RB Quandry

[panthro 0]

Right now my team has some incredible depth at RB. I have two every-game starters in Larry Johnson and Kevin Jones, plus four possible backs for my flex spot: Jamal Lewis, DeShaun Foster, Joseph Addai and Laurence Maroney. Obviously I'm going to start LJ and Jones, both have solid match-ups, but I'm not sure who to insert into my flex spot.

 

Jamal Lewis is probably statistically my poorest back, but he has a tremendous match-up against the next to worst run defense in the league. Plus now that Brian Billick is running the offense in Baltimore, they've gone back to a run-first mentality. I think Lewis has a chance for his first 100+ yard day this season and maybe multiple TD's. I mean hell, even Walai Lundy put up over 100 yards on Tennessee. I think he's hard to sit here.

 

Then again, Foster is playing at home, where he averages a full yard more per carry and has gotten both of his TD's. Tampa is 7th from the bottom in run defense, and the Panthers are coming off their bye week, the week in which teams traditionally play the strongest. Plus the Panthers always put something extra on for a division rival.

 

Addai actually has the best yards per carry average of any of the four. He's coming off a weak game vs. the stingy Pats run defense, but the week previous he had an impressive 5.5 yards per carry against a previously stout Denver defense, and the week before he gashed Washington for 7.7 yards per carry. At this point, Rhodes is the starter in name only, and Addai is going up against a mediocre Buffalo run defense.

 

Maroney is the one I like the least this week. Yes, he has the second best yards per carry of the group, but even against a pathetic Indy run defense he was only able to average 4.4 yards per carry. Plus he hasn't seen the End Zone is quite awhile now, four or five weeks at least. It seems Dillon is getting all the goal line carries. The only reason I even consider him is he's going against a third-to-last ranked Jets run defense.

 

Oh, one last thing to remember. My league rewards for receptions, so pass-catching backs do very well. That increases Addai and Maroney's value vs what they would be in a standard scoring league.

 

Anyway, I'm so confused at this point I'd love some help. Leave me a link and I'll answer yours.

[skibadee 0]

If you think like me Carolina is gong to make a big push here, after underachiving thus far

Id go with Foster. Carolina off the bye is going to be good this week. Id go with Foster

[veebs4 2]

That's a tough call between Jamal and DeShaun. I would lean toward Jamal and all of his carries in Billick's new controlled offense. But the PPR makes this REALLY close.

 

Please see mine.

[ffdork24 0]

I would start Jamal. like you say, the way they have been running that offense, he is going to tear up Tenn on the ground. I would love to be starting him this week. I think Foster will have a good game too, but, as you pointed out, Jamal has the bigger upside (possible 2 TD game) because they are going to run all day.

 

thanks for mine.