When setting up a lineup, us fantasy owners are often torn between playing the “name” back that we drafted high or the free agent back that has been going off the last few weeks. Pulling up the top 10 fantasy running backs over the last 3 weeks and checking out some of the names on it is quite interesting. However, the bigger question is who are the ones you should start going forward.
So without any further delay, here are the top 10 fantasy backs over the last 3 weeks, in order:
1) Val Taua – Nevada (100 FP): Taua has taken advantage of his fellow running backs being lost for the season by exploding for 100 fantasy points over the last 3 games. With the schedule, it is safe to say that Taua is a must start the rest of the way for most owners even against Fresno and Boise.
2) Collin Mooney – Army (99 FP): Mooney has come out of no where and honestly could end of being the FA pickup that carries teams to the playoffs. The Army offense seems to have figured something out and Mooney is excelling. He is someone that you must keep starting but it is worth noting that Army has two byes and plays Rutgers during the time most fantasy leagues have their playoffs…plan accordingly.
3) Dennis Kennedy – Akron (89 FP): What a ride for Kennedy who signed with Ohio State out of high school, but obviously didn’t work out. Finds himself at Akron and despite being the most talented back, could never seem to get out of the coaches doghouse. Well that has all changed as Kennedy finally seems to have gained the coaches confidence and is carrying the team with 54 carries 459 yards and 5 TDs in the last two games. I love Kennedy’s talent in the MAC and am drooling at the schedule down the home stretch.
4) Michael Smith – Arkansas (86 FP): Smith is finally living up to some of the pre-season hype of being the big-play back replacing Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the Razorback offense. What impresses me is that he had 70 carries the last two weeks for a player that is considered more of a finesse back. I wonder if he will hold up with this type of work-load as he already suffered a concussion last week against Kentucky.
5) Tyrell Fenroy – La Lafayette (83 FP): Fenroy has been the top back over the last 5 weeks and is someone I can see being the top back over the next 5 weeks. Start him every week he is healthy.
6) Shonn Greene – Iowa (78 FP): Greene has gotten a 100+ yards in every game this season and scored at least one TD in every game except for one. With Penn State being the only tough defense left on the schedule, Greene has a good chance to be a Fantasy All-American especially with a strong performance against PSU.
7) Jake Sharp – Kansas (78 FP): Sharp pops up on the list mainly on the performance against Colorado where he scored 3 times and eclipsed the 100 yards mark. To his credit, he has scored 3 weeks in a row but is far too inconsistent to be someone I would feel comfortable starting down the stretch.
8) Chris Ogbonnaya – Texas (71 FP): Oggie is scoring some TDs as he has become a big-play type back. However, he is just not getting enough touches in the game to be your workhorse down the stretch. If you need to start him there are certainly worse options, just plug him in the lineup and hope he scores a few TDs.
9) Cedric Peerman – Virginia (69 FP): Peerman is in the dreaded running-back-by-committee but is making the most of his 16 carries a game over the last 3 weeks. However with Georgia Tech, Miami, Wake Forest, Clemson and Va Tech has his remaining games I don’t see a viable game to start him unless you are desperate or play in a deep league.
10) Andre Anderson – Tulane (68 FP): Ok so there is a flaw in looking at the top performers over a small timeframe and that is what if a back played only twice he will surely not be able to show up against backs who played 3 games. This is a true but Anderson says whatever I am still going to show up in the Top 10. He has 68 FPs in only two games and will fight Fenroy has the best over the rest of the season as he helps Green Wave fans get over losing Matt Forte.
