• 49ers‘ Patrick Taylor Jr. is the subsequent man up if Isaac Guerendo is inactive on TNF: The beginning operating again for Kyle Shanahan’s offense will probably be used closely — it doesn’t matter who that participant is or how a lot prior NFL success that participant holds.
• Zach Charbonnet has top-five upside in any week Kenneth Walker III is sidelined: Charbonnet has put up 18, 26 and 38 fantasy factors in his three video games performed with out Walker in 2024. Final week, with Walker out with a calf harm, he put up a career-high 193 scrimmage yards and added two touchdowns on the bottom.
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Estimated studying time: 6 minutes
With so many break up backfields in in the present day’s NFL, it’s extra vital than ever to determine which gamers are receiving essentially the most helpful snaps and touches and which groups make the most of a workhorse again when accidents happen.
Listed below are the newest prime operating again takeaways that might majorly influence factors within the fantasy playoffs.
“Subsequent man up” is 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan’s philosophy
The 49ers may very well be turning to their fifth-string operating again this weekend — however whoever begins in San Francisco’s backfield is bound to be closely utilized. With Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell on IR to start out the season, third-stringer Jordan Mason dealt with the majority of snaps and touches from Weeks 1-8. After the Week 9 bye, McCaffrey returned and reclaimed his workhorse position, leaving Mason sidelined.
Quick ahead to final weekend, and the 49ers turned to fourth-string rookie Isaac Guerendo, with McCaffrey and Mason each touchdown on IR after Week 13. Guerendo impressed in his first begin, racking up 158 yards and two touchdowns on 17 touches.
Sadly, accidents proceed to plague the 49ers backfield. Guerendo suffered a foot sprain late within the recreation, probably sidelining him for the 49ers’ Thursday night time matchup towards the Rams. If Guerendo can’t go, Patrick Taylor Jr. is subsequent in line and will see 15-20 touches in Week 15.
Don’t drop Guerendo out of your fantasy roster simply but — his harm is reportedly minor, and there’s a superb probability he’ll return for Week 16 after the 49ers’ mini-bye.
Upcoming matchups: vs. Rams, at Dolphins, vs. Lions
Seahawks Zach Charbonnet places up 193 yards in Week 14 with Kenneth Walker III sidelined
Each time Kenneth Walker III can’t play, Zach Charbonnet steps up as a workhorse. Within the three video games Walker missed this season (Weeks 2, 3 and 14), Charbonnet performed 87% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps, averaging 23 touches and 123 yards per recreation whereas scoring 5 touchdowns. Throughout these weeks, he ranked third amongst all NFL operating backs in red-zone carries (13) and goal-line carries (6).
With Walker sidelined by a calf harm final weekend, Charbonnet delivered career-highs in dashing makes an attempt (22), receptions (7), dashing yards (134) and receiving yards (59). He additionally tied his profession excessive with two dashing touchdowns. Fantasy managers who trusted him have been rewarded with 38 fantasy factors — practically 12 greater than every other operating again scored in Week 14.
Charbonnet has now posted 18, 26 and 38 fantasy factors in his three begins in 2024. Along with his mixture of workload and expertise, he has the potential to complete as a top-five fantasy operating again any week, whatever the matchup.
Upcoming matchups: vs. Packers, vs. Vikings, at Bears
Jets Rookie RBs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis break up work with Breece Corridor out
With Breece Corridor inactive on account of a knee harm, the Jets turned to rookie operating backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in Week 14. Allen received the beginning, however he and Davis break up the workload evenly — Allen performed 37 snaps, whereas Davis performed 36. Allen totaled 15 touches (11 carries, 4 receptions) for 81 yards, whereas Davis had 14 touches (10 carries, three receptions) for 67 yards and a landing.
Davis out-snapped Allen within the purple zone 8-4, however Allen obtained two red-zone carries in comparison with Davis’ one — a 17-yard landing run. Sadly, the Jets didn’t have any goal-line dashing makes an attempt in Week 14, leaving their short-yardage desire unclear if Corridor misses extra time.
If Corridor stays out, predicting which again will carry out higher for fantasy functions may very well be tough. Nonetheless, the Jets have a positive schedule forward. They face the Jaguars in Week 15 and the Payments in Week 17, groups which have allowed the second- and third-most fantasy factors to operating backs this season. Their hardest remaining matchup is towards the Rams in Week 16, who’re center of the pack towards fantasy backs however have allowed the seventh-most yards per carry to the place.
Upcoming matchups: at Jaguars, vs. Rams, at Payments
Rachaad White is again to seeing a heavy workload with Bucky Irving banged up
The emergence of rookie Bucky Irving had lowered Rachaad White’s position, however his workload spiked in Week 14 after Irving exited within the first half with a again harm. White performed 76% of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps and dealt with 19 touches. He took benefit of a smooth matchup towards the Raiders, racking up 90 yards and a landing on the bottom, together with 19 yards and one other landing by means of the air. White dominated red-zone and third-down snaps and touches within the Buccaneers’ backfield.
Surprisingly, third-string RB Sean Tucker, who has flashed potential when given alternatives, noticed solely three touches regardless of Irving’s early exit. If Irving is inactive for Week 15, Tucker ought to see a bigger position within the recreation plan.
This week’s matchup towards the Chargers will probably be robust for whichever Buccaneers operating again will get the workload. Nonetheless, the next two video games towards the Cowboys and Panthers current favorable alternatives for fantasy manufacturing within the backfield.
Upcoming matchups: at Chargers, at Cowboys, vs. Panthers
Jonathan Taylor’s TD manufacturing is certain to regress positively after the Colts’ bye
Taylor’s 81 carries from Weeks 10-13 ranked second within the NFL, behind solely Saquon Barkley (89). He was certainly one of simply three gamers with 75 or extra carries in that span — the others, Barkley and Joe Mixon, scored 5 dashing touchdowns, whereas Taylor had none.
Regardless of the shortage of touchdowns, Taylor has seen a big workload. He led the NFL in red-zone carries throughout Weeks 10-13, with Mixon (20) and Josh Jacobs (18) rating second and third. Each Mixon and Jacobs scored no less than 4 dashing touchdowns on these alternatives.
Taylor’s landing luck is certain to enhance. He has scored a landing on simply 2.7% of his carries this season, in comparison with 4.3% over his first 4 NFL seasons (2020-2023).
The Colts face the Broncos’ stingy run protection in Week 15, however Taylor’s schedule lightens up afterward. In Week 16, he takes on the Titans, who’ve allowed the second-most touchdowns to operating backs in 2024. He finishes the fantasy season in Week 17 with a chief matchup towards the Giants’ porous run protection. Fantasy managers who stayed affected person with Taylor must be rewarded within the playoffs.
Upcoming matchups: at Broncos, at Titans, at Giants
