Complicated Committee Corps: Who To Trust

     Fantasy owners dread the term ‘running back by committee’. ‘Crowded receiving corps’ can induce nightmares, and ‘open competition’ is not music to an owner’s ears. While it may be beneficial for NFL teams to employ multiple running backs or not distinguish the role of any wide receiver, it can be very confusing for fantasy owners. Questions arise.

            Which teams will truly use a running back by committee (RBBC) approach this year? Which Steelers wide receiver will step up to fill the role of the suspended Martavis Bryant? Should I be nervous by the amount of carries that Tevin Coleman is getting in training camp? Which running backs will poach goal line carries from the tradition starters?

            If any of those worries sound familiar, read on.

Q: Which teams will truly use a RBBC approach this year?

A:        RBBC is the idea that a team will employ different running backs for different situations without designating one as the lead back. The three teams to be worried about in this regard are the Patriots, Browns and Lions.

            LeGarette Blount, James White, Stephen Jackson, Brandon Bolden and Dion Lewis are all on the Patriots’ roster, and all figure to have some sort of role. The fantasy spin? I’m not trusting any of them to start on my team. Lewis will probably get the most carries, and if you can’t avoid it, he could be an RB2. However, Blount and Bolden will get goal-line duty.

            The Browns operate in a timeshare based on defined niches – Isiah Crowell is the primary rushing back, whereas Duke Johnson gets the majority of receiving targets. The Browns are a pass-first team with a quarterback, Robert Griffin III, that dumps the ball off to the hot reed (often the receiving back) and uses quick slants. RG3 elevates Johnson’s status, making him an RB3. Crowell is probably an RB4.

            The Lions use a timeshare with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. Similar to the Browns, Abdullah handles most rushing duties and Riddick gets most of the catches. Abdullah is an RB3 and Riddick is an RB4.

Q: Which Steelers wide receiver will step up to fill the role of the suspended Martavis Bryant?

A:        Martavis Bryant has been suspended for the entirety of the 2016 season, leaving 765 receiving yards (in just 11 games) up for grabs. Markus Wheaton, third on the Steelers depth chart, is the obvious candidate. However, Wheaton was ineffective when playing outside in Bryant’s absence last year. Reports from Steelers training camp indicate that coaches are very impressed with Sammy Coates, a second-year pro out of Auburn who caught two passes for 61 yards in last year’s Steelers-Broncos playoff game when Antonio Brown got hurt. Wheaton will probably get the Week 1 start, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Coates, who was not given an opportunity last year, overtakes Wheaton. Consider Coates a deep sleeper with a high upside.

Q: Should I be nervous by the amount of carries that Tevin Coleman (ATL) is getting in training camp?

A:        Last year, Devonta Freeman went undrafted in many leagues because of the presence of Coleman. After finishing as the top fantasy running back last year, he will be far from anonymous in this year’s draft. However, the Falcons have said that they plan to give Coleman more touches. Freeman was designated as the starter in the Falcons’ first official depth chart, as he should be, but he will likely get fewer touches than he did last year. He’s still a solid RB1 choice, but monitor Coleman’s usage in the beginning of the season.

Q:  Which running backs will poach goal line carries from the traditional starters?

A:        When you draft Melvin Gordon (SD), TJ Yeldon         (JAC) or DeMarco Muray (TEN), be wary of Danny Woodhead, Chris Ivory and Derrick Henry, respectively.