Week 10 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Candidates: Running Backs
Wondering whom to start and sit at running back this week? Below are three top-notch starts and one sit option at the running back position for Week 10 of the 2022 NFL season.
Week 9 Review – half-PPR scoring
Starts
- RB Khalil Herbert (Chicago Bears) vs. Miami Dolphins – 2.3 fantasy points (RB48)
- RB A.J. Dillon (Green Bay Packers) @ Detroit Lions – 5.4 fantasy points (RB31)
- RB Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 10.2 fantasy points (RB18)
Sits
- RB Michael Carter (New York Jets) vs. Buffalo Bills – 15.1 fantasy points (RB9)
Running Back – Starts
Travis Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguars) @ Kansas City Chiefs
Running backs have thrived in the passing game against the Kansas City Chiefs this year, averaging 7.9 receptions (most in the league) on 9.5 targets (most in the league) for 55.8 receiving yards (second most) per game. Per RotoViz’s NFL Pace App, Kansas City has played with a seven-plus-point lead on 152 plays this year, seventh most in the NFL, which tilts opposing game scripts in favor of the backfield’s pass catcher.
Etienne has been on a tear since the team traded away backfield mate James Robinson two weeks ago, averaging 24.7 half-PPR points per game in Weeks 8-9, per 4for4's NFL Player Stats Explorer, sixth most at the position during that span, but the team has yet to fully unleash him as a pass catcher. Etienne led NCAA running backs with 588 receiving yards as a senior in 2020.
Expect Etienne to take advantage of Kansas City’s 22.8 half-PPR points allowed per game to opposing running backs, ninth most in the NFL, per 4for4's Schedule-Adjusted Fantasy Points Allowed.
Jamaal Williams (Detroit Lions) @ Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions lead rusher Jamaal Williams should pummel the Chicago Bears defensive front this weekend. Chicago’s 1,325 rushing yards allowed are the second most in the league and their 15 rushing touchdowns are No. 1.
Only three teams are allowing more half-PPR points per game to opposing running backs than Chicago (25.1).
Williams' 88.2% share of Detroit’s rush attempts inside the opponent’s five-yard-line is the fifth-most among NFL running backs with at least 40 carries this year and his eight rushing touchdowns trail only Nick Chubb (10) and Derrick Henry (nine).
*Check out the full RB rankings here.
Running Back – Sits
James Conner (Arizona Cardinals) @ Los Angeles Rams
James Conner has faced the Los Angeles Rams four times as an Arizona Cardinal over the last two years. In those four contests, Los Angeles’ stubborn run defense has held him to just 3.25 yards per carry. Conversely, Conner has averaged a helpful 7.36 yards per reception, catching 15-of-18 targets but good ol’ Kliff Kingsbury has only featured Conner as a pass catcher in one-of-four games against Los Angeles, two of which Conner saw just two measly targets.
Los Angeles has limited opposing backfields to just 19.1 half-PPR points per game, the 13th fewest in the league. Their 787 rushing yards allowed are the third-fewest and their four rushing touchdowns allowed are tied for the second-fewest.
Melvin Gordon (Denver Broncos) @ Tennessee Titans
The Denver Broncos are coming off of a Week 9 bye that saw them acquire journeyman/passing-game specialist Chase Edmonds from the Miami Dolphins, while devastatingly placing their second offensive lineman, center Lloyd Cushenberry, on injured reserve.
No. 3 running back Mike Boone mixed into the rotation sporadically before also landing on injured reserve ahead of Week 8.
Over Denver’s last two games, nominal starter Melvin Gordon has handled 35.7% of the team’s rush attempts to Latavius Murray’s 39.3%, per 4for4’s NFL Player Stats Explorer. Neither man mustered better than a 3.2 yards per carry average. They split the rushing work inside the opponent’s five-yard-line and third-down snaps equally.
Gordon’s 9.4 half-PPR points per game during that span were tied for 26th among NFL running backs.
With Edmonds now a wildcard and Tennessee’s running-back-unfriendly defensive front allowed just 18.0 half-PPR points per game to opposing backfields, tied for sixth fewest in the NFL, Gordon is a complete no-go in Week 10.
