Playoff Time in Fantasy Football : A Look at the RB’s Schedules in Next Three Weeks

The playoffs in your fantasy league are starting to take shape.  If you’re anything like me you’re fighting through to grab a playoff spot in at least one of your leagues. Which running backs have easier matchups While we missed the initial Turkey Day 12:30 game (Houston vs. Detroit) you pretty much aren’t going to sit Arian Foster, anyway.  For the sake of clarity let’s analyze the running backs ability to help you based on the next three opponents rushing defenses.  There are some surprises:

Parmele Is a Sneaky Pickup With MJD 50/50

Out of 48 of the top running backs the best matchup for the next three games statistically is whoever is toting the ball for the Jacksonville Jaguars.  As I’ve mentioned all year, there is talent on the offensive side of the ball in Duval that came to light with Chad Henne running the show . The running back situation in Jacksonville bears watching as they face the 28^th  (Titans) , 31^st  (Bills) and 30^th (NY Jets) ranked rushing defenses in the next three games.  Jalen Parmele was a surprise pickup
for deep leagues and he carried 24 times for 80 yards against a top rushing defense in the Houston Texans.  He is a recommended add but monitor Maurice Jones-Drew’s health before gametime.  It seems Rashard Jennings has fallen out of favor.

A Vick Who's Still Relevant

Another timeshare worth monitoring is Vick Ballard who has the majority of carries for the Indianapolis Colts who play the 31^st, 16^th, and 28^th ranked defenses against the run in the next three weeks.  Vick Ballard looks more explosive than Donald Brown at this point but Ballard still hasn’t scored.  You can pencil him at least two touchdowns total as the season winds down.

RUNNING BACK VS. RUSHING DEFENSE BY RANKING

Rank	PLAYER	Week 12	Week 13	Week 14	TOTAL
1	Maurice Jones-Drew Jac RB	28	31	30	89
2	Vick Ballard, Ind RB	31	16	28	75
3	Donald Brown, Ind RB  Q	31	16	28	75
4	Jonathan Stewart, Car RB	19	25	26	70
4	DeAngelo Williams, Car RB	19	25	26	70
6	C.J. Spiller, Buf RB  P	22	29	17	68
6	Fred Jackson, Buf RB  P	22	29	17	68
8	Shonn Greene, NYJ RB	10	21	29	60
9	LaRod Stephens-Howling, Ari RB  Q	17	30	12	59
10	Frank Gore, SF RB  P	32	17	9	58
10	Steven Jackson, StL RB  P	21	6	31	58
10	Kendall Hunter, SF RB	32	17	9	58
13	Daryl Richardson, StL RB	21	6	31	58
14	Alfred Morris, Wsh RB	13	15	27	55
15	Arian Foster, Hou RB	16	28	10	54
15	Isaac Redman, Pit RB  P	24	27	3	54
15	Jonathan Dwyer, Pit RB	24	27	3	54
18	Chris Johnson, Ten RB	29	2	22	53
18	Michael Turner, Atl RB  Q	1	32	20	53
18	Jacquizz Rodgers, Atl RB	1	32	20	53
21	Trent Richardson, Cle RB  P	4	23	25	52
22	Doug Martin, TB RB	26	5	19	50
22	Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG RB  Q	11	7	32	50
22	Andre Brown, NYG RB	11	7	32	50
25	Jamaal Charles, KC RB	5	20	24	49
25	Ronnie Hillman Den RB	25	1	23	49
25	Ryan Mathews, SD RB	27	18	4	49
25	Jackie Battle, SD RB	27	18	4	49
29	Darren McFadden, Oak RB  Q	18	24	5	47
29	Darren Sproles, NO RB  P	6	26	15	47
29	Marcel Reece, Oak RB  P	18	24	5	47
29	Pierre Thomas, NO RB	6	26	15	47
29	Mark Ingram, NO RB	6	26	15	47
34	Felix Jones, Dal RB  Q	7	19	18	44
34	DeMarco Murray, Dal RB  D	7	19	18	44
36	Stevan Ridley, NE RB	30	9	2	41
36	Danny Woodhead, NE RB	30	9	2	41
38	Matt Forte, Chi RB	14	12	14	40
38	Michael Bush, Chi RB	14	12	14	40
40	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cin RB	23	3	13	39
41	Marshawn Lynch, Sea RB  P	9	8	21	38
42	Mikel Leshoure, Det RB	2	22	11	35
42	Joique Bell, Det RB	2	22	11	35
44	LeSean McCoy, Phi RB  Q	20	13	1	34
45	Reggie Bush, Mia RB	12	10	6	28
45	Daniel Thomas, Mia RB	12	10	6	28
47	Adrian Peterson, Min RB  P	8	11	8	27
48	Ray Rice, Bal RB	3	4	7	14

C.J. Spiller is looking like a RB1 with championship run written all over him with games against the Colts (22^nd), the Jaguars (29^th) and the St. Louis Rams (17^th) in the next three weeks.  He’s a got an easy road ahead and has won more carries with his play, but Fred Jackson is still there.Another timeshare worth monitoring is Vick Ballard who has the majority of carries for the Indianapolis Colts who play the 31^st, 16^th, and 28^th ranked defenses against the run in the next three weeks.  Vick Ballard looks more explosive than Donald Brown at this point but Ballard still hasn’t scored.  You can pencil him at least two touchdowns total as the season winds down.

The Shonn Greene/Bilal Powell timeshare in Gotham have good matchups after New England, which we didn’t get to this article with time before the Thursday matchup. Fast forward the Jets showed no life in the 49-19 stomping at the hands of the Patriots. Fantasy owners may be scared away from Greene or Powell regardless. For those wondering he’s got Arizona (21^st against the run) and Jacksonville (29^th)  after New England. He’s fighting off Bilal Powell who score yesterday, so probably look elsewhere or Powell may be a good sneaky low-end option.  They’ll probably want to see what they have in Powell.

Ray Rice has the toughest road ahead with games against the third, fourth, and seventh ranked rushing defenses in the next three weeks.  But these stats won’t sway you from starting Rice since he is such a weapon in the passing game.  San Diego, Pittsburgh (possibly without Big Ben) and Washington don’t match up particularly well in the passing game so you would roll with Rice anyway. Just don’t expect a series of 100-yard effort rushing from R-squared.

Next Adrian Peterson has the second toughest matchup but since he far and away leads the league rushing, nothing to report here.

He's No Cosby Kid With The Ball

Bryce Brown and Ronnie Hillman are two guys that are hot adds this week and comparatively, Hillman has a much easier road ahead.  He gets a matchup against the 25^th ranked Chiefs run defense, then the 1^st ranked Bucs, and then away at Oakland who is 23^rd at stopping the run.  Plus he’s tied to a MVP-candidate at quarterback.  Brown is tied to a rookie quarterback who has struggled and may be replaced by Michael Vick, or not.  He’s got an okay matchup against Carolina on Monday Night (20^th ranked run D) and then its Dallas (13^th) and then Tampa Bay (1^st).

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