A week after he gained 167 yards from scrimmage and scored three times, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bobby Rainey reminded everyone why he was available for any NFL team only a few weeks ago. Rainey struggled mightily in his follow-up game, forcing the team to turn to the air in its 24-21 win over the Detroit Lions.
Bobby Rainey can’t match last week’s fantasy heroics
The Buccaneers’ running back came back to earth Sunday. We break down the fantasy implications.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Rainey managed only 35 rushing yards on 18 carries, and didn't catch a ball, in the game. Backup running back Brian Leonard had only one rush for three yards, showing he isn't much of a threat to Rainey's playing time, but still, the poor performance had to be a big comedown for fantasy owners who had visions of dominance in their heads coming out of last week.
Fantasy impact: The Buccaneers have a host of tough defenses on their schedule down the stretch. Rainey is still a starting NFL running back, so he warrants at least a roster spot in most fantasy leagues, but anyone running him out there as a starter is likely making a poor roster decision. He’ll always have that big game on his resume, but Sunday proves that the highlights of a week ago are unlikely to ever be repeated.
