Roundtable Week 5: Backup RBs of Note

Photo: USA Today Sports

Welcome to Week 5 of the 2022 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. Topics are now split into separate features.

This week's roundtable features these four topics:

• Backup RBs of Note (See below)
• The Beltway's (Baltimore and Washington) RB Rooms
• Every Week, Bye Week, or Weak Sauce: Players on the Fence of Exhibiting Reliable Fantasy Value
• Rebound or Retread: Forecasting players, Units, And/Or Teams That Have Underperformed

Backup RBs of Note

Waldman: Cordarrelle Patterson (for a month) and Javonte Williams (for the year) are out. Jonathan Taylor could miss Thursday's game and Alvin Kamara might miss another game. Here's a list of backs who could factor as replacements:

• Tyler Allgeier
• Caleb Huntley
• Avery Williams
• Latavius Murray
• Mark Ingram
• Tony Jones
• Nyheim Hines
• Deon Jackson
• Mike Boone
• Melvin Gordon
• Phillip Linsday

With these backs listed above, answer the following:

• Who are the two best one-game starts, presuming all of the players on the list earn more playing time due to injuries?
• Who are the two best options for the next 2-3 weeks, presuming the likelihood some of these injured starters will return?
• Who has the best shot of delivering "rest of season" starter value? Even if it's a long shot.
• Who would you avoid for whatever reason?

Lay it on us.

Jason Wood: I hope no one says any of the Falcons' running backs as the best two-game starts. Not only will they be in a committee, but the Falcons face two of the stingiest rush defenses in the league (Tampa Bay and San Francisco) over the next two weeks. And that's to say nothing of Damien Williams' impending return; he'll be the Falcons' No. 1 when he returns if Patterson is still hurt.

Hines deserves mention because he's the unquestioned No. 2 on a Colts offense that has to run the ball to win games. Hines cannot possibly replicate Jonathan Taylor's contributions on the ground, but he can contribute in space as a receiver, and if he plays at least 80% of the snaps in Taylor's absence, he could be a viable PPR option for a few weeks.

Andy Hicks: I agree with Jason on Hines. He will get more work, primarily in space. I guess the Colts have to retool their offense to suit, as it is a big drop from Jonathan Taylor to Jackson for a heavy workload.

Joseph Hagan: Hines comes to mind looking for a one-game starter. With Jonathan Taylor out for Thursday's game, Hines likely sees the biggest bump in playing time. Jackson will get a handful of carries, but Hines has proven to be able to handle a larger workload in the past. Add the fact that the Colts have been stuck in a rut offensively, and they will look to get their most explosive players the ball.

Ingram is another player that could have a nice one-game banger. Even at age 33, Ingram has been productive. If Kamara is out, fire up Ingram with confidence.

Ben Cummins: The best one-game starts are Hines and Gordon. Hines will be very busy against a Broncos defense that ranks 20th in Run DVOA.

Gordon and Boone both make for decent starts in Week 5. They will share time, but my preference is Gordon. His four fumbles through four games to begin the season has been awful but if he can hold onto the ball on Thursday Night, he projects to see double-digit touches as a 3.5-point home favorite against a defense that will be without their star linebacker, Shaquille Leonard.

Scott Bischoff: The two backs that stand out here are Hines and Gordon. Both are established players and have produced in their own way when given the chance. Interestingly, both are in somewhat stagnant offenses, and the change in play style each offer might be something to bring each offense out of the funk they seem to be stuck in.