Here's a look at on some of the Week 3 running back committees, and what to expect in Week 4:
Dallas Cowboys
| PLAYER | WEEK 3 CARRIES | WEEK 3 TARGETS | O-SNAP% |
|---|---|---|---|
| J. Randle | 14 | 2 | 42% |
| L. Dunbar | 1 | 10 | 38% |
| D. McFadden | 6 | 0 | 23% |
With Dez Bryant and Tony Romo going down with significant injuries in back-to-back weeks, the Cowboys were in dire straights. With a strong defense, temporary starting quarterback Brandon Weeden can rely on his RBs to carry the load on offense; if the score is close, there will be little reason for Weeden to make big plays with his arm.
It's obvious that the Cowboys will look to minimize turnover risk by using a ton of short-yardage throws - which is good for safety-valve RBs. Joseph Randle was the MVP of a lot of DFS lineups last week, with 87 yards and three TDs - but if you take away a first-quarter 37-yard TD, he only averaged 3.8 yards on 13 carries.
His first two TDs came in the first eight minutes of the game and the second came right before half-time. With Atlanta going on a scoring drive to open the second half, Randle rode the pine in favor of Lance Dunbar, a superior option for Weeden's short passes.
With his catching ability, Dunbar is really the only option for the Cowboys if they fall behind. That type of situational usage should be avoided, though there's some GPP value if Dallas is a heavy underdog. Randle and Darren McFadden, for all the goal-line TDs they scored against Atlanta, can't be considered high-floor players at this point.
Randle warrants being selected against shaky run defenses or as a second-tier FLEX option and McFadden isn't worth drafting unless a significant injury reshapes Dallas' depth chart yet again.
Against a limp Saints run defense with a Luke McCown-led offense, Randle is worth a pick in both cash games and tournaments; it figures to be a close game to the end with both teams playing conservatively to lessen the burden on their middling QBs. Skip Dunbar and McFadden.
Philadelphia Eagles
| PLAYER | WEEK 3 CARRIES | WEEK 3 TARGETS | O-SNAP% |
|---|---|---|---|
| R. Mathews | 25 | 4 | 56% |
| D. Sproles | 11 | 6 | 46% |
| D. Murray | 0 | 0 | DNP |
Elsewhere in the NFC East, the Eagles have one of the most unpredictable RB situations in all of football. 2014 rushing leader Demarco Murray has been injured and a complete non-factor when he's seen the field. If he can recover from his hamstring injury, he can return to an elite level but it's difficult to pinpoint when that might be.
Ryan Mathews seems to be a solid option as the lead RB while Murray heals. Mathews made the Jets' good run defense look pedestrian en route to 128 yards from scrimmage and a receiving TD.
Darren Sproles gets headlines for making electric plays on special- teams and as an occasional passing-down back but Mathews was actually an effective pass-catcher during his earlier seasons in San Diego too. Once Murray is active, it would be surprising to see Sproles receive even a handful of carries per game, let alone 11 attempts.
Sam Bradford face a tough run defense in Washington in Week 4. That might deter Chip Kelly from approaching the game with a run-first mentality but if Bradford struggles for the third-straight game, the Eagles will have no choice but to lean on Mathews, who carries some GPP value.
Detroit Lions
| PLAYER | WEEK 3 CARRIES | WEEK 3 TARGETS | O-SNAP% |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Abdullah | 8 | 5 | 46% |
| J. Bell | 10 | 1 | 34% |
| T. Riddick | 0 | 10 | 20% |
Ameer Abdullah and Joique Bell combined for 29 yards rushing on 18 attempts. The former gets some leeway due to his rookie status but he will need to start performing. Bell, on the the other hand, might be done in the NFL; he's rapidly approaching the wrong-side of 30 and has averaged 1.1 yards per attempt through three games.
Theo Riddick might be the Lions' best RB by default and he's had only one carry this season; the third-year back has 144 yards on 15 receptions with a TD this season and actually might carry some value in tournaments until Abdullah proves himself.
