Targets and goal-line carries are the lifeblood of quality fantasy production for the running back position. The starting role and receiving a high volume of carries are nice, but not near the end zone makes those touches empty-calorie opportunities. In short, they do not mean much. However, being a starter and high-volume back generally points to receiving more targets and goal-line chances for high fantasy-scoring plays. This weekly feature analyzes all 32 NFL depth charts for underrated and overrated running backs.
- Current RK: Team Ranking in Expected High-Leverage Opportunity PPR Points
- Prev: Overall Ranking from Last Week
- HLO: High-Leverage Opportunity Score Average Per Week
- GL: Rank in Goal-Line Carries (Inside the Five-Yard-Line)
- TGT: Rank in Team Running Back Targets
The Good
Saints
Death, taxes, and Alvin Kamara enjoying a strong target environment with the Saints. New Orleans was the top HLO team in Week 6, vaulted to No.2 overall on the season, and had their third elite weekly finish through the opening six games. No team has more running back targets. Jamaal Williams is available in too many leagues, considering the optimized environment of New Orleans, if Kamara were to miss time.
Buccaneers
Rachaad White exits the lineup and Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker combined for a career day. The difference between White and the two younger backs was stark in the blowout win over New Orleans, including a No.6 HLO finish, the fourth time Tampa Bay has finished in the top eight on the season. While Tucker was likely a one-week wonder with his RB1 overall performance, should clarity find any of these running backs, Tampa Bay is proving to be a fertile environment for running back optimization.
The Bad
Ravens
Derrick Henry has survived and thrived over the years beyond his team's HLO situation. Henry and Nick Chubb are the two consistent outliers among running backs in that way. After a hot start with two elite weeks in the opening month, Baltimore is trending down in HLO with No. 16 and No. 32 finishes in the past two weeks and now is 13th overall on the season. This would impact Justice Hill as a flex option (or as the lead if Henry misses action) more than Henry, as outlined in his track record.
Titans
Tennesee is struggling overall, ranking 28th in goal-line carries for running backs and is yet to finish higher than 10th in HLO in any week this season. The good news is Tony Pollard has been the clear-cut starter, eschewing a potential committee with Tyjae Spears. Spears sustained a hamstring injury in Week 6, which could fuel an even higher market share for Pollard.
The Ugly
Packers
As many presumed in the offseason with his team change, Green Bay has not been the glorious situation for Josh Jacobs. They have one week finishing higher than 18th in HLO, which was back in Week 1. Jacobs is struggling to score touchdowns despite Green Bay being 14th in goal-line carries and they are woeful (29th) in running back targets. This is all despite missed games by their collection of running backs.
Chargers
More of the same for the Chargers coming out of their Week 5 bye with a No.19 HLO finish in Week 6. J.K. Dobbins has stayed healthy (so far) but has not been aided at all by his situation. The Chargers are last in goal-line carries and running back targets on the season and have yet to finish in the top half of a given week in overall HLO score. If Dobbins is not scoring from distance, his chances for a big fantasy performance are severely limited.
The Action Plan
Collect
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