If I remember correctly it was Devin Aromashodu who helped push my first Fantasy Football league away from Week 17 Finals. Could Marshawn Lynch be the guy who does the same in 2019?
The Seattle Seahawks will enter Week 17 with Lynch, Travis Homer and Robert Turbin in their backfield. While it's a bad matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, it's also a home game for one of the most run-heavy offenses in football. The Seahawks have rushed for at least 100 yards in five of seven homes games, and they've scored on the ground in all seven.
Early in the week my expectation is that Homer will receive half the carries and most of the targets out of the backfield. That makes him a low-end No. 2 running back in PPR and a good flex in all formats. But I certainly understand if you want to take a shot on Beast Mode. Hopefully we get more information on his usage as the week rolls on.
Of course, Chris Carson isn't the only back we'll be without this week. We're already expecting Mark Ingram and James Conner to be out as well. The severity of Ingram's injury could definitely impact Week 17 because if it's a multi-week absence, the Ravens may not want to risk Gus Edwards. For now Edwards is one of the top waiver adds at the position, but if the Ravens rest him, Justice Hill could have an enormous week.
As teams start practicing, expect the list of backup running backs who are starting to grow.
Week 17 RB Preview
Who's Out
The following players are not being projected to play Week 17 at this time. Here's what it means:
Fire up Gus Edwards if he's active.
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Benny Snell could be good in non-PPR.
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Expect Homer to lead the backfield.
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Numbers to know
- 8 - Travis Homer saw eight targets after taking over late in the second quarter of Week 16.
- 35.7% - Christian McCaffrey's target share in Will Grier's first start.
- 50 - Kenyan Drake has 50 touches over the past two weeks. He's turned them into 230 yards and six touchdowns.
- 9.8 - Yards per target for Austin Ekeler. He's having one of the best receiving seasons ever by a running back.
Matchups that matter
Waiver Wire Targets
Josh Jacobs has missed two games, and Washington has been awesome in both of them.
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Edwards should be looking at 15-18 touches, and I'd still expect this to be a productive run offense.
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Homer's usage in the passing game makes him very interesting this week assuming Beast Mode doesn't steal his spotlight.
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DFS Plays
Kamara is still under $8,000 on both sites against the best matchup in Fantasy. Yes, please.
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Ekeler is game script proof and would probably be better if the Chiefs jump out to a big lead.
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Heath's Projections
Non-PPR Rank | PPR Rank | RB | FPTs | PPR FPTs |
2 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | 21.24 | 30.34 |
1 | 2 | Ezekiel Elliott | 22.31 | 26.14 |
3 | 3 | Aaron Jones | 19.94 | 22.26 |
7 | 4 | Leonard Fournette | 15.69 | 21.58 |
8 | 5 | Alvin Kamara | 15.12 | 20.39 |
4 | 6 | Nick Chubb | 19.15 | 20.26 |
5 | 7 | Derrick Henry | 18.09 | 18.86 |
17 | 8 | Austin Ekeler | 13.00 | 18.35 |
6 | 9 | Todd Gurley | 16.56 | 18.34 |
12 | 10 | Saquon Barkley | 14.44 | 18.18 |
11 | 11 | Kenyan Drake | 14.78 | 17.79 |
9 | 12 | Joe Mixon | 14.93 | 17.58 |
14 | 13 | Miles Sanders | 14.02 | 17.17 |
10 | 14 | Phillip Lindsay | 14.80 | 16.49 |
16 | 15 | DeAndre Washington | 13.33 | 16.46 |
19 | 16 | Melvin Gordon | 12.27 | 16.44 |
23 | 17 | Devonta Freeman | 11.38 | 16.02 |
20 | 18 | Damien Williams | 11.86 | 14.95 |
15 | 19 | Raheem Mostert | 14.01 | 14.83 |
13 | 20 | Marlon Mack | 14.15 | 14.62 |
22 | 21 | Le'Veon Bell | 11.47 | 14.43 |
27 | 22 | Travis Homer | 10.92 | 14.13 |
24 | 23 | Ronald Jones | 11.17 | 13.85 |
29 | 24 | Kareem Hunt | 9.34 | 13.59 |
18 | 25 | Sony Michel | 12.50 | 13.56 |
28 | 26 | T.J. Yeldon | 10.48 | 13.01 |
31 | 27 | James White | 8.87 | 12.84 |
21 | 28 | Gus Edwards | 11.66 | 12.55 |
26 | 29 | Adrian Peterson | 10.94 | 12.10 |
25 | 30 | Mike Boone | 11.16 | 11.36 |
30 | 31 | Latavius Murray | 9.32 | 11.14 |
38 | 32 | Jaylen Samuels | 6.81 | 10.00 |
41 | 33 | Jalen Richard | 6.26 | 9.78 |
50 | 34 | Tarik Cohen | 4.82 | 9.60 |
40 | 35 | Duke Johnson | 6.42 | 9.47 |
36 | 36 | Royce Freeman | 7 | 9.16 |
37 | 37 | Patrick Laird | 6.83 | 9.16 |
32 | 38 | Carlos Hyde | 8.38 | 9.07 |
33 | 39 | David Montgomery | 7.87 | 8.95 |
45 | 40 | Boston Scott | 5.54 | 8.64 |