The running back is one of the trickier positions to choose in fantasy football. Some people like to secure an RB1 in the first round and others don’t mind waiting until the second or third round to grab a back who may surprise in the season.
Schedule is something to consider as well. Some running backs definitely head out of the gate with easier early season schedules then others. Here are five running backs who have lighter schedules during the first four weeks of the 2015 NFL season.
Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals
Hill and the Bengals start off the season with a road game against the Oakland Raiders. Last year, the Raiders allowed the most fantasy points at an average of 23.16 per week to running backs. Next for Hill is a home game against the San Diego Chargers who allowed a staggering 267 rushing yards during the last two games of the 2014 season. Hill could certainly take advantage of that stat.
Week 3 has the Bengals in Baltimore to face the Ravens who also allowed over 100 rushing yards per game in the last two weeks of the 2014 season. In Week 4, the Bengals host the Kansas City Chiefs who gave up an average of 112.6 yards on the ground to opposing running backs last year.
Hill looks to have a lighter opening schedule and makes the case for an lower-end RB1 as long as the Bengals don’t pull a switcheroo and put Giovani Bernard back into heavy action.
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After getting burned by Martin for the past two seasons, many may still wish to stay far away despite the running back’s easier early-season schedule. That is completely understandable.
However, in Week 1 Martin and team host the Tennessee Titans horrific defense who allowed the most total yards per game at an average of 124.3 to running backs last year. Things remain in Martin’s favor in Week 2 on the road against the New Orleans Saints. Even with some enhancements, keep in mind the Saints allowed the fourth most rushing and the most receiving yards to their running back opposition last year.
If Martin is still on his feet in Week 3, the Bucs host the Houston Texans. He’ll be a bit more challenged by the Texans who ranked within the top 16 defenses in stopping the run last year. If he can tough it out, Martin will face Panthers in Week 4 who allowed the seventh-most rushing scores to be made by running backs last season.
Martin, who is reportedly in better shape entering into what is a make it or break it season, may just surprise those who grab him in later draft rounds.
Chris Ivory, New York Jets
For those taking their chances with Ivory as a flex, he may see a lot of ground time early in the season, due to the Jets quarterback situation being influx.
This is a good thing for Ivory who faces in his first four games, defenses who all ranked within the bottom 16 in stopping the run last year. In Week 1 the Jets host the Browns who allowed the second-most rushing yards on average per game (119) last season. Next, the Jets travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts who gave up an awful 446 rushing yards during the last four weeks of the 2014 season.
The Jets play the Eagles in Week 3 who also fell apart towards the end of last season. They generously allowed an average of 101 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown per game during the last four weeks of 2014.
Week 4 has the Jets hosting the Miami Dolphins who allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs during the last stretch of the 2014 season.
By no means is Ivory a slam-dunk starter, however, if perplexed on who to start in a flex spot, Ivory makes a respectable pinch-hitter early on.
Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts
Gore faces his first fantasy season as a member of a new team. Hopefully for those who draft Gore, he’ll continue with the trend of producing at least 1,000-plus yards per year as he did for nearly every season he played with his former team.
The good news is Gore should be off to a nice start this season. Week 1 has the Colts playing at the Buffalo Bills. The Bills gave up a generous average of 114 yards and one touchdown per game during the last part of the 2014 season.
In Week 2 the Colts host the Jets whose defense totally crashed late last season and give up 254 ground yards and three rushing scores in the final two weeks of the year. Gore may face a beefier Jets defense this year, however, the numbers are still in his favor.
In Weeks 3 and 4, Gore should have no problem plowing through the Titans third-worst and Jaguars sixth-worst ranked run defenses from last season.
It should be an exciting journey for those who put their trust in Gore to reward higher-end RB2 numbers this season.
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Utilize Stewart as your flex while he is healthy and hot which is at the beginning of the season. Stewart has some great early-season matchups which start off with the Panthers playing on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags allowed the sixth-most fantasy points and fifth-most rushing yards last season to running backs. While a home game against the Houston Texans could challenge Stewart more, he has a smooth-sailing schedule the following two weeks with a home matchup against the Saints and a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Saints were horrendous at stopping the run last year, allowing an average of 22.21 fantasy points per week to opposing running backs. As for the Bucs, they allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to the position last year.
Stewart strictly makes for a plug and play weekly option when matchups are favorable and he is healthy. Draft him accordingly as RB4 depth for your roster.