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Brett Mitchell (@BrettMitchellFB) takes a look at which running backs you should be stashing on your benches as the fantasy playoffs draw near.
Hells to the yeah, my fellow #AllBenchRB truthers. For those of you who don’t know what #AllBenchRB is, let me give you a short recap before I get to the goods. #AllBenchRB is a strategy I’ve coined where you fill your bench with, as the name implies, only RBs. Or at least as many running backs as the bye schedule, injuries, and other outside factors will allow without wrecking your team.
We do this because the running back position has by far the greatest variability with injuries and depth chart changes; affording you the opportunity to pick up week winners -- and maybe even season-long league winners. There has already been some significant movement in the backfields of 16 teams already this season!
Here is the key component of the #AllBenchRB strategy: Stack your bench with backs that would boom with an injury or depth chart change rather than a one-dimensional type back. For instance, should something happen to the Ravens' lead back Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards would receive an enormous opportunity share, whereas Justice Hill would operate with satellite duties. I want Gus the Bus while you other jabronis can stash Justice Hill, Nyheim Hines, Chris Thompson, and so on.
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Just to prove this strategy's worth, let me highlight some names I've already been touting to my #AllBenchRB believers out there. I've said to pick up Chase Edmunds, Latavius Murray, Jamaal Williams, Kenyan Drake, Jaylen Samuels, and even Wayne Gallman. And I advised to pick up guys like Jordan Howard, Tevin Coleman, Ronald Jones, Duke Johnson on the wire when others foolishly dropped them for flash-in-the-pan WRs. And most importantly, I said to stash Derrius Guice and Brian Hill on your bench. So that's working out.
Let's talk about the must-have stashes heading into the latter part of the season. Many of these names are already known quantities, but it’s possible they live on the wire because of bye weeks. Take advantage and fill that bench so that you can possibly hit the lotto and win your league. Remember, last season it was late season pick-ups like Damian Williams that wound up being on a high percentage of championship rosters. Without further ado, here are the RBs:
The Handsome Ones
Gus Edwards, Alexander Mattison, Tony Pollard, Ryquell Armstead, Reggie Bonnafon, LeSean McCoy
These guys have already shown how studly they are. They can even be considered for flex spots in tough weeks because they have been so efficient with limited opportunities.
Alexander and Gus are my favorite stashes period and I'm gonna tell you why. These handsome devils are already producing and they are on playoff bound teams. I believe that each of these teams will look to rest their studs (Dalvin Cook, Mark Ingram) as the season progresses providing greater opportunity shares for the backups. This dynamic could provide for fantasy playoff gold right before real season playoffs and you should take advantage. So, not only do my favorites serve as lotto tickets waiting to explode should their respective starting RBs go down, but they should have stand alone value in weeks 14-17.
The Unsexy
Adrian Peterson, Rashaad Penny, Darrell Henderson, Chase Edmonds, Trey Edmunds, Frank Gore, Jordan Wilkins, Wayne Gallman, Giovani Bernard, Dion Lewis, Raheem Mostert, Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell
These players may lack the dynamism of the gentlemen above, play for teams with bad lines or offenses and/or lack as clear of a path to success. And while these factors may create the perception that you are wasting bench spots and passing up on sexier adds like James Washington, no one will laugh when some of them inevitably come to fruition. Remember, opportunity trumps looks and some of these ugly suckas could help you win the whole thing. FYI, Brian Hill, the main waiver add this week, was unsexy two weeks ago and a deep dive before that. My favorite in this category is Raheem Mostert, because the starters are injury prone and San Fran may very well rest them before the playoffs. My other favorite is Darrell Henderson because he's looked dynamic and the Rams may continue limiting Gurley's carries.
Deeper Dives
Damien Harris, Jay Ajayi, Mike Davis, Myles Gaskin, Malcolm Brown, Darrel Williams, C.J. Prosise, Kenjon Barner
You have a very good record, and most of the guys above are taken. Keep an eye out for injuries and see who moves up in the depth chart. Remember, these replacements are far less stable than the starting RB they replaced i.e. Kenjon Barner/Brian Hill
Stay Strong
Ladies and Gents, it’s hard to stay prudent. It’s hard to keep an #AllBenchRB week after week when there's so much candy being dangled on the Waiver Wire. Oh, delicious, let me grab yet another fringe WR that I’m not even sure I can start and may be irrelevant next week. Each and every bench spot is so valuable, so optimize that value by stashing lottery tickets.
And please reach out to me on Twitter @BrettMitchellFB to let me know about your RB stash successes or with any questions you may have. I also know a thing or two about other positions and strategies.
You can also catch Brett on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (channel Sirius 201, XM 87) with Real Talk Raph and Josh Hayes on Friday mornings at 6:30 am ET.
