Fantasy Football: Why you should use Ben Tate, and why defenses should focus on him?

The Houston Texans have a wonderful problem on their hands, two efficient running backs and not enough snaps for both of them. In the first game Ben Tate was more efficient running the ball and in week two that trend carried over. Tate carried the ball 9 times for 93 yards and a 10.3 yards per carry average. Arian Foster got more than twice as many carries, 19, and carried the ball for less yards, 79, or a 4.2 yard per carry average.

Tate’s gaudy numbers are in part a result of Foster being the featured back. Teams are less inclined to think run when Tate is in but maybe they shouldn’t. Out of Tate’s 23 snaps played, he carried the ball 39.13% of the time. Out of Foster’s snaps he carried the ball 32.2% of the time.

Those numbers go up when you factor in passes, Tate caught three balls and Foster caught one, but were targeted 4 times each.

Including passes, Tate was the focal point of the offensive plays 56.5% of the time he was on the field compared to Foster who had his number called on 38.98% of the snaps he played.

If you factor in the first game Ben Tate has had the ball come his way (including pass targets) 24 times, 18 carries, 5 receptions out of 6 targets. He has 163 all-purpose yards on the season. But those 24 plays are 55.8% of his snaps.

By comparison when Foster is in he gets 49 changes to get his hands on the ball out of 114 snaps or a 42.98%. He also has 175 yards off of 37 carries and 7 receptions, barely more than Tate’s production with more than twice the amount of opportunities.

When Tate gets the ball he averages 7.09 yards, when Foster gets the ball he averages 3.98 yards.

Defenses would be wise to key in on Tate when he is on the field.