Fantasy football lineup advice: Week 2 BOOM or BUST
Fantasy football lineup advice – Running Back
BOOM:
Sony Michel, NE vs. MIA
In his first game of the season, Michel turned-in a brutal performance against the Steelers, averaging less than a yard per carry (15 carries for 14 yards) on his way to just 1.4 fantasy points. Yikes.
However, this was against a strong Pittsburgh front-seven that allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards in football a season ago.
Michel wasn’t targeted in the passing game either, ceding those duties to Rex Burkhead and James White, but there’s plenty of reason to believe Michel can put this clunker aside and return to form in Week 2.
If anyone’s got a chance to do a complete 180 from last week’s performance, it’s Michel this Sunday against a laughable Miami Dolphins defense. In Week 1, the Dolphins allowed a jaw-dropping 265 rushing yards to the Ravens. Owners may be weary after being disappointed by Michel last week, but this is a game where the Georgia alum should produce truly monstrous numbers.
Kerryon Johnson, DET vs. LAC
Another player that turned in a stink-bomb in Week 1, Johnson surprisingly split carries with veteran RB C.J. Anderson despite many expecting him to receive workhorse volume this season. He finished his day with two catches for 13 yards, but also lost some passing-down work to J.D. McKissic. However, he still saw 16 carries, playing 57 percent of his team’s snaps.
Still a big-play threat and easily the most talented back on the Lions’ roster, Johnson has a chance to redeem himself against the Chargers who gave up the seventh-most fantasy points to the running back position in the season-opener.
They were dismantled by Marlon Mack at home, allowing him to rush for nearly 175 yards and a touchdown. Expect a nice bounce-back effort for Johnson on what looks like an improved Detroit offense.
BUST:
Aaron Jones, GB vs. MIN
It’s going to be tough sledding for Jones in the early going, having to start the year off against the Chicago Bears and now drawing another brutal match-up against the Minnesota Vikings.
He saw the lion’s share of work against the Bears, but couldn’t do much with his opportunities, taking 13 carries for just 39 yards. He added one reception for no gain, finishing with 4.9 fantasy points.
The Vikings stifled Falcons’ Devonta Freeman in Week 1, allowing him just 19 rushing yards on eight carries. After finishing 2018 as a top-10 unit against RBs, Minnesota’s defense once again looks like one of the league’s best. Things will get better for Jones, but owners are better off leaving him on their benches for now.
Phillip Lindsay, DEN vs. CHI
Lindsay was underwhelming in his 2019 debut, compiling just 10.6 fantasy points against the Raiders. He saw a similar workload from last season (12 carries per game), taking 11 rush-attempts for 43 yards (3.9 YPC), also chipping-in in the passing game with four receptions for 23 yards.
The kicker, however, was that he saw just four more snaps that running-mate Royce Freeman, indicating more of an even backfield split this season.
His Week 2 matchup, the Chicago Bears, isn’t going to do him any favors. As was mentioned above, the Bears shut down Green Bay’s run game on Thursday Night Football and come into the season as the reigning no. 1 defense against running backs (just 15.5 FPPG allowed in 2018). At this point, it’s not wise to be confident in any RB against Chicago.
Sleeper:
Miles Sanders, PHI @ ATL
In his NFL debut, Sanders couldn’t get much going, but surprisingly led the Eagles’ backfield in carries.
His 25 yards on 11 carries left much to be desired, but he should fare better against a porous Falcons defense that was just trampled by Dalvin Cook for over 110 rushing yards. Philly is a team known for using the hot-hand approach at RB, and if Sanders can come out of the gates strong, watch out.