This week we discuss the following:
- Eddie Lacy and C.J. Anderson
- Chiefs RBs
- Lamar Miller
- David Johnson
- Matt Hasselbeck
- Scott Chandler
- Julius Thomas
- Droppable?
Eddie Lacy and C.J. Anderson
Eddie Lacy and C.J. Anderson were first-round draft picks this season who have generally disappointed so far ... but both seem to be picking up steam just in time for the fantasy playoffs. How do you view each one's fantasy prospects down the stretch?
Jeff Pasquino: Lacy and Starks are a tough combo to read. If Lacy can hold onto the ball, I think he keeps the lead role—but if the game script changes and the Packers have to throw, that opens the door back up to Starks.
I think Anderson was correctly deemed a mudder on Sunday Night Football. He looked like the C.J. from 2014, cutting well and turning the corner to get in the end zone with speed. I like his upside the rest of the way as I can easily see Denver doing a 1-2 punch with Anderson and Ronnie Hillman and relying on that and the defense for wins as the weather gets ugly.
Jeff Haseley: I think Anderson's game-winning run against New England is one of those season-defining plays that will elevate him the rest of the way. I'm on board with Anderson as a fantasy option going forward. I still think he'll split some time with Ronnie Hillman, but Anderson looks healthy and agile plus momentum is in his corner.
I would argue that we've seen the worst of Eddie Lacy this year. He appears to be past his ankle injury and should resume the main role as the Packers lead back going forward. We will probably still see some James Starks in a complimentary role, but I believe Lacy has regained his role and should produce improving numbers over the rest of the season.
Dan Hindery: I am with Jeff in believing that we've seen C.J. Anderson turn the corner and that he will be a reliable fantasy option down the stretch. The Broncos need to have a strong running game and with the full offensive playbook now open with Brock Osweiler at the helm, Anderson should be the one player who benefits the most.
I am much more pessimistic about Eddie Lacy however. While he has been getting a consistent workload the past two weeks, he still is not getting any snaps in the red zone. The Packers lead the NFL in passing almost 70% of the time in the red zone, which probably explains why Starks has been the back seeing snaps inside the 20-yard line. Lacy isn't exactly a huge play threat, so it's hard to see where the touchdowns are going to come from. Low touchdown projections combined with a lack of big-play ability (and the threat of Starks always lurking) adds up to a mediocre RB2 option. Lacy is not a player who I would be excited about playing down the stretch run.
Ryan Hester: Lacy has returned to a rather uninspiring high-end-to-middling RB2 but an RB2 nonetheless due to the lack of depth at the position. Anderson is more exciting though. As of right now, he's probably behind Lacy in a rest-of-season type of ranking, but his ceiling appears higher. He has shown more burst and appears to be taking over a bigger part of his committee with Ronnie Hillman. As I said in the Week 9 Roundtable, Hillman is the more likely Denver back to be injured, which would help Anderson realize his full upside. I also mentioned Anderson in the Week 10 Roundtable and said he was playing much better since Denver's bye as he appeared fully healthy coming back from the week of rest.
So I may be a bit biased with Anderson since I've been back on the bandwagon for a while, but his play has only added to my belief in him. His Week 13 matchup against a very poor San Diego run defense could finally give his owners what they've been waiting for (as they were probably unlikely to have started him during his other two big games recently).
John Mamula: Anderson has struggled due to various minor injuries and poor offensive line play this season. Ronnie Hillman doesn't look to be going anywhere as he still received 15 touches last week. I am not confident starting Anderson unless Hillman went down to injury.
Eddie Lacy has also struggled due to injuries. But Lacy has seen a significant amount of offensive snaps over the past two weeks (41, 38) as compared to Weeks 6-9. Lacy has 22 touches in each of the past two games. Lacy has value as a low RB1 or a high RB2 for the remainder of this season.
Mark Wimer: I think Anderson's share of touches will increase as the weather gets colder—he's the bigger, more physical runner of the duo in Denver and he'll beat up opposing defenses in the December and January temperatures. Once he's softened up the defensive front Hillman may rip off some long runs thanks to the pounding Anderson has administered.
I think Lacy was slowed by his ankle injury more than the team indicated, and that it took longer to heal than expected. But he looked strong against the Bears last week (21 touches on the ball for 139 yards and one receiving TD) and when he was out for a game in Week 11 Starks didn't impress in the featured role—the bottom line for me is that Starks is simply better either off the bench or in a limited role. He runs upright and gets a lot of nicks and dings due to his running style, so he's a better, more effective back with fewer touches. Lacy, on the other hand, improves as the game goes on and runs over the opposition.
Chiefs RBs
When Charcandrick West returns to the Chiefs, will he get the featured role back, or has Spencer Ware moved into a time-share with him?
Jeff Pasquino: I think that neither West nor Ware are guys that Kansas City wants to 100% rely on, so splitting their workloads makes the most sense. Both backs likely want a feature role, and Ware looks like he gets stronger as the game wears on (or defenses wear down), but I think this has all the makings of a timeshare, which Andy Reid used quite often back in Philadelphia.
Jeff Haseley: As good as Spencer Ware is playing, Charcandrick West has the speed and burst, plus the receiving ability to give the Chiefs what they want most—an every down back in the Jamaal Charles role. As long as West is over his injuries, I expect him to be the team's primary option with Ware getting short yardage and goal-line carries. I would lean more towards West over Ware going forward. Ware enjoyed a few weeks as the go-to back, but if West is healthy, he should command the majority of the team touches from the running back position.
Dan Hindery: It looks like we're headed towards more of a committee backfield in Kansas City even though that goes against Andy Reid's past history. Ware has shown enough and has a different enough skill set from West that both should continue to have major roles in the offense going forward.
Ryan Hester: It's always difficult to guess what Andy Reid will do because Andy Reid so rarely does the thing that appears to be common sense. Because of Reid's comparisons of West to Jamaal Charles, it stands to reason that West will resume feature back duties. But it would seem wise to incorporate Ware into a split of some sort. Whether it be spelling West every third drive or being the short-yardage back, Ware shouldn't be riding the bench. He has earned more touches.
John Mamula: If healthy, West should receive the majority of the touches. In Weeks 7-10, West had a minimum of 24 touches in each game. In the past, Andy Reid has given the majority of touches to one main RB rather than breaking up into a time-share.
Mark Wimer: West will likely see the lion's share of touches and almost all the targets and receptions once he gets back in there as Jeff indicated but I do worry about Ware becoming a short-yardage, goal-line vulture.
Lamar Miller
Lamar Miller got a temporary bump the last time the Dolphins made a coaching change, but then they started going away from the running game again. Is he benchable again at this point, or will this week's change in offensive coordinators lead to a renewed commitment to the running game in Miami?
Jeff Pasquino: The real answer? Who knows? There is so much turmoil in Miami that they really do not know what they want to do. They have to play the rest of their schedule, but this year is a train wreck and they may want to get a look at Jay Ajayi to see what he offers for next year. I think Miller still has value, but he is a risky play given that not even the players know what to expect.
Jeff Haseley: A few weeks ago I wanted shares of Lamar Miller, but the chaos in Miami and subsequent lack of usage plus committee approach with Jay Ajayi has me thinking otherwise. Miami has all but abandoned their season and if the players haven't followed suit, they will soon enough. Players like Ajayi, DeVante Parker and Dion Sims have already seen a spike in snaps recently. I expect that to continue as we go forward this year.
Dan Hindery: I am very down on Miller going forward. He played only 32% of the Dolphins offensive snaps last week (Jay Ajayi led the way with 57%), and there are strong reasons to believe Week 12 won't be just an aberration. First, Ajayi has looked really good over the past few weeks. While he slid to the fifth round of the draft, most felt he was one of the elite talents at the position. He is showing that explosiveness and well-rounded game that had so many draftniks excited last spring. Second, Miller is set to hit free agency in March and it behooves the Dolphins to try to figure out exactly what they have in Ajayi down the stretch before deciding how aggressively to pursue Miller as a free agent. The Dolphins at 4-7 are extreme long shots for the playoffs, so it makes good sense to give extra time to young players to evaluate what they have going forward. Ajayi could be a key piece going forward and they need to see how he does in an extended audition. Lastly, the Dolphins cap situation is not pretty and they may have already decided that paying up to retain their young starting running back is a poor use of limited resources. It's possible that the plan all along was to let Miller walk as a free agent and go young with Ajayi, Damien Williams and possibly a 2016 draft pick next season. If so, it makes sense that they would lessen Miller's role down the stretch to reduce the negative fan reaction from not extending Miller.
Ryan Hester: Miller has been really hard to predict this year. Even when he was producing at a huge clip, much of said production was in the passing game, which is hard to rely on week after week for running backs. It's likely that Miami's new offensive regime will make an effort to be more balanced, but even the best-laid plans go south. And Miami's defense has been very poor this season, ruining game scripts for a balanced offense.
John Mamula: I am bullish on Lamar Miller for the fantasy playoffs in Week 14-16. Here are the matchups:
- Week 14 against NY Giants (Ranked 14th worst versus the run, 110 rushing yards per game
- Week 15 at San Diego Chargers (Ranked seventh worst versus the run, 123.7 rushing yards per game)
- Week 16 against Indy Colts (Ranked ninth worst versus the run, 115.1 rushing yards per game)
All three matchups are above average. Miller makes a good RB2 or flex position starter during the fantasy playoffs.
Mark Wimer: When it comes to Miller, I part ways with Jeff H.—I think that Bill Lazor was fired specifically because he was not committing to playing Miller more or handing off the ball to Miller enough. Also I think the flirtation with Ajayi was an element in his dismissal. The new Offensive Coordinator Zac Taylor—not surprisingly considering what got Lazor fired—has already stated publicly that he wants to establish the run. I think that he's been told to run the ball more—or else. Taylor was the quarterbacks' coach prior to his elevation to offensive coordinator so it remains to be seen if he's any good at mixing the pass with the run, but we'll find out soon enough. I have Miller on several teams and I view the latest coaching change as a positive for Miller's prospects here in December.
David Johnson
With Chris Johnson and Andre Ellington banged up, David Johnson is going to get his shot in Arizona. Any predictions on how it will go?
Jeff Pasquino: David Johnson is a solid option for the Cardinals, and he offers a lot at the position. Given that Carson Palmer has had a great year, the passing game can set up the run and give Johnson some lanes to run. There was talk of David Johnson winning the job outright earlier this year, and he is likely to have fresh legs for the playoff push the rest of the way. The one big problem I see is the schedule—Rams, Vikings, Eagles, Packers and Seahawks. None of those except Green Bay looks like an attractive matchup. I have David Johnson as a RB2 going forward if he is the starter the rest of the season.
Dan Hindery: Assuming the turf toe injury to Ellington ends up keeping him out for multiple weeks, I'm bullish on Johnson's chances of making a big impact down the stretch. I see him as a low-end RB1 for as long as Ellington is out. Initially, I was less optimistic about Johnson's prospects for Week 13 against a tough Rams defensive front, but I am coming around on his potential for a RB1 performance this week too. The Rams main defensive weakness is a lack of speed at linebacker and Johnson is in a great position to exploit that mismatch in the passing game. Johnson was the fourth-fastest running back at the 2015 NFL combine and has shown an ability to run away from linebackers trying to cover him out of the backfield. Bruce Arians should be able to scheme up ways to take advantage of his abilities in the passing game. Combine the expected passing game usage with a decent number of touches in the running game and heavy red-zone usage and Johnson's upside as the lead back in the explosive Cardinals offense is immense.
Ryan Hester: I see Johnson as an RB1 going forward. Arizona's offense is elite. They have overcome multiple difficult matchups and produced not just passable fantasy numbers but high-end ones. With what they've done at Seattle and versus Cincinnati in the last month, they're a team where we can almost ignore the schedule when it comes to evaluating their major pieces. Johnson will be the clear recipient of big-time production in this efficient offense.
When healthy, Ellington will return to play a role, but Arizona has made it clear that they don't think he can hold up to a featured back's workload. And he'll be very unlikely to get goal line touches, which this offense can produce frequently. Johnson also has a skill set that will allow him to produce via the passing game as well as on the ground—something many RB1s require to hold their consistency.
John Mamula: David Johnson is now a low-end RB1 due to opportunity. Chris Johnson looks to be out the remainder of the regular season and Arizona will be cautious with Andre Ellington's turf toe injury. David Johnson should see a minimum of 20 touches per game in the top scoring offense in the league averaging 32.3 points per game.
Mark Wimer: I think John M. is right on with his analysis of this situation—but I will add that Ellington has not played well when banged up in the past (and he seems to be a slow healer) so I think that David Johnson has a virtual lock on the lead or featured role in Arizona for the foreseeable future.
Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck has arguably outplayed Andrew Luck this season. Can he sustain good fantasy production from T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief? Does Hasselbeck have fantasy value in his own right from here on out?
Jeff Pasquino: Hasselbeck is a competent veteran that does well in a suitable system and if the offense does not ask him to do too much. That is what happened on Sunday, and as long as the Colts do not fall far behind on the scoreboard he can manage the team and offense well enough. He will need Ahmad Bradshaw and Frank Gore to keep some balance on offense, as asking Hasselbeck to throw 40+ times a game is not a good idea. His fantasy value is QB2 level for me with not much upside unless the game is predicted to be a shootout.
Dan Hindery: The reason Hasselbeck should be a low-end QB1 the rest of the season is due to the Colts schedule. In Week 13, they face the Steelers weak pass defense. The Steelers have allowed seven of the eleven quarterbacks they have faced this season to post huge fantasy games. Over the past three weeks, the Steelers have given up 345 yards and five touchdowns to Russell Wilson, 372 yards and a touchdown to Johnny Manziel and 301 yards and four touchdowns to Derek Carr. There's no reason Hasselbeck shouldn't have a nice afternoon against them as well. In Week 14, the Colts face the Jaguars who are another prime defense to target when choosing a quarterback. Week 15 Houston is only an average matchup, but Miami in Week 16 is yet another juicy matchup for the Colts passing game.
Overall, I'm high on Hasselbeck's fantasy prospects in at least three of the next four weeks (possible exception in Week 15). Hilton and Moncrief (and possibly Coby Fleener as well) should also produce well for their fantasy owners down the stretch run.
Ryan Hester: Hasselbeck can be an effective streamer. By that, I mean that he can be started in the right matchups. Last week, he faced a Tampa Bay team that is very stout against the run but struggles against the pass. That's an ideal matchup for a fantasy quarterback. This week, Hasselbeck faces a Pittsburgh team with the exact same profile. And next week, Indianapolis travels to Jacksonville, another poor pass defense.
In matchups like these, Hasselbeck can provide a safe floor to fantasy owners that feel they are loaded at the other positions and just need something like 14-20 points from their quarterback. He can also maintain the value of his receivers in these games. No one in the offense should be considered to have a huge ceiling, but they're all playable if owners let the matchup be their guide.
John Mamula: Yes, Hasselbeck can sustain good fantasy production from Hilton and Moncrief. Hasselbeck has multiple touchdowns in three out of his four starts this season. As previously mentioned, the Colts schedule is favorable the remainder of the regular season. Unless Andrew Luck returns, Hasselbeck will remain a high floor QB that will not hurt the overall quality of your fantasy team.
Mark Wimer: I think that Hasselbeck is getting back into rhythm as a starter now that he's had multiple games to recondition his body to the rigors of playing each week (as Mike Ditka noted during the last CBA negotiations, football is a Spartan sport and you have to harden your body by practicing and playing full speed and taking full speed hits). He can definitely sustain the fantasy value of Moncrief and Hilton and is a borderline QB1-QB2 for me going forwards—Hasselbeck is a guy I wouldn't hesitate to roster if available (or as an element in DFS lineups).
Scott Chandler
We all know Scott Chandler is not Rob Gronkowski, physically or in terms of skill—but that Patriots offense makes good use of the tight ends, and Chandler has decent athleticism. Assuming Gronkowski is out this week, is Scott Chandler a fantasy TE1 this week?
Jeff Pasquino: Chandler had a great game going against Denver even before Gronkowski got hurt. He converted 11 targets into a 5-58-1 performance, but expecting that every week is way too much to ask. Chandler can be a TE1 in the right matchups and if Amendola is out, but once he is back then Chandler's value comes back to earth. I would only have Chandler in the TE1 discussion this week if Amendola is out again.
Dan Hindery: Yes, Chandler is definitely a top-12 option at the position in Week 13 should Gronkowski be out. Although, that isn't saying much because at the low end of the TE1 ranks, we're comparing him to players like Charles Clay, Jason Witten, Jacob Tamme, etc. In the Patriots offense, he should out-produce that group of tight ends. But I do think he's being overrated a bit if ranked in the top five at the position this week. Yes, he received plenty of targets last week against Denver; but trying to predict which player(s) will be the focal point of the Patriots offensive game plan each week is almost impossible. While it wouldn't surprise me to see Chandler have a big role, the numbers indicate that the Patriots biggest advantage in the passing game lies outside with Brandon LaFell. The second-best matchup should be Danny Amendola in the slot (and occasionally outside).
If you're deciding between Chandler and a mediocre option like Witten or Tamme, then Chandler is the choice. But I would be playing tight ends like Antonio Gates, Tyler Eifert, Jordan Reed, and Travis Kelce ahead of Chandler this week.
Ryan Hester: The matchup against Philadelphia is horrible for Chandler as they have only allowed two touchdowns and are among the stingiest defenses versus the position this season. But Chandler is a TE1 this week due to opportunity. New England is short on weapons and should make more than a few trips to the red zone, which helps Chandler's floor and ceiling. There's also the "give up" factor in play with the Eagles, as they have been horrific in two straight games. Chandler is a top-eight option this week.
John Mamula: I agree with Ryan's analysis. Chandler is a TE1 this week due to opportunity. Chandler had 11 targets last week without Amendola. While the Eagles have played well against the TE position to this point, the Eagles look as though they have packed it in for the season. The Eagles have lost three straight games and have allowed 45 points in each of the past two games.
Julius Thomas
Speaking of TE1s, Julius Thomas is heating up. Where do you rank him among fantasy TEs going forward? Does he make your top five?
Jeff Pasquino: Thomas stepped up in a big way with Allen Hurns limited, and Blake Bortles loves having three viable targets in the passing game. Thomas in the Top five is an interesting question though, as that list got thinned out a bit this week with Gronkowski and also Jimmy Graham out (not that he was in the Top 5). I would have Greg Olsen, Jordan Reed, Tyler Eifert, Delanie Walker and Travis Kelce as my Top 5.
Dan Hindery: I would rank Thomas eighth behind Greg Olsen, Antonio Gates, Tyler Eifert, Jordan Reed, Delanie Walker, Travis Kelce and Gary Barnidge. These seven players have proven over the course of the entire season to have major roles in their offenses and have had relatively consistent fantasy production (which Thomas has not). I'd also have Thomas slotted in just behind Scott Chandler for as long as Rob Gronkowski is out and he obviously would rank behind Gronkowski once he returns.
Thomas does have the potential to perform as a top-five tight end down the stretch however. The injury to Allen Hurns potentially opens up quite a few more targets. Plus, the Jaguars inexplicably refuse to run the ball with T.J. Yeldon in the red zone, which increases the likelihood we continue to see Thomas making plays in the end zone. One more big game from Thomas and I would strongly consider giving him a bump up into the top five at the position.
Ryan Hester: Thomas isn't in my top five, but he's a top-ten option the rest of the way. He could be considered top-five this week if Allen Hurns is out with his concussion (which appears likely). Thomas should see at least eight targets, and with Jacksonville's penchant for red zone passing, some of those could come near pay dirt.
John Mamula: I rank Julius Thomas seventh for the remainder of the season behind Olsen, Barnidge, Walker, Reed, Eifert and Kelce. If Allen Hurns is out multiple weeks, Thomas floor/ceiling would increase and I would move him ahead of Kelce to sixth.
Mark Wimer: I like Julius Thomas in December now that he's fully integrated into the Jacksonville passing attack, and I will add to John's points that Allen Hurns has multiple injuries that he is battling (including a sports hernia). I think that Hurns will be limited in December (and the team may shut him down for a few weeks to let the sports hernia calm down) so Thomas has become the de facto second receiver in Jacksonville behind Allen Robinson. Also, Blake Bortles is throwing the ball enough to feed two receivers and the tight end even if Hurns sticks around and soaks up 7-10 targets per week.
Droppable?
In redraft leagues, can we drop Davante Adams, Vernon Davis, and Matt Jones?
Let's start with Adams.
Jeff Pasquino: Well, until Green Bay gets their act back together, he's a bench rider for me. But, I can't see cutting a starting WR for Aaron Rodgers this season. Rodgers is struggling now, so even Randall Cobb and James Jones are unproductive. We were spoiled by Adams when he converted 21 (!) targets in Week 10 against the Lions into 10 catches and 79 yards. Week 11 only saw four targets go to Adams, and yes Adams was a train wreck last week with only two catches and 11 yards despite leading the team with 11 targets.
So, forget the numbers here and do what Green Bay wants to do—forget November happened. Aaron Rodgers will be fine, and he will correct and push for the playoffs. I think Adams goes back to WR3 value once Rodgers gets back on the winning path.
Jeff Haseley: I agree with Jeff, keep Adams rostered for now, but leave him on your bench with hopes of the Packers offense finally meshing and finding their groove. Adams has struggled against multiple coverage schemes and has also fallen prey to poor hands on top of it—See Matt Harmons preseason piece on Adams' reception perception He can be a fantasy factor, but the passing volume will have to be on high in order for him to be a worthwhile contributor. I'm not convinced that Adams will be ahead of Ty Montgomery next year, plus Jordy Nelson will be back as the team's primary target.
Ryan Hester: A lot of this depends on context. For example if Adams is your sixth-best wide receiver and a high-value handcuff running back like Karlos Williams or even Dan Herron are on the wire, then, yes, I would drop Adams for those guys. There's a near-zero chance that you're using Adams between now the championship round, while you'd likely use one of those backs if LeSean McCoy or Frank Gore were injured and inactive for a game or two. But if you're pretty well-stocked at running back, holding Adams may be the way to go as he's still catching passes from Rodgers and is very unlikely to face the opposition's best cornerback.
John Mamula: For most redraft leagues, Adams is still worthy of a bench spot. He is receiving a large number of targets over the past four weeks (11, 21, four, 11). If any of your starting WRs suffer an injury over the next couple of weeks, Adams has more potential than what is currently available on most waiver wires at the WR position.
Mark Wimer: As an Adams owner I can assure you that it is FRUSTRATING to watch him enjoy premium targets in scoring situations (both TDs and two-point conversion chances over the past few weeks) and not make the plays. Rodgers does seem to have patience with Adams and as long as he's getting middle-high-single-digit targets or better each week then I'll stick with Adams (on my bench). He's not droppable yet.
How about Vernon Davis?
Jeff Pasquino: Owen Daniels had the bigger game than Davis last week against the Patriots, but Gary Kubiak got Davis for a reason. I think Davis sees more targets (although not necessarily more than Daniels) and Davis offers some TE2 value, but there are so many tight ends in the NFL right now that offer up 4-6 catch value each week that can find the end zone. I would cut Davis if I could get a Richard Rodgers or Jacob Tamme or Will Tye, for example. No need to wait and hope at tight end this year—there are plenty of productive options.
Jeff Haseley: Davis may be one of those players who turns it on for the playoffs, but struggles to maintain a spot on your roster in the regular season. There is definitely a place for him in the Broncos offense, but so far he has not produced. I would only consider dropping Davis for a player like Scott Chandler or Will Tye. Otherwise, I'd keep him and hope he blossoms. His snaps have steadily increased since he was signed (9, 35, 47, 61) so there is reason to believe the numbers will come.
Ryan Hester: Davis is droppable. While his production may see an uptick, Owen Daniels is still there to mitigate it and limit Davis' ceiling. Waiver wire tight ends offer better predictability, even if their floor might be slightly lower.
John Mamula: Yes, Davis should be dropped in re-draft leagues. Davis could have a break-out game but it will be difficult to determine when and if it will happen. He offers little value on your roster or bench. There are better TE options to stream on a week-by-week basis if you are desperate at the TE position.
Mark Wimer: Droppable. I think Osweiler has better chemistry with Daniels and that Davis won't be able to manufacture chemistry with Osweiler until January rolls around (if then)—that's far too late for fantasy owners.
And Matt Jones?
Jeff Pasquino: Fumblitis is a tough disease to shake off. Alfred Morris moved back into the lead role in Washington, but Jones was still in play. I would hold Jones and hope he pushes his way back to the lead role again for Washington, as there are not a ton of feature backs or backs getting 10+ touches out there to pursue. Jones has the ability to either earn that #1 spot or even get it if Morris gets hurt, so he is a "hold" for me.
Jeff Haseley: Ball security has been an issue with Matt Jones and it looks like Washington is leaning towards their veteran, experienced back Alfred Morris. It's possible that Jones has an opportunity to shine in Week 16 or 17 to see if he's someone the team can rely on in 2016, but until this club is mathematically eliminated Alfred Morris appears to be the back of choice for Jay Gruden.
Ryan Hester: Matt Jones is droppable as well. Washington's backfield is a mess. And even in games where the offense is productive, it's due to the passing game taking advantage of a good matchup. Neither Jones nor Alfred Morris nor Chris Thompson are valuable roster assets.
John Mamula: Yes, Jones should be dropped in re-draft leagues. The Washington backfield is frustrating with three mouths to feed (Matt Jones, Alfred Morris, and Chris Thompson). Jones offensive snaps have trended downward over the last month with only 18 snaps in each of the past two games. Only an injury from Morris or Thompson will help Jones value this season.
Mark Wimer: He'll be a complimentary back as long as Morris can fight through the pain of his ribs injury. I don't think Jones will be featured during December as the team would like Morris to be the battering-ram for the offense in the cold weather. Unless you own Morris making Jones the handcuff, I would drop Jones and go for a rising star (Seth Roberts in OAK?).
That will do it for this edition of the Footballguys Roundtable. Please join us again next week.
