Wild Card Weekend Running Back Start/Sit: Raheem Mostert, Tony Pollard, Kyren Williams and More

Start

Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins

It looks like Mostert will be able to return to action this week, and if he does, he needs to be in your lineup against the Chiefs. It's not a great matchup against the Chiefs, who have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, however, the matchup sets up perfectly for him. It's going to be cold and windy with temperatures expected to drop as low as -11 degrees in this one. Not ideal for throwing the ball and we've seen Tua Tagovailoa struggle in terrible weather before. The Dolphins' defense is also very beat up. So it stands to reason they'd like to keep them off the field more than usual. De'Von Achane will get his touches, nonetheless, we will see Mostert more due to his ability in the red zone and in pass protection. This is a team that runs the ball very well as long as they stick with it. 

Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

Pacheco is playing in the same game and is listed for the same reasons. His matchup is even worse against Miami, who is allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Nevertheless, this is a game where they are going to have to run a lot due to the conditions. He is beginning to establish himself as one of the better backs in the NFL and there is no one there to take touches away. We expect a ton of volume for him this week and he's good enough to do damage against a very good run defense. 
 

Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

Pollard has been a massive disappointment this season. Still, we are starting him in this game against a subpar Packers' defense in a game that could very well be a blowout. Should the Cowboys have a big league in the second half, they could be running the ball for the majority of the second half. We love the Cowboys to dominate this game and we expect Pollard to see plenty of volume in the second half. 
 

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

We are throwing the matchup out the window here. The Steelers rank 16th against fantasy running backs, so it's as average of a matchup as you can get. That doesn't really matter though because he's been too good not to play. Over the back half of the year since the offensive coordinator change in Buffalo, Cook has put up elite fantasy production. We expect much of the same this week on a cold day in Buffalo. 
  

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Eagles are a scary matchup against the run. Don't let that worry you this week though because White doesn't do his damage on the ground. The vast majority of his fantasy value comes through the air. All season he's been a PPR machine and that will once again be the case this weekend. We really like him as a sneaky good DFS option.  

 

Sit

Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Harris is coming into this weekend already banged up and has a tough matchup against the Bills, who are expected to win comfortably. Their defense has also gotten stronger late in the season with fewer opportunities for the opposition because they've been dominating time of possession with the run and often leading. This game could get ugly and we don't expect much from a less than 100% Harris. 

Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Williams is going to go into this week as the most expensive DFS running back option and we don't think he'll be worth it. He faces off with the Detroit Lions, who are allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. It's not that he's going to be awful, he's just not worth it. In DFS leagues he's too expensive, and in playoff leagues, we don't expect the Rams to last very long so he should be avoided. 

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

Just like the Lions are a terrible matchup for the Rams, the Rams are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs. The Lions will still do damage on the ground as they always do, but not enough to sustain two running backs, and if we are rolling with one of the backs in Detroit, it's Jahmyr Gibbs. That makes Montgomery the odd man out. We wouldn't be shocked if Montgomery were to be the guy, nonetheless, we aren't willing to bet on it. 

D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles

Swift has a brutal matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, who are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Combine the matchup with a struggling offense and a lack of volume and we just don't trust him this week. It doesn't help that he is so often tackled on the one-yard line, just for Jalen Hurts to score a TD. We are avoiding him this week and against any less-than-ideal matchups in the playoffs should the Eagles advance. 

 

Toss Ups

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

We don't love or hate Ford this week. His fantasy value will come down to what it usually does; does he find the end zone or not? The one thing he does have going for him is that Kareem Hunt is banged up so he could see a bump in volume. Still, we can't see rolling with him in DFS or playoff fantasy this week as anything more than a contrarian pick. 

Devin Singletary, Houston Texans

Singletary has clearly become the back to own in Houston, but we don't love him this week. We don't hate him either though. At the end of the day, we know he's going to get plenty of work and should be decently productive. It's also a tough matchup and an unpredictable game script. We don't mind grabbing him in DFS this week, but there are probably better options. 

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Jones is still an excellent running back and has been playing well. With all the injuries to the wideouts and AJ Dillon being less than 100%, he should see most of the running back opportunities too. Still, the Cowboys have a very good defense and could open up a very big lead quickly. If Jones doesn't get it going early on in this one, he could be a non-factor in the second half and give you a disastrous game. He does have some things going for him, but we also don't trust him.