Roundtable Week 15: System or Player? The RB Edition

Photo: Gregory Fisher, USA Today Sports

Welcome to Week 15 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:

• Skittish about December - Part II
• Too Young or Prime? Emerging Top Producers in 2024 Redraft Leagues
• For Real/Fool's Gold - QB Edition
• System or Player? The RB Edition (See below)

Let's roll.

System or Player? The RB Edition

Matt Waldman: All players are system-dependent to the extent of how teams maximize their volume and quality of targets. The better the offensive line, quarterback, ground game, and other receivers, the more likely we'll see fewer obstacles for target volume and/or target quality.

That said, which player's production MOST looks like a product of his system, and which looks LEAST like the product of his system? Essentially, I'm asking which player is most and least bulletproof for potential declines in fantasy production.

• Rachaad White
• Kyren Williams
• James Cook
• D'Andre Swift
• Brian Robinson Jr

Let's begin with the system players.

Craig Lakins: Kyren Williams seems the most likely to drop off in a different scheme, but that's no indictment of his talent. There aren't many coaches like Sean McVay who commit so much value to their lead running back. Williams is playing around 85% of the Rams' offensive snaps while running a route on nearly two-thirds of quarterback drop-backs.

He emerged as the feature-back in a role that most believed Cam Akers had under wraps. Despite missing four games in the middle of the season, Williams still ranks as the RB11 in PPR formats. He would certainly be productive in another system, but his total usage would not possibly remain at current levels.

Jason Wood: D'Andre Swift is running behind the NFL's best offensive line, and he benefits from a mobile quarterback that defenses have to respect. While Swift deserves credit for looking better than his teammates this year, it's still hard to credit him versus the line and the scheme. If you put Swift behind the Commanders' offensive line, he's likely no better than a bye-week fill-in on your bench.