Roundtable Week 5: Torture by RB Rooms

Photo: Denny Medley, USA Today Sports

Welcome to Week 5 of the 2023 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• Torture by RB Rooms (see below)
• September Was Just the Beginning
• What's Wrong With . . . ?
• State of the Atlanta Falcons Offense

Let's roll.

Torture by RB Rooms

Matt Waldman: Here are some running back rooms by team that could help or kill the chances of fantasy GMs as we enter by weeks.

• Alexander Mattison/Cam Akers
• Breece Hall/Dalvin Cook
• Miles Sanders/Chuba Hubbard
• Najee Harris/Jaylen Warren
• Isiah Pacheco/Jerick McKinnon
• David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs
• Khalil Herbert/Roschon Johnson
• Javonte Williams/Samaje Perine/Jaleel McLaughlin
• Rhamondre Stevenson/Ezekiel Elliott

With these backs listed above, answer the following:

• A. Looking at each player individually, who are the three most compelling players in terms of high upside this year?
• B. Which unit has the best shot of all the players listed contributing top-24 production?
• C. Which unit would you avoid for whatever reason?

Jason Wood: There are quite a few compelling options on your list, Matt, but the three standouts for me are Montgomery, Gibbs, and Pacheco. All three play for playoff contenders with good offenses, which is vital for a tailback to achieve league-winning upside. Let me be clear: I envision many of these backs being startable in 12-team leagues this season, but if I could magically seed my roster with three players listed, it's those guys.

Since Montgomery and Gibbs are two of my three favorites from the last, they're obviously the tandem I prefer. Last year, DAndre Swift (RB17) and Jamaal Williams (RB20) both finished as top-24 players in PPR formats, and I would argue that Gibbs and Montgomery are better players than the guys they replaced. Montgomery is currently RB6 on a per-game basis and is more than doing his part already despite missing a game. Gibbs is only RB32 currently, but there's a lot to like, as the rookie is averaging 4.6 yards per rush and has a 70% catch rate as a receiver. We sometimes forget that coaches are loathe to put most rookies into a heavy role, regardless of their talent. But Gibbs' dynamism would unlock an already Lions offense and make it nearly unstoppable if OC Ben Johnson gets creative.