Week 2 Committee Report Highlights

Quick: Name the two running backs tied for the league lead in rushing attempts. Michael Turner is an easy one, the guy is a horse. The other one may come as a bit of a surprise.
Cedric Benson is tied with Turner with 50 carries through two games. He’s getting 4.3 yards per carry, way up from his 3.7 average coming into this season. He’s a nice "sell high" guy before he gets exposed in Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
But the majority of the league’s backs aren’t in the same situation as Turner and Benson. Here’s a look at how the carries were distributed in six of the more interesting running back committee situations around the league in Week 2.
SEAHAWKS
Julius Jones: 8
Justin Forsett: 5
Edgerrin James: 2
Justin Griffith: 1
This situation took an interesting turn in Week 2 when Jones left with an “ankle” injury. But since coach Jim Mora said it’s not a significant injury and Jones wasn’t on the injury report, there’s speculation that Julius was pulled. Beat writer Danny O’Neil says that’s not true, it’s simply a case of the Seahawks going to one-back sets, Jones being nicked and the coaches wanting Forsett in there for receiving.
Either way, the only back with any upside here is Forsett. He’s worth a stash in deeper leagues, especially PPR leagues. O’Neil thinks James is still the No. 2 back, but we’ll be monitoring how it plays out on the field going forward.
BUCS
Derrick Ward 9
Carnell Williams: 7
Earnest Graham: 2
It’s two series on, two series off right now for Caddy and Ward. Graham has been relegated to almost strictly a lead blocker. It’s going to take an injury to make someone valuable here.
JETS
Thomas Jones: 14
Leon Washington: 14
The Jets are committed to getting Washington 20 total touches a game and are following through on that promise. This team wants to run a ton so there is enough room for production from both backs. Shonn Greene is a non-factor barring injury.
DOLPHINS
Ronnie Brown: 24
Ricky Williams: 19
Lousaka Polite: 3
Patrick Cobbs: 2
After watching Monday night’s game, it’s clear Williams has some gas left in the tank. He hit the hole really hard and will continue to take a lot of carries away from Brown. It’s not often a team hands the ball off 48 times in a game, so all these numbers are inflated from the norm.
BRONCOS
Knowshon Moreno: 17
Correll Buckhalter: 9
LaMont Jordan: 7
Peyton Hillis: 1
Moreno is starting to take hold of this job. Buckhalter has a better yard per carry average, but it’s inflated by the 45-yard touchdown run he broke off last week.
RAVENS
Willis McGahee: 15
Ray Rice: 8
LeRon McClain: 4
Watching last week’s game was tough pill to swallow for Rice owners. We don’t want to overreact to one week, but it proved that the Ravens are willing to go with the hot hand. In Sunday’s case, that was McGahee. Rice ran well and still got decent total yardage, but McGahee’s presence is obviously a threat to Rice’s value. That said, even in a committee, there’s enough room for both these guys to be in lineups most weeks.
COMMITTEE REPORT QUICK HITTERS
Beanie Wells had just seven carries for the second straight week and fumbled twice. He’s still a ways off from supplanting Tim Hightower. … On the season, DeAngelo Williams has 30 carries while Jonathan Stewart has 20. … Donald Brown is playing in the critical portions of games but Joseph Addai actually had two runs of 10 yards or more Monday night on just six carries. It’s an even timeshare for now. … Ahmad Bradshaw has seven less yards than Brandon Jacobs this season on 11 less carries. … Rashard Mendenhall is reportedly gaining on Willie Parker but we haven’t seen it on the field yet in terms of carries.





Comments
There is going to be some bad weather specifically on the East Coast this weekend. Thought I would help anyone interested out with some upcoming conditions for Sunday as they set their lineups. I am hoping that Rotoworld will someday add weather forecasts for their Season Pass members. Good Luck!!
Kansas City at Philadelphia
72 degrees - 50% chance of rain
Wind S at 8 mph
Green Bay at St. Louis
Indoors
San Francisco at Minnesota
Indoors
Cleveland at Baltimore
72 degrees - 50% chance of rain
Wind SW at 6 mph
New York Giants at Tampa Bay
90 degrees - slight chance of T-storm
Wind WSW at 2 mph
Jacksonville at Houston
Indoors if conditions warrant
Tennessee at New York Jets
72 degrees - 50% chance of rain
Wind S at 9 mph
Atlanta at New England
70 degrees - 50% chance of T-storm
Wind S at 9 mph
Washington at Detroit
Indoors
Chicago at Seattle
68 degrees - clear
Wind N at 7 mph
New Orleans at Buffalo
66 degrees - 60% chance of rain
Wind WSW 9 mph
Miami at San Diego
79 degrees - clear
Wind W at 7 mph
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
67 degrees - partly cloudy
Wind SW at 8 mph
Denver at Oakland
76 degrees - clear
Wind SW at 6 mph
Indianapolis at Arizona
Indoors if conditions warrant
Carolina at Dallas
Indoors if conditions warrant
Posted by: Quiet Storm | September 24, 2009 09:55 PM
is rice still a decent flex play? I have Barber/T.Choice and am trying to figure out who to go with
Posted by: Anonymous | September 25, 2009 02:13 PM
man, i dont know how long it takes Silva to write up that Matchups report (im guesing all week) but a job well done. pretty amazing.
Posted by: scott c | September 25, 2009 02:20 PM
Silva's match-up report is one of the highlights of Season Pass this year for me along with the new Red Zone report by the new guy. I only wish it was NOT free and available to everyone. I would prefer it to be available to subscribers of Season Pass to maintain an "edge."
Posted by: Quiet Storm | September 25, 2009 05:24 PM
Definitely like Silva's matchup column. Awesome.
To the above anonymous, yes, Rice is a great flex play. Just be glad you're not forced to start him as an RB2 like me. Thanks for the injuries Pierre and Barber!
Posted by: JS | September 26, 2009 11:30 AM
lot about you
Posted by: Samoys | October 3, 2009 01:32 PM
lot about you
Posted by: Samoys | October 3, 2009 01:33 PM