phillip Tanner, DAL	4	0	0	4
51	Ryan Grant, GB	4	0	0	4
51	Isaac Redman, PIT	3	1	1	4
51	Stevan Ridley, NE	3	1	1	4
57	Cadillac Williams, STL	3	0	0	3
57	Leon Washington , SEA	3	0	0	3
57	Thomas Jones, KC	3	0	0	3
57	Chester Taylor , ARI	2	1	1	3
57	Brian Leonard , CIN	1	0	2	3
57	Jacob Hester , SD	1	1	2	3
57	Charles Clay, MIA	0	3	3	3
57	Chris Pressley, CIN	0	2	3	3
57	Erik Lorig, TB	0	2	3	3
66	Brit Miller, STL	2	0	0	2
66	C.J. Spiller, BUF	2	0	0	2
66	John Conner , NYJ	2	0	0	2
66	Taiwan Jones, OAK	2	0	0	2
66	Larod Stephens-Howling, ARI	1	0	1	2
66	Ryan Torain, WAS	1	1	1	2
66	Ronnie Brown, PHI	1	0	1	2
66	Darrel Young , WAS	0	1	2	2
66	Mewelde Moore , PIT	0	0	2	2
75	Da'Rel Scott, NYG	1	0	0	1
75	John Kuhn , GB	1	0	0	1
75	Ahmard Hall , TEN	0	1	1	1
75	Bruce Miller, SF	0	1	1	1
75	Jamie Harper, TEN	0	0	1	1
75	Jed Collins, NO	0	0	1	1
75	Lawrence Vickers , CLE	0	0	1	1
75	Le'Ron McClain, KC	0	1	1	1
75	Vonta Leach, BAL	0	1	1	1
75	Tyler Clutts, CHI	0	1	1	1