September 25, 2025 • 35 mins
Chris Welsh and Pat Fitzmaurice are breaking down Week 4's biggest running back ranking differences, engaging in debates, and highlighting the expert consensus for Week 4
Don't miss our deep-dive into this week's rankings, must-start options, and value plays to dominate your fantasy matchup!
Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)
Intro - 0:00:00
RBs 1-12 - 0:01:46
Jordan Mason - 0:02:10
Omarion Hampton - 0:06:17
Better Help - 0:08:42
RBs 13-24 - 0:10:07
Ashton Jeanty - 0:10:29
Chase Brown - 0:13:26
Trey Benson - 0:15:47
Cam Skattebo - 0:17:09
FantasyPros Premium Offer - 0:19:32
RBs 25-36 - 0:19:54
Quinshon Judkins - 0:20:14
D’Andre Swift - 0:26:58
TreVeyon Henderson - 0:28:04
Jacory Croskey-Merritt - 0:30:43
RB Not in Top 36 That Should Be - 0:33:21
Zach Charbonnet - 0:33:31
Outro - 0:34:34
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, Friends of Welcome into Fantasy Pros. This is
the Fantasy Football Podcast. I'm Chris Welsh. That's Pat Fitzmorris.
We're in the world. Is Andrew Rickson. He's not here,
but his ranks are and he'll be back next week.
Today we're talking about running backs. Week four running back ranks.
We're going through the top thirty six. We're going to
go a little in between there, hopefully covering a lot
(00:22):
of your guys. And I'll tell you right now, I
went on an impassioned speech during our Out of Bounds show,
which airs live on twitch and over on YouTube, about
a certain running back. If you watch that show live,
you know what we're going to talk about. We will
be talking about him a little bit later in the ranks.
I went all in on a certain guy, and I
think there's going to be some fun running backs to
(00:42):
rank a little bit later here, mister Pat Fitzmorris, can
you guess who it is? Because you know the names
we're going to talk about on the sheet. Give me
his initials. Can you take a guess? Oh, he has
written he's one of the Like, I guess what do
we have? Like ten to twelve running backs that we're
going to talk about. Is it cs Ooh it is
not CS very good guest, but he is in that
general range. So could it have been scam Caataboo. Yes,
(01:06):
Scamskataboo is who you were talking about that it is
Scamkataboo when it is incorrect, that's not the running back,
but we will be talking about him. So we've got
a bunch of running backs we're going to be hitting
here hopefully covering all your questions and if you guys
want to follow along with us Fantasypros dot Com Slash rankings,
you would want to do so. As mister Pat Fitzmorris
finished third in the Consensus Ranks Accuracy Contest this week.
(01:28):
ECR is powered by all of our industry people that
take part in that, and Fantasy Pros dominated it this week,
which is nice because we put it on here. FITZI
absolutely killed it, and I believe, by remembering correctly, FITZI
is pretty pretty good in the running back territory. So
let's just jump right into it. The big board top
twelve for the week. It starts off with my guy,
(01:49):
Christian McCaffrey at number one, going up against the Jags
B Jeon Robinson at two, Jonathan Taylor at three, Saquon Barkley,
James Cook. That's your top five. Jamiir gives, Derek Henry,
Josh Jacobs, Devana Chan, Bucky Irving very chalk top ten,
Jordan Mason at eleven, which I think should be Chok
at this point, and o Marion Hampton at twelve. So
we've got a couple guys to hit. Let's start with
(02:10):
Jordan Mason here for a second. Before the obvious ECR
is eleven. You've got him at eleven. Ericson ended up
having him at ten. I am slightly higher than you
guys at eight. This matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is
actually a lot better than I think what we just
like audibly here in our head when we think about
the Steelers, the big plays that they've given up. It's
actually a four star rating on Fantasy pros here, given
(02:32):
an a matchup grade. They used him to a great degree.
He dominated in the Bengals matchup, just killing it. Carson
Wentz was efficient, and then they go to Mason and
I think they will do the exact same thing. He
is a red zone touchdown equity guy as well. I
love everything about Jordan Mason, and I personally feel he
should be in that territory of like lock top ten
(02:54):
running back while Aaron Jones is out, you're pretty much there.
You have him as an RB one just a little
bit slightly lower, or you're essentially at ECR. So let's
say you about Jordan Mason moving forward, because I think
the questions can probably start moving aside. There was a
lot this week in week three, I bet you got
a billion of them, FITZI, where it was like this
guy or Jordan Mason. I just don't think you need
(03:15):
to ask those this week. You got to start Jordan Mason.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
And I think last week that was the case too. Well.
I actually had him running back seven last.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, no, I did too. I think I'm just saying
the question I think is gone. We agree. I think
we both had him like top eight or seven or whatever,
but now the question needs to kind of float away.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, and I love the spot last week against the
Bengals because the Vikings were coming off that embarrassing twenty
two to six loss to the Falcons at home. I
knew they weren't going to play two bad home games
in a row. They're just too well coached a team
for that to happen. An income the Bengals, who had
(03:52):
to not be feeling great after losing Joe Burrow, knowing
you're just not getting to the Promised Land without Joe
Burrow and all the others on this team, Like, losing
Burrow is just a crushing blow, and the Bengals played
like a team that were just sort of dealt that
death blow to their playoff hopes. So I also thought
(04:12):
maybe the Vikings would try to hide Carson Wentz a
little bit in his first start, so I thought Mason
was a pretty good bet for twenty plus carries. Didn't
get that many, only sixteen, but he turned them into
what one hundred and sixteen yards and two touchdowns, So
it's not quite as good a spot this week against
the Steelers. Yeah, their run defense was really bad the
(04:34):
first two weeks, but a little better against the Patriots
in Week three, Like they looked not like a classic
Steelers defense with that tough defense they're known for the
tough run.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
It's also a little bit better when the team, I
just want to put this out, when the team fumbles
seven and forty two times, it's also your defense is
a little bit better. Just want to throw that out, Yes.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
And you know you said there's nothing not to like
about Jordan Mason, while maybe just one thing that he
offers zero pass catching value like that is my only
hang up with Jordan Mason. And if I don't love
the matchup, it's going to be hard for me to
sneak him inside the top ten when he just doesn't
catch passes at all.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, well, you don't need to catch passes when you're
getting five or six yards per carry. But your point
is is there PFF does their grades out there, you know, highly,
so just you go check them out matchup score grades.
He's given the fifth best grade at running back this week.
And some interesting notes is the Steelers are ranked nineteenth
of thirty two in yards after contact allowed and only
(05:34):
nineteenth of thirty two and missed tackles. So it's just
it's a spot that really works well for Jordan Mason,
but their offense need that. There has to be a
scare for the pass game for it to continue to work.
I really like Jordan Mason.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
And by the way, the workload welsh like.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
He only got sixteen carries last week, but part of
that was that they were just blowing out the Bengals
so badly, like they could just mop up with I
forget the other the.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Backup Zavian Smith. Is that his name? I shouldn't even
remember the backups name?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Yeah, some creative player on Madden.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, exactly, that's a good made name.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Xavian Yeah, a hundred percent. Yeah. But they also scored
like two defensive touchdowns. It's a weird matchup. Like Mason
would get more usage, but he is no longer a question.
The new question this week is going to be about
a Marion Hampton, maybe a little bit less than you
would expect. Obviously, Najee Harris out for the season, brutal blow,
but a Marion Hampton moves into the starting role full on,
we would hope that they're not going to mess with us.
(06:29):
He's ranked twelfth this week in ECR. Erickson's got him
at eleven, You've got him at thirteen. It's up against
the Giants. That matchup looks pretty solid as well. Talk
to us about Hampton because this should be a relatively
hefty load of questions you'll get this week. But he
also was being drafted as like an RB two in
a lot of spots, so at least now he's just
he's the chance to fulfill and this is a this
(06:51):
is a really good spot for him this week.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
He's being ranked more this week like he was in
our pre draft rankings when there was that of excitement
for him, and with good reason. Things were looking kind
of bleak after two weeks, but obviously a big upgrade
in his outlook after week three. When you know, the
bad part of it is the Najee Harris injury that
(07:12):
pretty much ensures Hampton is going to be a workhorse
going forward. But Hampton also played really well and showed
off that first round pedigree in week three nineteen carries
seventy one yards, one rushing touchdown, and very encouraging usage
in the passing game six catches for fifty nine yards
on seven targets. He had not been used very much
(07:34):
in the passing game at all the first two weeks.
So good matchup this week against the Giants, whose run
defense is dead last in the league in DVOA against
the run, and the Giants have given up the fourth
most fantasy points to running back so far.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Was there any is there anything that stood out with
why you like didn't make him an RB one. This
is totally like arbitrary. You've been thirteen, You're fine, but
like you put him at thirteen, so it's technically the
first in the RB two territories or anything that hold.
Maybe the passing game. We talked about this on the
Wide Receiver Show. You got three wide receivers that rankinsaid
the top thirty in fantasy. They're efficient with Herbert. Maybe
(08:12):
they just don't need it as much. Just curious your take.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, I mean it's like there's no one the only
questionable choice. Maybe I think for guys I have ahead
of him are like I've got Kyron Williams one spot
ahead of him, Like.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I just similar usage out looks.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Maybe o'marian has the better matchup, but I just think
like Kyen always just has such good touchdown odds that
I feel pretty good about that. So I could certainly
make a case for having him a spot or two higher.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
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(09:46):
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com Slash f pros pod. Well, let's talk about Kyron
Williams as we talk about some RB twos in the
(10:07):
land coming in at thirteen. We've got Kyrien Williams on
the big board, Ken Walker at fourteen, Ashton genty down
at fifteen, Breis Hall, Chewbahubbard, Chase Brown, Javonte Williams, Trade
Benson at twenty, Travis Eten at twenty one, JK. Dobbins,
Cam Skataboo, and Alvin Kamara. My guy is not on
this list, by the way. He's on the next list
that we're going to talk about. If you even cared,
(10:28):
Let's talk about Ashton Gent. Ashton genty is nope, not
free falling, but boy, it feels like it's getting in
that territory. He's getting volume, he's getting like just enough done,
but he is not remotely coming close to living up
to those high end expectations. He's going up against the
Chicago Bears this week. Erickson has got him at twelve,
so he's got him as an RB one. You've got
(10:50):
him down at seventeen, even lower than consensus. So is
are we in like a fade territory of Gent? Like
this seems like the first week based on your rankings
that you know, if someone drafted you know whatever, Devon
a Chan Genty and then they had gotten to Jordan Mason.
Like I feel like we're falling into the territory where
now you can't ask should I start Ashton Genty because
(11:12):
there legitimately might be players you're moving over him. Hampton's
in there. I mean, Chuba Hubbard is ranked at seventeen.
Maybe that's when people go out. So I'm just throwing
a couple of things out there. What do you think
is it? Are things starting to fade on the excitement
upside of Gent week to week?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
They are?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And it doesn't really have all that much to do
with Genty himself, Like we're seeing that ability to make
guys miss, but it's just that man. Every Ashton Genty carry,
it seems like for him to he has to do
Bruce Lee type stuff just to get three or four yards,
like you know, fight through a room full of dudes
(11:49):
to do it. Like he is one of only two
running backs in the NFL who are averaging negative yards
before contact Chase Brown being the other. So he is
getting on average contacted behind the line of scrimmage, and
Ashton Genty's passing game usage has been really disappointing. Six targets,
five catches, three receiving yards. Like if if you can't
(12:13):
open holes for this guy in the running game, at
least try to get him the ball in space, like
how about some how about some screens, Like the Bears
aren't that tough a matchup, So maybe this could be
a get right game for Genty. And I'd still start
him in almost every case unless you're in an a
team league and you've got some other really nice options.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
At running back.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
But yeah, it's just depressing that the blocking has been
so bad for him so far and that they're not
trying to get him the ball as a pass catcher.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
By the way, you age yourself a little bit, Bruce Lee,
I think the new, the more modern one to be
John Wick. You got a John Will, You got like
everybody coming in and you're fighting them off. They would
be John Wick would be the play here, just throwing
that out to you.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Aren't you grow up with Bruce Lee movies? While like
old Bruce.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I didn't I'm not quite not in China say, I'm
not quite that old. But like Bruce Lee was introduced
to me more for his son, I was a big
crow kid for Brandon Lee, who tragically died in the filming.
I believe of the Crow and that was more. I
was more of a Brandon League guy than Bruce Lee.
But that's you know, maybe that's blasphemoss, but that's also
a little bit more of my aged ness. But I'm
(13:22):
even more of a John Wick guy, big john Wick
guy here, kind of Reeves guy, not a big Chase
Brown guy anymore. Oh, Chase Brown ranking eighteen. I'm gonna
throw this at it. Didn't even look where do you
have him ranked here? You're gonna moment you might not
one hundred percent agree. I'm with Erickson on this. I
think eighteen is too high at this point. I think
Chase Brown, unless you really don't have options, he's a
(13:47):
guy that I think you just got to put on
the bench at this point. He's ranked eighteenth. It's a
bad matchup against Denver. Throwing this out here, going and
talking about PFF grades. It is one of the worst
matchups of the week. A poor rating. Denver Broncos defensive
front ranked fifth out of thirty two right now. The
(14:08):
offensive line is mentioned in the wide Receiver episode is
atrocious for the Bengals. The play calling stinks. They talked
about it on the broadcast. Every first down they ran
this same inside like shotgunny run or whatever it was
with Chase Brown. Every it was just textbook and it
was never efficient. They literally never. I think they lost
the yards almost every single time. The bad play calling.
(14:29):
They have no pass game to set it up, they
have no time on the on the offensive front to
make anything happen. And on top of it all, it's
a horrifically bad matchup. So Chase Brown is talented, but
I'm worried about it, and I am. I'm with Erics
Erickson's at twenty seven. I'm a fade of Chase Brown
this week. Will we regret that?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Though, Fitzie, maybe not.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
He is running back thirty one in fantasy scoring despite
averaging eighteen point three touches a game. He's averaging two
point zero yards per carry, and as you said, watch
the matchup against Denver, not a.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Very good one.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, I do have concerns that my running back nineteen
ranking might be too optimistic. But then again, like I
do want to follow the volume, Like volume means a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
To me when I do rankings.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
In eighteen point three, touches a game like they're trying
to get the ball in his hands and they're going
to continue to do so because they cannot lean all
that heavily on Jake Browning.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
As we saw against the Vikings in week.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Three, he might just be ranked too high. I think
we're gonna get tons of questions on him and a
guy that I would start over Chase brown this week,
even though he's ECR twenty and Fitz you're not there,
but we'll you'll see where we get. It's Tray Benson.
Trey Benson is going to have tons and tons of questions.
He's ECR twenty fifth. You've got him at twenty four.
(15:53):
Erickson has got him at twenty three. He is going
to now go and take over the lead back role.
What do you think of Tredy Benson overall this week?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Man, the Seahawks are pretty tough matchup. They ranked third
in DVOA against the run. We just don't know yet
whether Trey Benson is actually good like.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
He might be.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
There's just not enough evidence as of now for us
to judge whether he's good or not good. Like we're
about to find out though, with James Connor out for
the year, and I'm curious, do we get full on
Trey Benson work course usage or do we get like
maybe more Imari de Mercato than we're expecting.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
De Marcado's annoying and I those annoying guys, I want
to move away. But at the same time, like Benson
was being talked about as a one B type of back.
So how I'm approaching Trey Benson is I'm just putting
him where you would put James Connor if James Connor
was the guy. I'm putting Tray Benson into that spot,
and I think there's a bit more volume to be had,
(16:56):
and that is that is my approach with him this week.
I actually think he's like, you know, a little bit
safer overall Seattle's defense, Like you said, it is a
tiny bit better. But I am a starter Inrey Benson
this week. And you mentioned him at the top cam
scattabu e CR twenty three. Rickson's got him at twenty four.
But FITZI, you're dropping the hammer cam Scataboo at fourteen
(17:20):
for you this week. We saw targets, we saw carries,
and we're going to see him in your lineup this week.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
He is the truth Welsh Cam Scataboo, I am all in,
I am Teddy KGB and Rounders splashing the pot with
all my chips.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
That's the man his sctabut just oh.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Seeing his believing like ten carries for sixty yards and
a touchdown last week against a Chiefs defense that is
always always tough against the run with Steve Spagnolo calling
things and the passing game usage, eight targets, six catches,
sixty one yards. He might have fractured ribs on a
(18:03):
couple of would be tacklers. Like this guy is just
so full speed ahead. And I know the Chargers are
not an easy matchup, but either were the Chiefs. And
Skataboo smashed in that game last week, and now Tyrone
Tracy is hurt. It's gonna be Journeyman Devin's singletary backing
up Skataboo. And I think it stands to reason Whils
(18:23):
that the Giants are not going to want to put
a lot on rookie QB. Jackson darts plate in his
first NFL start. That could mean a really really heavy
dose of Cam Skataboo this week.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
I feel like Skataboo almost deserves the old gronk like
Skataboo smash like they need, they need to have like
a passing of the torch situation where that's what he does.
He just crashes into Everybody goes crazy and you're gonna
be all in. So if the question if you're gonna
jump into like a fitzy chat or anything like that,
and you're going to ask a Skataboo question, it looks
(18:56):
like the answer is going to be Skataboo. At this point,
that's a guy that you're jumping into. Erickson's got him
at twenty four. He's an RB two. I think you
can feel confident about it. The only negative this is
not a good matchup. You know, there's a couple of
guys that it's like you like, but the Chargers are
not exactly a great matchup. But the passing game is
probably what throws you back into it because he's involved
on both sides.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Yeah, and I don't like I thought maybe the Chiefs
were going to stuff the Giants running game last week,
and they did not stuff the Giants running game like
I'm not so sure the Chargers are going to stuff
Scatabo either.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
In fact, I would bet against it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
You are betting against it one hundred percent. RB threes
are coming up. But first, if you want to dominate
your fantasy football leagues, you can do it with Fantasy
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So friends, go to fantasypros dot com slash premium to
(19:52):
get started today. RB threes, This is the good stuff.
Twenty five Jalen Warren, Number twenty six, Quinshawn Jutkins, Tony Pollard,
DeAndre Swift, David Montgomery, Traveon Henderson. That's through thirty. Nick Chubb,
Bill Krosky, Merritt Ramandra Stevenson, Isaiah Pacheco, kream Hunt, and
Bachelle Tooton. Those are your thirty six. The guy that
(20:15):
I want to talk about, and that is my smash
of the week, is Quinshawn Jutkins Qwinshawn Jutkins. I made
my big speech about he is ECR twenty six on
this list. Ericson's got him at twenty five, fits You've
got him at twenty eight. I'm dropping the hammer on
Judkins and I am at sixteen on him this week.
I am all in on my boy Jutkins. And one
(20:39):
of the one of the big pieces of it was
what he ended up doing against the Green Bay Packers.
So you know, you end up telling me he had
the highest team attempt percentage according to Fantasy Points at
than any other running back this week. So of the
carries that a team did, hit every but one. The
Browns also went into like a smash mouth type of
(20:59):
football against the tough probably the best defense in the NFL. Now,
Jutkins was kind of held back through most of the game.
You know, I had a bet against him for being
honest about it, and he did not have that eight
mons in the fourth quarter he had wore down the
defense and then he went and he started breaking tackles
and he ended up having more rushing yards against the
(21:20):
Green Bay Packers than they had given up against with
two teams. Like all the running backs combined in the
first two games. I think Judkins is the dude there,
and they treated him as such. They treated him in
dude level. They gave him all the carries. They you know,
they obviously would use Jerome Ford a little bit in
the passing game. They've got Dylan Samson for that, but
like he's the guy for some smash mouth football. Now
(21:42):
the matchup might not look super great, but the same
thing happened with the Green Bay Packers. He forces misstackles,
He's getting like two yards. If I'm trying to pull
this up on Fantasy points stat up, but I'm having
a hell of a time getting it up right now.
Is from week three, he ended up having like two
yards before he was touched on the line of scrimmage
(22:05):
and then getting about three yards after. So it's like
five and a half yards per carry he's getting. The
offensive line is pushing a bit, he's getting yards after,
he's getting volume. You're talking about volume. Lions team is tough.
I am all in on Jutkins, and like, I think
I like Judkins more than Chase Brown rest of season.
At this point, it is a smallish sample size, which
(22:26):
is always dangerous. I've kind of warned about, but talk
to me about it. You're not quite as high on Judkins.
He's got some varying degrees. By the way, on Fantasy Pros,
if you check out the rankings, you want to look
at the highs and lows. Someone has him as high
as seven, but his low doesn't go below thirty one.
But that's a pretty wide range that he's got.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Yeah, and all right, so I'll explain it just a
second why I'm a little lower Welsh, but I can
understand why you're all in on him. Like this is
his backfield now, Quincheawn Judkins owns the Cleveland backfield. Like
he played fifty five percent of the offensive snaps last
week and got ninety five percent of the rushing attempt
as you said, only one that did not go to
(23:08):
Quinn Shawn Judkins. So this matchup thing like he got
eighteen carries last week and had ninety four yards in
a touchdown. Like the Browns stayed in that game. It
never turned into an unfriendly game script like they trailed
for a lot of that game, but it was always
a close game because like the Packers' offense just couldn't
(23:31):
get out of first gear.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
They lost a couple.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Of linemen early in the game, they struggled to protect
Jordan Love. So, like, I mean, that game was a slog.
That game was a real offensive slog. And like the
Ravens or Ravens, the Browns passing game was not working.
Like you just can't throw on the Packers consistently. It's
just hard and certainly not with Joe Flacco. So they
(23:55):
ran and they were able to run because like they
were still within the margin of keeping close. I wonder
if that happens against the Lions this week, just as
good as that Cleveland defense is, Like we saw how
good the Lions offense can be last week against the Ravens,
and maybe they can put things a little more out
of range and the Browns can't give eighteen carries to
(24:19):
Quinn Shawn Judkins like they did last week. And we
know the Lions have a pretty good run defense. So
I guess that's my concern. Like last week's matchup, I
think the Packers are going to be kind of a
run funnel defense this year, at least as long as
opponents are you know, within ten points of them.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Once they get beyond that.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
So because like it's definitely easier to attack the packers
on the ground than it is through the air.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah, and I think I just kind of also go
back to what you said before in like volume is king.
There still might be some questions about how it's used,
but I think if that is taken away from them,
that's where you could see Judkins used a little bit
more in the passing game. Now they've used Dylan Samson
in there. It's a really fair thing that might keep
Judkins away from having that top bill is that if
the game is out of control and they're not comfortable
(25:07):
using him in the passing game, that he doesn't get
the volume. Well, there you go. You know, that's the
big thing that's in question. I also want to point
out I just had I had it flipped on fantasy
points that I had. I was looking at receiving stuff
and I'm like, why can't I not get Judkins? It
was two yards, it was yards after contact per attempt,
it was three yards before contact per attempt, and then
(25:29):
two yards after contact. So just the inverse, I just
want to make sure, but that's important. I know it
doesn't sound like a lot, but there's where your average
of five yard over five yards per car he is
is he's making more yards after contact so you get
a strong defensive line. They do need to give him volume.
I just think he's massively, massively talented, and you know,
I would not be surprised. I honestly would not be
(25:52):
surprised if he ends up becoming like the number one
fantasy running back of all of these rookies. But I
think he's going to be a top three guy. Hampton's
now put in a better situation. Jenty gets volume. But
I'm just very pro Judkins right now. I'm trying to,
you know, any place I can try to trade for
him if someone doesn't view him as like a top
twenty or twenty five running back, I want to be
(26:12):
a buyer. But didn't rank third in the ranks this
past week like Winsey did.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Wouldn't it be wild if quin Shawn Judkins outscored Ashton
Genty in fantasy this year after being unsigned for all
this time and being just a complete afterthought in a
lot of August drafts. But the difference is well three
yards before contact per carry before contact for quin Shawn
Judkins and Ashton Genty is having to do John Wick
(26:38):
stuff just to get past the line.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Of scrimmage one hundred percent. And you know Judkins got
one hundred percent inside the five carry percentage right now,
which is low. So just a lot of good stuff
sample sids questions in here, But this is one I'm
jumping immediately on because I think a lot of the
data is good. They wore it down, but you know,
the Lions get up twenty one, then you know we
might have some problems for the Browns problems. Deandre's Swift
(27:00):
ECR twenty eight. Ericson says, twenty six fits you say,
thirty How how positive should we feel about Swift moving forward?
He seems to be trending in the wrong direction.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
Yeah, not very I just I don't I don't think
he's very good, honestly. Like in the in the rushing
yards over expected per carry category, Swift is at minus
half a yard per carry, and that's actually better than
he did last year when he was dead last in
the NFL in that category minus zero point sixty nine
(27:32):
rushing yards overexpected Perkerry. And then he gets this matchup
against the Raiders, who their past defense is gettable, their
run defense is actually pretty good. I wonder if we
might see more of rookie Kyle Manongai going forward in
the Bears backfield, possibly starting as early as this week,
like Swift is just not getting it done.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Maybe a few of those Dj Moore in the backfield
things too. We saw so much in Canu like just
try to mix it up, get hit the ball in
his hands. Possibly Trevion Henderson will garner a lot of
questions this week, No doubt. ECR thirty Rickson's got him
in twenty nine fits you got him at thirty one.
So you're the sandwich between the ECR the bread to
the ECR meat there. I think a lot of that
(28:18):
is off the assumption because Ramondre had two fumbles, Gibson
had a fumble, then they started going to Travion more.
I think a lot of us are trying to just
ship Henderson to more usage. And by the way, it
is a phenomenal matchup against the Carolina Panthers, so I
think there's justification if you want to try to go
all in that he should be higher this week. He's
got the opportunity to be like an inside the twenties,
(28:40):
you know, a solid RB two. If he has given
the volume, they just don't know, you know, you would
you would think Remondre fumbles two times, you know, critical
spots that you just let Traveon go, but they just
have not unleashed that. So maybe that is that part
of like maybe your hesitation. Is this based off of
the other backs being there in usage or is this
based off of what he is going to do if
(29:01):
given more carries.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
It's just me not knowing what the occupancy is in
the New England Patriots doghouse right now, Like are our
Remandra Stevenson and Antonio Gibson there after what happened last week?
And at least we're feeling better about Traveon Henderson's hopes
for decent touch volume this week. Like in week two
(29:23):
he got out snapped by Remandre Stevenson by like twenty snaps,
So I think that gets closer to even this week
and maybe even Traveon Henderson pulls ahead like Ramandre fumbling
twice last week. I know buddy mine who has Traveon
Henderson in a bunch of leagues like texted me after
(29:44):
that second fumble. He's like, for the love of would
you please put Traveon Henderson in now? And then the
next series after the second Ramondre Stevenson fumble. Antonio Gibson
is playing in the backfield. Give it to him on
first down, give it to him on second down, and he.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Loses a fumble.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
So yeah, I mean, you would hope that maybe this
gives Trayveon's usage a big boost, But I just I'm
not so sure yet that he's completely pulled ahead of
Ramondre Stevenson. Maybe Rimondre gets a second chance. But man,
like this fumbling thing, and we saw a lot of
that last year. Welsh like he is really close to
(30:23):
just having the rug yanked out from underneath him completely
because of the fumbling thing, which would be great for
Traveon Henderson investors.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
I feel like your friend's text went a little different
than you told us on it. Here.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
There are a few other little There might have been
a few bits.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
You might have taken a few things out. Okay, Yeah,
just just an assumption, just guessing here, all right. The
last guy insaide the top twenty thirty six is Bill
Krossky merit ECR thirty two. Erickson's got him a little
bit higher at thirty. You've got him at thirty four.
I kind of think Bill is floating in. I wanted
to ask you this question. I think Krossky's kind of
floating in the Isaiah Pacheco area where there's just too
(30:58):
many mouths to feed. Who do you have higher this week?
Pachecko or Krosskey?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yeah I have Oh that's a good question. Let me
check that real quick.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I think I might have Pachecko ranked one spot higher.
I've got Pacheco.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Pachecko's at thirty four in ECR.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
I've got Pachecko at thirty two, Krosskey merrit at thirty four.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Okay, so you've got them flipped. You literally have them
flip versus ECR. So you cause, like, I don't love
the usage of Krossky, but he is in that touchdown spot.
Pachecko is just it's the same thing every single week.
It's just insanity here. I guess you could go either way,
but I think they should be viewed in a similar range.
Maybe Pachecko because you like the chiefs a little bit more,
(31:38):
and you know he's going to get like, I don't
know if you know that Krosskey's going to get ten
to twelve carries. They started Chris Rodriguez McNichols got involved.
Debo's running the ball more so, sorry you talked through it.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Yeah, Pachecko is in a two man backfield and Krosskey
Merrit is in a three man backfield like Jackry, Krossky
Merrit at forty percent of the offensive snaps last week,
he played just one more snapped than Chris Rodriguez, who
actually got the start for the Commanders, And then Rodriguez
had eleven carries, Krosskey Merrit only had eight, And I
(32:09):
went back and checked because like the Commanders did win
pretty handily over the Raiders to see how much of
it was garbage time for Rodriguez at the end. Really
on the last series they did let Rodriguez salted away.
He had two carries on the Commander's last series, But
even if you take that out, up until then, it
(32:29):
was kind of an like an even rotation between the
two guys, and Rodriguez still had one more carry than
Krossky Merrit before that last possession.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
So that's it.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Like, I just don't know that there's a lot of
pass catching upside and he's splitting carries, So it's just
kind of hard to be super excited about Bill right now.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I think there's a pretty like firm line. Especially if
we look at these ranks after thirty, it's like you
definitely changed tears because before you know you're looking I
don't love Swift here, but you know you got like Jukins, Pollard, Montgomery.
You can see the upside of Henderson. Maybe Henderson falls
into it. I feel like he doesn't. But then it's
like then you jump to Chubb and Crosskey and Stevenson
(33:12):
and Pacheco and Kareem Hunt Touton. That's it. It feels
completely different. So there's a big tier change of like
what you're comfortable with outside the top thirty six. Though,
when we always like to highlight a name there, I
think there's some things that are people still trying to
figure out. It's some RB spots later ranked, and I
think one of those is Zach Sharbonay ECR fifty five.
(33:34):
Looks like you are putting him in the rank spot
where he's active. I think he was a full participant
on Monday, so I think things are looking to go
in that direction. But Walker has been great, So you've
got him as a top thirty six starting running back this.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Week, and I do have Walker substantially higher, like I've
got Walker inside the top twenty. I've got him RB sixteen,
and I've got sharbon Ay right behind Jacry Krossky Merrit
at RB thirty five. Yeah, assuming he's going to it
seems like all things are pointing to that. And look,
I mean he had more touches than Kenneth Walker in
(34:08):
week one, more snaps. I don't think that's the case anymore.
Like Walker kind of broke out with that big game
in Week two against the Steelers, I think it's now
going to be more maybe sixty forty, especially with Sharps
coming off the injury. But like I do think Sharbona
is playable in a lot of leagues where you know,
once you get beyond the top twenty five or so,
(34:30):
things start to get pretty dicey at running back.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Dicey, dicey. We'll make sure you lock in fits the
top ten last week and running backs outside of just
the overall ranks, So make sure you're following along with that.
If we did not answer your question on your running back,
you guys still got a chance. We got the weekly
Start and Sit livestream on YouTube. Come and ask whatever
questions you got. We got a full hour. We hang
there Thursday at three pm Eastern, so lock that in.
(34:53):
If you're on the pod, go to YouTube dot com
slash Fantasy Pros. You know what to do. Subscribe and
make sure you got those notifications so you know when
we are live that's gonna do it. Running backs in
the books fantasypros dot com slash Rankings. If you want
to check out more for Pat fits more, I'm Chris Welsh.
Thank you guys for hanging out and we'll talk to
you next time right here on Fantasy Pros.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football podcast.
If you love the show, the best freeway to support
us is by leaving a positive review on Apple podcasts
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Fantasypros
What's up, Friends of Welcome into Fantasy Pros. This is
the Fantasy Football Podcast. I'm Chris Welsh. That's Pat Fitzmorris.
We're in the world. Is Andrew Rickson. He's not here,
but his ranks are and he'll be back next week.
Today we're talking about running backs. Week four running back ranks.
We're going through the top thirty six. We're going to
go a little in between there, hopefully covering a lot
(00:22):
of your guys. And I'll tell you right now, I
went on an impassioned speech during our Out of Bounds show,
which airs live on twitch and over on YouTube, about
a certain running back. If you watch that show live,
you know what we're going to talk about. We will
be talking about him a little bit later in the ranks.
I went all in on a certain guy, and I
think there's going to be some fun running backs to
(00:42):
rank a little bit later here, mister Pat Fitzmorris, can
you guess who it is? Because you know the names
we're going to talk about on the sheet. Give me
his initials. Can you take a guess? Oh, he has
written he's one of the Like, I guess what do
we have? Like ten to twelve running backs that we're
going to talk about. Is it cs Ooh it is
not CS very good guest, but he is in that
general range. So could it have been scam Caataboo. Yes,
(01:06):
Scamskataboo is who you were talking about that it is
Scamkataboo when it is incorrect, that's not the running back,
but we will be talking about him. So we've got
a bunch of running backs we're going to be hitting
here hopefully covering all your questions and if you guys
want to follow along with us Fantasypros dot Com Slash rankings,
you would want to do so. As mister Pat Fitzmorris
finished third in the Consensus Ranks Accuracy Contest this week.
(01:28):
ECR is powered by all of our industry people that
take part in that, and Fantasy Pros dominated it this week,
which is nice because we put it on here. FITZI
absolutely killed it, and I believe, by remembering correctly, FITZI
is pretty pretty good in the running back territory. So
let's just jump right into it. The big board top
twelve for the week. It starts off with my guy,
(01:49):
Christian McCaffrey at number one, going up against the Jags
B Jeon Robinson at two, Jonathan Taylor at three, Saquon Barkley,
James Cook. That's your top five. Jamiir gives, Derek Henry,
Josh Jacobs, Devana Chan, Bucky Irving very chalk top ten,
Jordan Mason at eleven, which I think should be Chok
at this point, and o Marion Hampton at twelve. So
we've got a couple guys to hit. Let's start with
(02:10):
Jordan Mason here for a second. Before the obvious ECR
is eleven. You've got him at eleven. Ericson ended up
having him at ten. I am slightly higher than you
guys at eight. This matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is
actually a lot better than I think what we just
like audibly here in our head when we think about
the Steelers, the big plays that they've given up. It's
actually a four star rating on Fantasy pros here, given
(02:32):
an a matchup grade. They used him to a great degree.
He dominated in the Bengals matchup, just killing it. Carson
Wentz was efficient, and then they go to Mason and
I think they will do the exact same thing. He
is a red zone touchdown equity guy as well. I
love everything about Jordan Mason, and I personally feel he
should be in that territory of like lock top ten
(02:54):
running back while Aaron Jones is out, you're pretty much there.
You have him as an RB one just a little
bit slightly lower, or you're essentially at ECR. So let's
say you about Jordan Mason moving forward, because I think
the questions can probably start moving aside. There was a
lot this week in week three, I bet you got
a billion of them, FITZI, where it was like this
guy or Jordan Mason. I just don't think you need
(03:15):
to ask those this week. You got to start Jordan Mason.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
And I think last week that was the case too. Well.
I actually had him running back seven last.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, no, I did too. I think I'm just saying
the question I think is gone. We agree. I think
we both had him like top eight or seven or whatever,
but now the question needs to kind of float away.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yeah, and I love the spot last week against the
Bengals because the Vikings were coming off that embarrassing twenty
two to six loss to the Falcons at home. I
knew they weren't going to play two bad home games
in a row. They're just too well coached a team
for that to happen. An income the Bengals, who had
(03:52):
to not be feeling great after losing Joe Burrow, knowing
you're just not getting to the Promised Land without Joe
Burrow and all the others on this team, Like, losing
Burrow is just a crushing blow, and the Bengals played
like a team that were just sort of dealt that
death blow to their playoff hopes. So I also thought
(04:12):
maybe the Vikings would try to hide Carson Wentz a
little bit in his first start, so I thought Mason
was a pretty good bet for twenty plus carries. Didn't
get that many, only sixteen, but he turned them into
what one hundred and sixteen yards and two touchdowns, So
it's not quite as good a spot this week against
the Steelers. Yeah, their run defense was really bad the
(04:34):
first two weeks, but a little better against the Patriots
in Week three, Like they looked not like a classic
Steelers defense with that tough defense they're known for the
tough run.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
It's also a little bit better when the team, I
just want to put this out, when the team fumbles
seven and forty two times, it's also your defense is
a little bit better. Just want to throw that out, Yes.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
And you know you said there's nothing not to like
about Jordan Mason, while maybe just one thing that he
offers zero pass catching value like that is my only
hang up with Jordan Mason. And if I don't love
the matchup, it's going to be hard for me to
sneak him inside the top ten when he just doesn't
catch passes at all.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, well, you don't need to catch passes when you're
getting five or six yards per carry. But your point
is is there PFF does their grades out there, you know, highly,
so just you go check them out matchup score grades.
He's given the fifth best grade at running back this week.
And some interesting notes is the Steelers are ranked nineteenth
of thirty two in yards after contact allowed and only
(05:34):
nineteenth of thirty two and missed tackles. So it's just
it's a spot that really works well for Jordan Mason,
but their offense need that. There has to be a
scare for the pass game for it to continue to work.
I really like Jordan Mason.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
And by the way, the workload welsh like.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
He only got sixteen carries last week, but part of
that was that they were just blowing out the Bengals
so badly, like they could just mop up with I
forget the other the.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Backup Zavian Smith. Is that his name? I shouldn't even
remember the backups name?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Yeah, some creative player on Madden.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, exactly, that's a good made name.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Xavian Yeah, a hundred percent. Yeah. But they also scored
like two defensive touchdowns. It's a weird matchup. Like Mason
would get more usage, but he is no longer a question.
The new question this week is going to be about
a Marion Hampton, maybe a little bit less than you
would expect. Obviously, Najee Harris out for the season, brutal blow,
but a Marion Hampton moves into the starting role full on,
we would hope that they're not going to mess with us.
(06:29):
He's ranked twelfth this week in ECR. Erickson's got him
at eleven, You've got him at thirteen. It's up against
the Giants. That matchup looks pretty solid as well. Talk
to us about Hampton because this should be a relatively
hefty load of questions you'll get this week. But he
also was being drafted as like an RB two in
a lot of spots, so at least now he's just
he's the chance to fulfill and this is a this
(06:51):
is a really good spot for him this week.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
He's being ranked more this week like he was in
our pre draft rankings when there was that of excitement
for him, and with good reason. Things were looking kind
of bleak after two weeks, but obviously a big upgrade
in his outlook after week three. When you know, the
bad part of it is the Najee Harris injury that
(07:12):
pretty much ensures Hampton is going to be a workhorse
going forward. But Hampton also played really well and showed
off that first round pedigree in week three nineteen carries
seventy one yards, one rushing touchdown, and very encouraging usage
in the passing game six catches for fifty nine yards
on seven targets. He had not been used very much
(07:34):
in the passing game at all the first two weeks.
So good matchup this week against the Giants, whose run
defense is dead last in the league in DVOA against
the run, and the Giants have given up the fourth
most fantasy points to running back so far.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Was there any is there anything that stood out with
why you like didn't make him an RB one. This
is totally like arbitrary. You've been thirteen, You're fine, but
like you put him at thirteen, so it's technically the
first in the RB two territories or anything that hold.
Maybe the passing game. We talked about this on the
Wide Receiver Show. You got three wide receivers that rankinsaid
the top thirty in fantasy. They're efficient with Herbert. Maybe
(08:12):
they just don't need it as much. Just curious your take.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah, I mean it's like there's no one the only
questionable choice. Maybe I think for guys I have ahead
of him are like I've got Kyron Williams one spot
ahead of him, Like.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
I just similar usage out looks.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Maybe o'marian has the better matchup, but I just think
like Kyen always just has such good touchdown odds that
I feel pretty good about that. So I could certainly
make a case for having him a spot or two higher.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
This show is sponsored by Better Help. We turned to
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expertise find the one with better Help. Our listeners get
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slash Fantasy prospod. That's Better Help h e LP dot
com Slash f pros pod. Well, let's talk about Kyron
Williams as we talk about some RB twos in the
(10:07):
land coming in at thirteen. We've got Kyrien Williams on
the big board, Ken Walker at fourteen, Ashton genty down
at fifteen, Breis Hall, Chewbahubbard, Chase Brown, Javonte Williams, Trade
Benson at twenty, Travis Eten at twenty one, JK. Dobbins,
Cam Skataboo, and Alvin Kamara. My guy is not on
this list, by the way. He's on the next list
that we're going to talk about. If you even cared,
(10:28):
Let's talk about Ashton Gent. Ashton genty is nope, not
free falling, but boy, it feels like it's getting in
that territory. He's getting volume, he's getting like just enough done,
but he is not remotely coming close to living up
to those high end expectations. He's going up against the
Chicago Bears this week. Erickson has got him at twelve,
so he's got him as an RB one. You've got
(10:50):
him down at seventeen, even lower than consensus. So is
are we in like a fade territory of Gent? Like
this seems like the first week based on your rankings
that you know, if someone drafted you know whatever, Devon
a Chan Genty and then they had gotten to Jordan Mason.
Like I feel like we're falling into the territory where
now you can't ask should I start Ashton Genty because
(11:12):
there legitimately might be players you're moving over him. Hampton's
in there. I mean, Chuba Hubbard is ranked at seventeen.
Maybe that's when people go out. So I'm just throwing
a couple of things out there. What do you think
is it? Are things starting to fade on the excitement
upside of Gent week to week?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
They are?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And it doesn't really have all that much to do
with Genty himself, Like we're seeing that ability to make
guys miss, but it's just that man. Every Ashton Genty carry,
it seems like for him to he has to do
Bruce Lee type stuff just to get three or four yards,
like you know, fight through a room full of dudes
(11:49):
to do it. Like he is one of only two
running backs in the NFL who are averaging negative yards
before contact Chase Brown being the other. So he is
getting on average contacted behind the line of scrimmage, and
Ashton Genty's passing game usage has been really disappointing. Six targets,
five catches, three receiving yards. Like if if you can't
(12:13):
open holes for this guy in the running game, at
least try to get him the ball in space, like
how about some how about some screens, Like the Bears
aren't that tough a matchup, So maybe this could be
a get right game for Genty. And I'd still start
him in almost every case unless you're in an a
team league and you've got some other really nice options.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
At running back.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
But yeah, it's just depressing that the blocking has been
so bad for him so far and that they're not
trying to get him the ball as a pass catcher.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
By the way, you age yourself a little bit, Bruce Lee,
I think the new, the more modern one to be
John Wick. You got a John Will, You got like
everybody coming in and you're fighting them off. They would
be John Wick would be the play here, just throwing
that out to you.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Aren't you grow up with Bruce Lee movies? While like
old Bruce.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
I didn't I'm not quite not in China say, I'm
not quite that old. But like Bruce Lee was introduced
to me more for his son, I was a big
crow kid for Brandon Lee, who tragically died in the filming.
I believe of the Crow and that was more. I
was more of a Brandon League guy than Bruce Lee.
But that's you know, maybe that's blasphemoss, but that's also
a little bit more of my aged ness. But I'm
(13:22):
even more of a John Wick guy, big john Wick
guy here, kind of Reeves guy, not a big Chase
Brown guy anymore. Oh, Chase Brown ranking eighteen. I'm gonna
throw this at it. Didn't even look where do you
have him ranked here? You're gonna moment you might not
one hundred percent agree. I'm with Erickson on this. I
think eighteen is too high at this point. I think
Chase Brown, unless you really don't have options, he's a
(13:47):
guy that I think you just got to put on
the bench at this point. He's ranked eighteenth. It's a
bad matchup against Denver. Throwing this out here, going and
talking about PFF grades. It is one of the worst
matchups of the week. A poor rating. Denver Broncos defensive
front ranked fifth out of thirty two right now. The
(14:08):
offensive line is mentioned in the wide Receiver episode is
atrocious for the Bengals. The play calling stinks. They talked
about it on the broadcast. Every first down they ran
this same inside like shotgunny run or whatever it was
with Chase Brown. Every it was just textbook and it
was never efficient. They literally never. I think they lost
the yards almost every single time. The bad play calling.
(14:29):
They have no pass game to set it up, they
have no time on the on the offensive front to
make anything happen. And on top of it all, it's
a horrifically bad matchup. So Chase Brown is talented, but
I'm worried about it, and I am. I'm with Erics
Erickson's at twenty seven. I'm a fade of Chase Brown
this week. Will we regret that?
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Though, Fitzie, maybe not.
Speaker 3 (14:51):
He is running back thirty one in fantasy scoring despite
averaging eighteen point three touches a game. He's averaging two
point zero yards per carry, and as you said, watch
the matchup against Denver, not a.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Very good one.
Speaker 3 (15:08):
Yeah, I do have concerns that my running back nineteen
ranking might be too optimistic. But then again, like I
do want to follow the volume, Like volume means a lot.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
To me when I do rankings.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
In eighteen point three, touches a game like they're trying
to get the ball in his hands and they're going
to continue to do so because they cannot lean all
that heavily on Jake Browning.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
As we saw against the Vikings in week.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Three, he might just be ranked too high. I think
we're gonna get tons of questions on him and a
guy that I would start over Chase brown this week,
even though he's ECR twenty and Fitz you're not there,
but we'll you'll see where we get. It's Tray Benson.
Trey Benson is going to have tons and tons of questions.
He's ECR twenty fifth. You've got him at twenty four.
(15:53):
Erickson has got him at twenty three. He is going
to now go and take over the lead back role.
What do you think of Tredy Benson overall this week?
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Man, the Seahawks are pretty tough matchup. They ranked third
in DVOA against the run. We just don't know yet
whether Trey Benson is actually good like.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
He might be.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
There's just not enough evidence as of now for us
to judge whether he's good or not good. Like we're
about to find out though, with James Connor out for
the year, and I'm curious, do we get full on
Trey Benson work course usage or do we get like
maybe more Imari de Mercato than we're expecting.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
De Marcado's annoying and I those annoying guys, I want
to move away. But at the same time, like Benson
was being talked about as a one B type of back.
So how I'm approaching Trey Benson is I'm just putting
him where you would put James Connor if James Connor
was the guy. I'm putting Tray Benson into that spot,
and I think there's a bit more volume to be had,
(16:56):
and that is that is my approach with him this week.
I actually think he's like, you know, a little bit
safer overall Seattle's defense, Like you said, it is a
tiny bit better. But I am a starter Inrey Benson
this week. And you mentioned him at the top cam
scattabu e CR twenty three. Rickson's got him at twenty four.
But FITZI, you're dropping the hammer cam Scataboo at fourteen
(17:20):
for you this week. We saw targets, we saw carries,
and we're going to see him in your lineup this week.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
He is the truth Welsh Cam Scataboo, I am all in,
I am Teddy KGB and Rounders splashing the pot with
all my chips.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
That's the man his sctabut just oh.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Seeing his believing like ten carries for sixty yards and
a touchdown last week against a Chiefs defense that is
always always tough against the run with Steve Spagnolo calling
things and the passing game usage, eight targets, six catches,
sixty one yards. He might have fractured ribs on a
(18:03):
couple of would be tacklers. Like this guy is just
so full speed ahead. And I know the Chargers are
not an easy matchup, but either were the Chiefs. And
Skataboo smashed in that game last week, and now Tyrone
Tracy is hurt. It's gonna be Journeyman Devin's singletary backing
up Skataboo. And I think it stands to reason Whils
(18:23):
that the Giants are not going to want to put
a lot on rookie QB. Jackson darts plate in his
first NFL start. That could mean a really really heavy
dose of Cam Skataboo this week.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
I feel like Skataboo almost deserves the old gronk like
Skataboo smash like they need, they need to have like
a passing of the torch situation where that's what he does.
He just crashes into Everybody goes crazy and you're gonna
be all in. So if the question if you're gonna
jump into like a fitzy chat or anything like that,
and you're going to ask a Skataboo question, it looks
(18:56):
like the answer is going to be Skataboo. At this point,
that's a guy that you're jumping into. Erickson's got him
at twenty four. He's an RB two. I think you
can feel confident about it. The only negative this is
not a good matchup. You know, there's a couple of
guys that it's like you like, but the Chargers are
not exactly a great matchup. But the passing game is
probably what throws you back into it because he's involved
on both sides.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Yeah, and I don't like I thought maybe the Chiefs
were going to stuff the Giants running game last week,
and they did not stuff the Giants running game like
I'm not so sure the Chargers are going to stuff
Scatabo either.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
In fact, I would bet against it.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
You are betting against it one hundred percent. RB threes
are coming up. But first, if you want to dominate
your fantasy football leagues, you can do it with Fantasy
Pro's premium. That's how you're going to do it, and
you can now get that available for free for six
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So friends, go to fantasypros dot com slash premium to
(19:52):
get started today. RB threes, This is the good stuff.
Twenty five Jalen Warren, Number twenty six, Quinshawn Jutkins, Tony Pollard,
DeAndre Swift, David Montgomery, Traveon Henderson. That's through thirty. Nick Chubb,
Bill Krosky, Merritt Ramandra Stevenson, Isaiah Pacheco, kream Hunt, and
Bachelle Tooton. Those are your thirty six. The guy that
(20:15):
I want to talk about, and that is my smash
of the week, is Quinshawn Jutkins Qwinshawn Jutkins. I made
my big speech about he is ECR twenty six on
this list. Ericson's got him at twenty five, fits You've
got him at twenty eight. I'm dropping the hammer on
Judkins and I am at sixteen on him this week.
I am all in on my boy Jutkins. And one
(20:39):
of the one of the big pieces of it was
what he ended up doing against the Green Bay Packers.
So you know, you end up telling me he had
the highest team attempt percentage according to Fantasy Points at
than any other running back this week. So of the
carries that a team did, hit every but one. The
Browns also went into like a smash mouth type of
(20:59):
football against the tough probably the best defense in the NFL. Now,
Jutkins was kind of held back through most of the game.
You know, I had a bet against him for being
honest about it, and he did not have that eight
mons in the fourth quarter he had wore down the
defense and then he went and he started breaking tackles
and he ended up having more rushing yards against the
(21:20):
Green Bay Packers than they had given up against with
two teams. Like all the running backs combined in the
first two games. I think Judkins is the dude there,
and they treated him as such. They treated him in
dude level. They gave him all the carries. They you know,
they obviously would use Jerome Ford a little bit in
the passing game. They've got Dylan Samson for that, but
like he's the guy for some smash mouth football. Now
(21:42):
the matchup might not look super great, but the same
thing happened with the Green Bay Packers. He forces misstackles,
He's getting like two yards. If I'm trying to pull
this up on Fantasy points stat up, but I'm having
a hell of a time getting it up right now.
Is from week three, he ended up having like two
yards before he was touched on the line of scrimmage
(22:05):
and then getting about three yards after. So it's like
five and a half yards per carry he's getting. The
offensive line is pushing a bit, he's getting yards after,
he's getting volume. You're talking about volume. Lions team is tough.
I am all in on Jutkins, and like, I think
I like Judkins more than Chase Brown rest of season.
At this point, it is a smallish sample size, which
(22:26):
is always dangerous. I've kind of warned about, but talk
to me about it. You're not quite as high on Judkins.
He's got some varying degrees. By the way, on Fantasy Pros,
if you check out the rankings, you want to look
at the highs and lows. Someone has him as high
as seven, but his low doesn't go below thirty one.
But that's a pretty wide range that he's got.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Yeah, and all right, so I'll explain it just a
second why I'm a little lower Welsh, but I can
understand why you're all in on him. Like this is
his backfield now, Quincheawn Judkins owns the Cleveland backfield. Like
he played fifty five percent of the offensive snaps last
week and got ninety five percent of the rushing attempt
as you said, only one that did not go to
(23:08):
Quinn Shawn Judkins. So this matchup thing like he got
eighteen carries last week and had ninety four yards in
a touchdown. Like the Browns stayed in that game. It
never turned into an unfriendly game script like they trailed
for a lot of that game, but it was always
a close game because like the Packers' offense just couldn't
(23:31):
get out of first gear.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
They lost a couple.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Of linemen early in the game, they struggled to protect
Jordan Love. So, like, I mean, that game was a slog.
That game was a real offensive slog. And like the
Ravens or Ravens, the Browns passing game was not working.
Like you just can't throw on the Packers consistently. It's
just hard and certainly not with Joe Flacco. So they
(23:55):
ran and they were able to run because like they
were still within the margin of keeping close. I wonder
if that happens against the Lions this week, just as
good as that Cleveland defense is, Like we saw how
good the Lions offense can be last week against the Ravens,
and maybe they can put things a little more out
of range and the Browns can't give eighteen carries to
(24:19):
Quinn Shawn Judkins like they did last week. And we
know the Lions have a pretty good run defense. So
I guess that's my concern. Like last week's matchup, I
think the Packers are going to be kind of a
run funnel defense this year, at least as long as
opponents are you know, within ten points of them.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Once they get beyond that.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
So because like it's definitely easier to attack the packers
on the ground than it is through the air.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah, and I think I just kind of also go
back to what you said before in like volume is king.
There still might be some questions about how it's used,
but I think if that is taken away from them,
that's where you could see Judkins used a little bit
more in the passing game. Now they've used Dylan Samson
in there. It's a really fair thing that might keep
Judkins away from having that top bill is that if
the game is out of control and they're not comfortable
(25:07):
using him in the passing game, that he doesn't get
the volume. Well, there you go. You know, that's the
big thing that's in question. I also want to point
out I just had I had it flipped on fantasy
points that I had. I was looking at receiving stuff
and I'm like, why can't I not get Judkins? It
was two yards, it was yards after contact per attempt,
it was three yards before contact per attempt, and then
(25:29):
two yards after contact. So just the inverse, I just
want to make sure, but that's important. I know it
doesn't sound like a lot, but there's where your average
of five yard over five yards per car he is
is he's making more yards after contact so you get
a strong defensive line. They do need to give him volume.
I just think he's massively, massively talented, and you know,
I would not be surprised. I honestly would not be
(25:52):
surprised if he ends up becoming like the number one
fantasy running back of all of these rookies. But I
think he's going to be a top three guy. Hampton's
now put in a better situation. Jenty gets volume. But
I'm just very pro Judkins right now. I'm trying to,
you know, any place I can try to trade for
him if someone doesn't view him as like a top
twenty or twenty five running back, I want to be
(26:12):
a buyer. But didn't rank third in the ranks this
past week like Winsey did.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
Wouldn't it be wild if quin Shawn Judkins outscored Ashton
Genty in fantasy this year after being unsigned for all
this time and being just a complete afterthought in a
lot of August drafts. But the difference is well three
yards before contact per carry before contact for quin Shawn
Judkins and Ashton Genty is having to do John Wick
(26:38):
stuff just to get past the line.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Of scrimmage one hundred percent. And you know Judkins got
one hundred percent inside the five carry percentage right now,
which is low. So just a lot of good stuff
sample sids questions in here, But this is one I'm
jumping immediately on because I think a lot of the
data is good. They wore it down, but you know,
the Lions get up twenty one, then you know we
might have some problems for the Browns problems. Deandre's Swift
(27:00):
ECR twenty eight. Ericson says, twenty six fits you say,
thirty How how positive should we feel about Swift moving forward?
He seems to be trending in the wrong direction.
Speaker 3 (27:10):
Yeah, not very I just I don't I don't think
he's very good, honestly. Like in the in the rushing
yards over expected per carry category, Swift is at minus
half a yard per carry, and that's actually better than
he did last year when he was dead last in
the NFL in that category minus zero point sixty nine
(27:32):
rushing yards overexpected Perkerry. And then he gets this matchup
against the Raiders, who their past defense is gettable, their
run defense is actually pretty good. I wonder if we
might see more of rookie Kyle Manongai going forward in
the Bears backfield, possibly starting as early as this week,
like Swift is just not getting it done.
Speaker 1 (27:55):
Maybe a few of those Dj Moore in the backfield
things too. We saw so much in Canu like just
try to mix it up, get hit the ball in
his hands. Possibly Trevion Henderson will garner a lot of
questions this week, No doubt. ECR thirty Rickson's got him
in twenty nine fits you got him at thirty one.
So you're the sandwich between the ECR the bread to
the ECR meat there. I think a lot of that
(28:18):
is off the assumption because Ramondre had two fumbles, Gibson
had a fumble, then they started going to Travion more.
I think a lot of us are trying to just
ship Henderson to more usage. And by the way, it
is a phenomenal matchup against the Carolina Panthers, so I
think there's justification if you want to try to go
all in that he should be higher this week. He's
got the opportunity to be like an inside the twenties,
(28:40):
you know, a solid RB two. If he has given
the volume, they just don't know, you know, you would
you would think Remondre fumbles two times, you know, critical
spots that you just let Traveon go, but they just
have not unleashed that. So maybe that is that part
of like maybe your hesitation. Is this based off of
the other backs being there in usage or is this
based off of what he is going to do if
(29:01):
given more carries.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
It's just me not knowing what the occupancy is in
the New England Patriots doghouse right now, Like are our
Remandra Stevenson and Antonio Gibson there after what happened last week?
And at least we're feeling better about Traveon Henderson's hopes
for decent touch volume this week. Like in week two
(29:23):
he got out snapped by Remandre Stevenson by like twenty snaps,
So I think that gets closer to even this week
and maybe even Traveon Henderson pulls ahead like Ramandre fumbling
twice last week. I know buddy mine who has Traveon
Henderson in a bunch of leagues like texted me after
(29:44):
that second fumble. He's like, for the love of would
you please put Traveon Henderson in now? And then the
next series after the second Ramondre Stevenson fumble. Antonio Gibson
is playing in the backfield. Give it to him on
first down, give it to him on second down, and he.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
Loses a fumble.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
So yeah, I mean, you would hope that maybe this
gives Trayveon's usage a big boost, But I just I'm
not so sure yet that he's completely pulled ahead of
Ramondre Stevenson. Maybe Rimondre gets a second chance. But man,
like this fumbling thing, and we saw a lot of
that last year. Welsh like he is really close to
(30:23):
just having the rug yanked out from underneath him completely
because of the fumbling thing, which would be great for
Traveon Henderson investors.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
I feel like your friend's text went a little different
than you told us on it. Here.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
There are a few other little There might have been
a few bits.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
You might have taken a few things out. Okay, Yeah,
just just an assumption, just guessing here, all right. The
last guy insaide the top twenty thirty six is Bill
Krossky merit ECR thirty two. Erickson's got him a little
bit higher at thirty. You've got him at thirty four.
I kind of think Bill is floating in. I wanted
to ask you this question. I think Krossky's kind of
floating in the Isaiah Pacheco area where there's just too
(30:58):
many mouths to feed. Who do you have higher this week?
Pachecko or Krosskey?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yeah I have Oh that's a good question. Let me
check that real quick.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
I think I might have Pachecko ranked one spot higher.
I've got Pacheco.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Pachecko's at thirty four in ECR.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
I've got Pachecko at thirty two, Krosskey merrit at thirty four.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Okay, so you've got them flipped. You literally have them
flip versus ECR. So you cause, like, I don't love
the usage of Krossky, but he is in that touchdown spot.
Pachecko is just it's the same thing every single week.
It's just insanity here. I guess you could go either way,
but I think they should be viewed in a similar range.
Maybe Pachecko because you like the chiefs a little bit more,
(31:38):
and you know he's going to get like, I don't
know if you know that Krosskey's going to get ten
to twelve carries. They started Chris Rodriguez McNichols got involved.
Debo's running the ball more so, sorry you talked through it.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Yeah, Pachecko is in a two man backfield and Krosskey
Merrit is in a three man backfield like Jackry, Krossky
Merrit at forty percent of the offensive snaps last week,
he played just one more snapped than Chris Rodriguez, who
actually got the start for the Commanders, And then Rodriguez
had eleven carries, Krosskey Merrit only had eight, And I
(32:09):
went back and checked because like the Commanders did win
pretty handily over the Raiders to see how much of
it was garbage time for Rodriguez at the end. Really
on the last series they did let Rodriguez salted away.
He had two carries on the Commander's last series, But
even if you take that out, up until then, it
(32:29):
was kind of an like an even rotation between the
two guys, and Rodriguez still had one more carry than
Krossky Merrit before that last possession.
Speaker 2 (32:38):
So that's it.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Like, I just don't know that there's a lot of
pass catching upside and he's splitting carries, So it's just
kind of hard to be super excited about Bill right now.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I think there's a pretty like firm line. Especially if
we look at these ranks after thirty, it's like you
definitely changed tears because before you know you're looking I
don't love Swift here, but you know you got like Jukins, Pollard, Montgomery.
You can see the upside of Henderson. Maybe Henderson falls
into it. I feel like he doesn't. But then it's
like then you jump to Chubb and Crosskey and Stevenson
(33:12):
and Pacheco and Kareem Hunt Touton. That's it. It feels
completely different. So there's a big tier change of like
what you're comfortable with outside the top thirty six. Though,
when we always like to highlight a name there, I
think there's some things that are people still trying to
figure out. It's some RB spots later ranked, and I
think one of those is Zach Sharbonay ECR fifty five.
(33:34):
Looks like you are putting him in the rank spot
where he's active. I think he was a full participant
on Monday, so I think things are looking to go
in that direction. But Walker has been great, So you've
got him as a top thirty six starting running back this.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Week, and I do have Walker substantially higher, like I've
got Walker inside the top twenty. I've got him RB sixteen,
and I've got sharbon Ay right behind Jacry Krossky Merrit
at RB thirty five. Yeah, assuming he's going to it
seems like all things are pointing to that. And look,
I mean he had more touches than Kenneth Walker in
(34:08):
week one, more snaps. I don't think that's the case anymore.
Like Walker kind of broke out with that big game
in Week two against the Steelers, I think it's now
going to be more maybe sixty forty, especially with Sharps
coming off the injury. But like I do think Sharbona
is playable in a lot of leagues where you know,
once you get beyond the top twenty five or so,
(34:30):
things start to get pretty dicey at running back.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Dicey, dicey. We'll make sure you lock in fits the
top ten last week and running backs outside of just
the overall ranks, So make sure you're following along with that.
If we did not answer your question on your running back,
you guys still got a chance. We got the weekly
Start and Sit livestream on YouTube. Come and ask whatever
questions you got. We got a full hour. We hang
there Thursday at three pm Eastern, so lock that in.
(34:53):
If you're on the pod, go to YouTube dot com
slash Fantasy Pros. You know what to do. Subscribe and
make sure you got those notifications so you know when
we are live that's gonna do it. Running backs in
the books fantasypros dot com slash Rankings. If you want
to check out more for Pat fits more, I'm Chris Welsh.
Thank you guys for hanging out and we'll talk to
you next time right here on Fantasy Pros.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Thanks for listening to the Fantasy Pros Fantasy Football podcast.
If you love the show, the best freeway to support
us is by leaving a positive review on Apple podcasts
at fantasypros dot com, slash review, or on Spotify. Follow
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Thor Nystrom
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Pat Fitzmaurice
Matthew Freedman
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