Two of the top three fantasy running backs in Week 11 were first-round fantasy picks this year. The other one -- the best one -- has been released by one of the worst running teams in the game. The game’s crazy, man.
Fantasy football points: Best and worst running back performances from Week 11
Some big names and some smaller names performed in what turned out to be a very interesting Week 11.
Al Messerschmidt
Best running backs in Week 11
Bobby Rainey, TB (163 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 4 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, 34 fantasy points)
Well that kind of came out of nowhere, didn't it? Rainey entered Sunday's game on his second team of the season and with 109 yards from scrimmage total. After Doug Martin and, more recently, Mike James went down, the Buccaneers had to choose between Rainey and Brian Leonard to shoulder the load going forward. It certainly seems like they chose correctly, with Rainey averaging 5.4 yards across 30 carries Sunday and scoring from 43, 3, and 4 yards in the game.
Next game: The Buccaneers travel to Michigan to take on the Detroit Lions. While Sunday's game is probably the high point of Rainey's career, it looks like he's got the job locked up going forward, so expect decent production.
LeSean McCoy, PHI (77 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 73 receiving yards, 26 fantasy points)
Both of McCoy’s touchdowns Sunday were 1-yard rushes, endemic of a game in which he amassed 26 fantasy points despite having only one play of more than 16 yards. McCoy is the fourth-highest scoring fantasy running back on the season, with 138 points in 10 games, and has provided massive return on his investment, as far as yards are concerned. Scores were lacking a bit for McCoy, as he had only four entering Sunday’s game, but his first multi-score game of the season went a long way toward correcting that.
Next game: The Eagles have a bye in Week 12, then host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. The Cardinals are the second-best team in the NFL against opposing running backs, so McCoy might not have the freedom he had Sunday, but he's still a stud who won't be totally shut out.
Marshawn Lynch, SEA (54 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 9 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, 23 fantasy points)
Lynch was quarterback Russell Wilson's favorite toy Sunday, as the quarterback handed off to Lynch 17 times and threw two of his 18 pass attempts Lynch's way as well. It was Lynch's fourth game -- and second in a row -- above 20 fantasy points on the season, and he came out of Sunday tied for second in the NFL in fantasy scoring among running backs. Lynch now has 11 touchdowns on the season, which has him tied with Calvin Johnson for the league lead.
Next game: The Seahawks have a Week 12 bye, then play the New Orleans Saints in Seattle in Week 13; the Saints are middle-of-the-road against running backs, and Lynch is one of the league's best. He could keep this production up.
Worst running backs in Week 11
C.J. Spiller, BUF (6 rushing yards, 10 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
Spiller and the next running back on this list tied with one point apiece Sunday; Spiller gets the top spot based on the fact that he was a first-round draft pick in most leagues. Spiller has had zero or one fantasy point four times this year; he has scored three twice, and only hit double digits three times. It's been a disastrous season for the running back, about whom much was expected. To be fair, Spiller's teammate, Fred Jackson, didn't do much better, with 34 rushing and five receiving yards, but Jackson has been significantly better than Spiller over the course of the season.
Next game: The Bills are off in Week 12, then host the Atlanta Falcons. Their Week 11 opponent, the Jets, were one of the stingiest defenses against opposing running backs, so almost any opponent would be more welcome.
Andre Ellington, ARI (3 rushing yards, 10 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
After 154 rushing yards and a score in Week 9, then 55 rushing yards in Week 10, Ellington was almost a complete non-factor in Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's no coincidence that Ellington's one big game came when teammate Rashard Mendenhall was sidelined with injury, as the Cardinals have insisted on having Mendenhall and Ellington split carries, despite the fact that Ellington has been much more productive in his touches than Mendenhall has been with his. No running back got much of anything going in Sunday's game, so Ellington wasn't alone, but his humiliation was the worst.
Next game: The Indianapolis Colts come to Arizona to face the Cardinals next week. While the Colts are relatively strong against the run, it's hard to imagine Ellington could struggle this much again.
Darren Sproles, NO (16 rushing yards, 19 receiving yards, 2 fantasy points)
Sproles has had two or fewer fantasy points in three of his last four games, and has only scored in double digits three times this season. He’s been losing his big-time usage to Pierre Thomas. He has four touchdowns on the season, scoring two on two different occasions. There’s always the chance Sproles has another big game like that, and he’s much more helpful in a PPR format, but otherwise it’s been a rough go.
Next game: The Saints face the Atlanta Falcons in Georgia next week, taking on a Falcons team that just gave up more than 160 yards to the Buccaneers’ Bobby Rainey. If Sproles can’t do it there, he never can.
Other running backs that warrant mention
Ray Rice, BAL (131 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 17 receiving yards, 20 fantasy points)
It's been an abysmal season for Rice, who topped 100 rushing yards for the first time all season Sunday. It's not the biggest surprise that he did it when he did it, as the Bears have an awful run defense, and inclement weather in Chicago led to a lot of runs called in the game. Still, it was nice to see Rice still have a game like this in his repertoire, as he was looking done for leading up to it.
Next game: It goes from good to bad for Rice, as the Ravens host the New York Jets next week, and the Jets are awfully stingy against opposing running backs.
Reggie Bush, DET (31 rushing yards, 23 receiving yards, 3 fantasy points)
Bush couldn't get anything going Sunday, and was reportedly benched after losing a fumble. It was pretty easily the running back's worst game of the year and, while it's hard to imagine the Lions don't go back to him after getting their message across, Joique Bell has been good as well, so Bush needs to hold on to the ball and perform.
Next game: Bush and the Lions host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday; assuming Bush's benching isn't long-term, there's no reason to think he won't improve on Week 11.
