Clutch: Running backs, Week 14
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for my horse! Well, in this case, it’s a fantasy football championship you’ll be wanting, and the horse you’ll be wanting this week is one of the following running backs.
Tim Hightower vs Denver Broncos – You may have to replace this entry with Chris Wells given how unpredictable the work distribution can be at running back for Arizona, but Wells’ marginalization since Week 11 should be assurance enough that Hightower will be the lead stallion. The Broncos are a mess, and they’re allowing the most running back points in fantasy football. With the Cardinals forced to start John Skelton, a rookie the coaches were saying is not ready for NFL action yet, you can bet they’ll be leaning hard on the ground game.
Peyton Hillis @ Buffalo Bills – I have to admit, I did not see Hillis being the starter let alone the year he’s posted. I was sure James Davis would finally get his shot; the rub being, Davis may well have a chance next year to start in Washington. But I digress. Hillis has been a RB1 quality starter for teams all season, and he faces the sixth worst team against fantasy running backs. The math does itself.
Darren McFadden @ Jacksonville Jaguars – There was some worry over his regressing as a runner for a couple weeks, but he bounced back nicely last week against the San Diego Chargers (19 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown along with three receptions for 30 yards). Sufficed to say, the Jaguars are not near the team the Chargers are when it comes to run defense or defense in general, for that matter (8th worst). This should be one heck of a game - both teams desperately need the “W”, and you can bet that McFadden will be in duel in this one.
Maurice Jones-Drew vs Oakland Raiders – I see this game, as I alluded to with McFadden, as a running back duel: Jones-Drew vs McFadden. There has been some talk of MJD being a candidate for MVP given how he has carried this team from last-to-first this season. He’s a true competitor, and a monster game would put him in a serious discussion along with Tom Brady. I would bet big money that Jones-Drew comes up with a big game, and it doesn’t hurt that the Raiders are on-par with his own team when it comes to stopping running backs (10th worst).
LeGarrette Blount @ Washington Redskins – I mentioned in a previous post, I told you all to grab Blount if possible for the playoffs, and you’re about to see why that was a good idea. The Redskins are just Swiss cheese on defense, surrendering a lot of yards on the ground and through the air (7th worst against running backs). He may be getting criticized for his short-yardage work these days, but fact is he’ll have tons of chances to tear off huge chunks. Expect a repeat century-mark performance.
