Divisional Round Running Back Start/Sit: Isiah Pacheco, James Cook, Gus Edwards, Aaron Jones and More

Start

Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

Of course, you're starting CMC. He will be the most expensive back on any DFS slate and well worth every dollar. He's the top fantasy running back in the league and has the best matchup this week. His price tag may not come cheap, but he is going to torch the Packers through the air and on the ground. Plus, the odds are that San Fran will be up big and running the clock out in the fourth quarter. 

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens

We have learned to stop betting against Edwards here at FantasySP. He is always a constant in Baltimore and he's always their go-to guy when it matters most. It doesn't matter if Dalvin Cook is there now because Edwards is just their guy. The Ravens should have their way with the Texans and be pounding the ball early and often. This should be a huge game for Edwards and the Ravens' rushing attack. 

Rachaad White. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Lions are a brutal matchup on the ground. Nevertheless, White doesn't get his points on the ground. He's a PPR guy who catches a bunch of short passes a piles up points. Last week was a disappointment for him through the air because Tampa shockingly blew out Philly right out of the gates. We don't expect that to be the case this week. The Bucs should be throwing throughout this game and plenty of them should head White's way. 
 

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Gibbs is once again our running back of choice in Detroit. The Bucs are very tough against the run. So we are going to go with the more explosive back who is better in the passing game. It's going to be difficult to rack up five-yard gain after five-yard gain. That's why we are rolling with the back who can break the big play and get yards in chunks. As always, David Montgomery can score two TDs and make us look foolish, nonetheless, if we are picking one Lions running back, it's going to be Gibbs this week. 
 

Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

Pacheco is a beast who is going to slam the ball into the Bills' defense 20 times on Sunday night. We also anticipate that the Chiefs will win which would put the game script in his favor. With Jerick McKinnon out, Pacheco also gets the pass-catching downs along with the bulk of the carries, and the red zone work. He's emerging as one of the best young backs in the NFL and expect him to shine on Sunday in an average matchup against the Bills.  

Sit 

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

We do not expect Cook to fare as well on Sunday night. When it comes right down to it, Josh Allen is always going to try to be Superman in the biggest games. Cook has been outstanding, but he's too expensive this week for a running back with a bad matchup who gets so many TDs vultured from him. The Chiefs are one of the 10 best defenses in the league when it comes to slowing down fantasy running backs and they showed why last week against a dynamic Dolphins' backfield. No one should be shocked if Allen leads the Bills in rushing this week. 

Devin Singletary, Houston Texans

Singletary has far exceeded expectations all season, but we don't see much going right for the Texans this weekend. They will be overmatched by the Ravens which will cause them to abandon a rushing attack that they probably won't get going in the first place. We want no part of Singletary or anyone in that Houston offense on Saturday. 

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Jones was spectacular last week and is the second most expensive DFS running back this week. It makes sense coming off a three-TD game with AJ Dillon likely sidelined again. However, we aren't willing to pay his price. Not against the 49ers' defense in a game they are projected to be significantly trailing in. We can't count on him piling up TDs again this week. Sure, he scored three last week, but he had two the entire season prior. His streak of 110 rushing yards in every game since Christmas Eve will also be stalled by a stout 49ers' front seven who have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season and the second-fewest rushing yards in the league to the position. 
 

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

As we mentioned earlier, if Montgomery finds the end zone he will make us look silly. However, we don't love his upside without the TDs and Gibbs is getting more work down near the end zone now. The Bucs are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season and have allowed the fewest rushing TDs in the league to the position. There is no way we can justify putting Montgomery in our DFS lineups when he costs more than Edwards and is the second-best option on his own team this week.