RB Touches and Efficiency Breakdown - Week 7 Preview

Week 7 is a big bye week for fantasy owners and many are scrambling this week to find replacement players. If you have been working the waiver wire all year, you may already be in a good position to succeed. If not, we need to look at some weekly trends to determine who you should play this week.

This article is all about watching how a backfield is being used for every team. Snap counts are very useful, but I want to know what a player is doing when he has the ball in his hands. Anytime a running back gets a touch, what is being done with that touch?

Watching a trend with touches for running backs will not only let us know their usage for any given week or period, but how effective they are with the ball. High volume plus high effectiveness is always the best outcome. High volume with low effectiveness can be great and low volume with high effectiveness can be streaky at times. Let’s dive into our Week 7 preview.

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RB Touches and Efficiency Breakdown

Week 6 Report

Teams	Car	Rec	Total Touches	Total Yards	Yards Per Touch	%RB Touches	Week 1%	Week 2%	Week 3%	Week 4%	Week 5%	Week 6%
Arizona Cardinals
David Johnson	18	2	20	70	3.5	95%	64%	70%	76%	86%	95%	95%
Yearly Total	92	17	109	433	4	81%
Chase Edmonds	1	0	1	4	4	5%	36%	30%	24%	14%	5%	5%
Yearly Total	15	10	25	82	3.3	19%
Atlanta Falcons
Devonta Freeman	0	0	0	0	0	0%	47%	0%	0%	0%	43%	0%
Yearly Total	14	5	19	91	4.8	13%
Tevin Coleman	10	1	11	41	3.7	46%	53%	69%	77%	63%	39%	46%
Yearly Total	71	13	84	365	4.3	58%
Ito Smith	11	2	13	21	1.6	54%	0%	31%	23%	37%	17%	54%
Yearly Total	32	9	41	168	4.1	28%
Baltimore Ravens
Kenneth Dixon	0	0	0	0	0	0%	43%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	13	0	13	44	3.4	8%
Javorius Allen	1	3	4	19	4.8	12%	30%	48%	30%	46%	50%	12%
Yearly Total	35	24	59	246	4.2	35%
Alex Collins	19	0	19	54	2.8	58%	27%	52%	70%	46%	46%	58%
Yearly Total	76	9	85	348	4.1	50%
Gus Edwards	10	0	10	42	4.2	30%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	30%
Yearly Total	10	0	10	42	4.2	6%
De'Lance Turner	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	0%	8%	4%	0%
Yearly Total	1	2	3	21	7	2%
Buffalo Bills
LeSean McCoy	16	3	19	94	4.9	73%	47%	65%	0%	57%	65%	73%
Yearly Total	61	13	74	330	4.5	50%
Marcus Murphy	0	0	0	0	0	0%	35%	20%	28%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	17	2	19	78	4.1	13%
Chris Ivory	6	1	7	9	1.3	27%	18%	15%	72%	43%	35%	27%
Yearly Total	51	5	56	233	4.2	38%
Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffrey	8	7	15	66	4.4	100%	67%	88%	88%	N/A	81%	100%
Yearly Total	71	34	105	587	5.6	84%
CJ Anderson	0	0	0	0	0	0%	29%	12%	9%	N/A	15%	0%
Yearly Total	16	1	17	108	6.4	14%
Alex Armah	0	0	0	0	0	0%	4%	0%	3%	N/A	4%	0%
Yearly Total	3	0	3	6	2	2%
Chicago Bears
Jordan Howard	14	0	14	69	4.9	48%	71%	77%	76%	34%	N/A	48%
Yearly Total	78	10	88	350	4	61%
Tarik Cohen	5	7	12	121	10.1	41%	29%	23%	24%	63%	N/A	41%
Yearly Total	32	21	53	429	8.1	37%
Benny Cunningham	3	0	3	8	2.7	10%	0%	0%	0%	3%	N/A	10%
Yearly Total	4	0	4	8	2	3%
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon	11	4	15	84	5.6	88%	92%	69%	0%	0%	93%	88%
Yearly Total	71	13	84	435	5.2	59%
Giovani Bernard	0	0	0	0	0	0%	8%	31%	100%	73%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	34	14	48	237	4.9	34%
Mark Walton	2	0	2	-2	-1	12%	0%	0%	0%	27%	7%	12%
Yearly Total	7	4	11	38	3.5	8%
Cleveland Browns
Carlos Hyde	14	0	14	34	2.4	61%	79%	71%	81%	71%	65%	61%
Yearly Total	114	4	118	397	3.4	72%
Duke Johnson	2	4	6	109	18.2	26%	21%	21%	13%	19%	23%	26%
Yearly Total	19	14	33	274	8.3	20%
Nick Chubb	3	0	3	25	8.3	13%	0%	8%	6%	10%	12%	13%
Yearly Total	13	0	13	152	11.7	8%
Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott	24	1	25	117	4.7	76%	95%	88%	83%	78%	87%	76%
Yearly Total	117	23	140	752	5.4	83%
Rod Smith	5	0	5	4	0.8	15%	5%	0%	0%	19%	10%	15%
Yearly Total	15	1	16	41	2.6	10%
Tavon Austin	2	1	3	19	6.3	9%	0%	12%	17%	3%	3%	9%
Yearly Total	5	7	12	184	15.3	7%
Denver Broncos
Phillip Lindsay	4	6	10	66	6.6	43%	47%	56%	14%	58%	54%	43%
Yearly Total	61	14	75	450	6	45%
Royce Freeman	9	0	9	22	2.4	39%	42%	30%	48%	33%	29%	39%
Yearly Total	58	4	62	296	4.8	37%
Devontae Booker	2	2	4	29	7.3	17%	11%	11%	34%	8%	18%	17%
Yearly Total	13	15	28	176	6.3	17%
Andy Janovich	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	4%	3%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	1	1	2	13	6.5	1%
Detroit Lions
Theo Riddick	0	0	0	0	0		43%	29%	8%	23%	16%	N/A
Yearly Total	8	23	31	168	5.4	22%
Kerryon Johnson	0	0	0	0	0		38%	42%	46%	45%	45%	N/A
Yearly Total	50	13	63	354	5.6	44%
LeGarrette Blount	0	0	0	0	0		19%	29%	46%	32%	39%	N/A
Yearly Total	47	3	50	144	2.9	35%
Green Bay Packers
Jamaal Williams	6	1	7	39	5.6	33%	75%	76%	29%	37%	36%	33%
Yearly Total	59	8	67	273	4.1	47%
Ty Montgomery	4	2	6	22	3.7	29%	25%	24%	42%	23%	23%	29%
Yearly Total	24	15	39	266	6.8	27%
Aaron Jones	8	0	8	41	5.1	38%	0%	0%	29%	40%	41%	38%
Yearly Total	32	4	36	229	6.4	25%
Houston Texans
Lamar Miller	15	2	17	71	4.2	65%	81%	70%	75%	52%	0%	65%
Yearly Total	73	10	83	350	4.2	55%
Alfred Blue	7	2	9	43	4.8	35%	19%	30%	25%	48%	100%	35%
Yearly Total	56	11	67	282	4.2	45%
Indianapolis Colts
Jordan Wilkins	0	0	0	0	0	0%	59%	43%	44%	35%	27%	0%
Yearly Total	44	9	53	208	3.9	35%
Nyheim Hines	3	2	5	35	7	22%	41%	18%	56%	57%	73%	22%
Yearly Total	36	31	67	302	4.5	44%
Marlon Mack	12	1	13	93	7.2	57%	0%	39%	0%	0%	0%	57%
Yearly Total	22	2	24	129	5.4	16%
Robert Turbin	4	1	5	13	2.6	22%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	22%
Yearly Total	4	1	5	13	2.6	3%
Jeremy McNichols	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	0%	9%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	2	0	2	4	2	1%
Jacksonville Jaguars
T. J. Yeldon	8	3	11	70	6.4	65%	57%	55%	62%	58%	86%	65%
Yearly Total	67	25	92	522	5.7	63%
Leonard Fournette	0	0	0	0	0	0%	40%	0%	0%	33%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	20	4	24	90	3.8	16%
Corey Grant	0	0	0	0	0	0%	3%	45%	33%	8%	5%	0%
Yearly Total	13	9	22	107	4.9	15%
Brandon Wilds	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	5%	0%	10%	0%
Yearly Total	3	0	3	11	3.7	2%
Jamaal Charles	5	1	6	10	1.7	35%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	35%
Yearly Total	5	1	6	10	1.7	4%
Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt	10	5	15	185	12.3	75%	80%	95%	86%	92%	88%	75%
Yearly Total	103	10	113	627	5.5	86%
Spencer Ware	2	2	4	14	3.5	20%	20%	5%	14%	8%	8%	20%
Yearly Total	10	6	16	106	6.6	12%
Damien Williams	1	0	1	1	1	5%	0%	0%	0%	0%	4%	5%
Yearly Total	2	0	2	1	0.5	2%
Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon	18	2	20	150	7.5	65%	71%	52%	71%	69%	77%	65%
Yearly Total	91	30	121	745	6.2	67%
Austin Ekeler	7	0	7	60	8.6	23%	29%	48%	29%	31%	23%	23%
Yearly Total	41	14	55	470	8.5	31%
Justin Jackson	3	1	4	12	3	13%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	13%
Yearly Total	3	1	4	12	3	2%
Los Angeles Rams
Todd Gurley	28	2	30	225	7.5	86%	100%	65%	85%	100%	100%	86%
Yearly Total	129	21	150	870	5.8	87%
Malcom Brown	5	0	5	24	4.8	14%	0%	35%	15%	0%	0%	14%
Yearly Total	22	0	22	0	0	13%
Miami Dolphins
Kenyan Drake	13	4	17	78	4.6	52%	65%	60%	54%	22%	50%	52%
Yearly Total	52	21	73	355	4.9	52%
Frank Gore	15	1	16	119	7.4	48%	35%	40%	46%	72%	46%	48%
Yearly Total	62	4	66	356	5.4	47%
Kalen Ballage	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	0%	6%	4%	0%
Yearly Total	2	0	2	5	2.5	1%
Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook	0	0	0	0	0	0%	67%	76%	0%	67%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	36	9	45	205	4.6	37%
Latavius Murray	24	1	25	158	6.3	93%	33%	24%	70%	27%	68%	93%
Yearly Total	54	10	64	324	5.1	53%
Mike Boone	1	0	1	20	20	4%	0%	0%	30%	0%	5%	4%
Yearly Total	4	1	5	32	6.4	4%
Roc Thomas	1	0	1	-4	-4	4%	0%	0%	0%	7%	26%	4%
Yearly Total	6	1	7	14	2	6%
New England Patriots
Rex Burkhead	0	0	0	0	0	0%	58%	21%	8%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	24	3	27	117	4.3	14%
James White	6	5	11	92	8.4	29%	27%	39%	29%	39%	39%	29%
Yearly Total	29	37	66	472	7.2	34%
Sony Michel	24	0	24	106	4.4	63%	0%	39%	63%	61%	61%	63%
Yearly Total	91	3	94	418	4.4	48%
Jeremy Hill	0	0	0	0	0	0%	15%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	4	1	5	31	6.2	3%
Kenjon Barner	3	0	3	16	5.3	8%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	8%
Yearly Total	3	0	3	16	5.3	2%
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara	0	0	0	0	0		81%	68%	86%	83%	33%	N/A
Yearly Total	62	38	100	650	6.5	71%
Mike Gillislee	0	0	0	0	0		14%	29%	8%	10%	0%	N/A
Yearly Total	16	1	17	52	3.1	12%
Jonathan Williams	0	0	0	0	0		5%	4%	6%	0%	0%	N/A
Yearly Total	3	1	4	1	0.3	3%
Mark Ingram	0	0	0	0	0		0%	0%	0%	0%	67%	N/A
Yearly Total	16	2	18	73	4.1	13%
Dwayne Washington	0	0	0	0	0		0%	0%	0%	7%	0%	N/A
Yearly Total	2	0	2	2	1	1%
New York Giants
Saquon Barkley	13	9	22	229	10.4	79%	80%	93%	73%	76%	100%	79%
Yearly Total	84	40	124	811	6.5	83%
Jonathan Stewart	0	0	0	0	0	0%	8%	0%	7%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	4	0	4	16	4	3%
Wayne Gallman	4	2	6	42	7	21%	12%	7%	20%	24%	0%	21%
Yearly Total	14	8	22	101	4.6	15%
New York Jets
Bilal Powell	16	0	16	59	3.7	52%	43%	42%	44%	71%	56%	52%
Yearly Total	75	10	85	428	5	50%
Isaiah Crowell	13	2	15	52	3.5	48%	33%	58%	56%	29%	44%	48%
Yearly Total	70	8	78	478	6.1	46%
Trenton Cannon	0	0	0	0	0	0%	23%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	6	1	7	21	3	4%
Oakland Raiders
Jalen Richards	2	7	9	51	5.7	35%	42%	7%	16%	13%	35%	35%
Yearly Total	11	31	42	285	6.8	24%
Marshawn Lynch	13	3	16	59	3.7	62%	39%	67%	59%	72%	55%	62%
Yearly Total	90	15	105	460	4.4	59%
Doug Martin	0	1	1	8	8	4%	18%	27%	24%	16%	10%	4%
Yearly Total	27	4	31	110	3.5	17%
Philadelphia Eagles
Jay Ajay	0	0	0	0	0	0%	52%	42%	0%	69%	60%	0%
Yearly Total	45	5	50	204	4.1	32%
Darren Sproles	0	0	0	0	0	0%	31%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	5	4	9	32	3.6	6%
Corey Clement	11	3	14	120	8.6	42%	17%	58%	59%	0%	0%	42%
Yearly Total	38	11	49	306	6.2	32%
Wendell Smallwood	18	1	19	51	2.7	58%	0%	0%	41%	31%	40%	58%
Yearly Total	36	10	46	264	5.7	30%
Pittsburgh Steelers
James Conner	19	4	23	129	5.6	96%	100%	87%	87%	100%	83%	96%
Yearly Total	103	26	129	710	5.5	100%
Steven Ridley	1	0	1	2	2	4%	0%	13%	13%	0%	17%	4%
Yearly Total	0	0	0	0	0	0%
San Francisco 49ers
Alfred Morris	0	0	0	0	0	0%	50%	53%	48%	29%	58%	0%
Yearly Total	62	6	68	294	4.3	42%
Matt Breida	14	0	14	61	4.4	54%	50%	47%	45%	71%	25%	54%
Yearly Total	63	11	74	520	7	46%
Raheem Mostert	12		12	87	7.3	46%	0%	0%	7%	0%	17%	46%
Yearly Total	18	2	20	104	5.2	12%
Seattle Seahawks
Rashaad Penny	9	2	11	70	6.4	34%	52%	53%	8%	26%	0%	34%
Yearly Total	38	6	44	197	4.5	25%
Chris Carson	14	0	14	59	4.2	44%	48%	32%	92%	0%	59%	44%
Yearly Total	78	6	84	413	4.9	47%
C.J. Procise	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	16%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Yearly Total	0	3	3	22	7.3	2%
Mike Davis	6	1	7	26	3.7	22%	0%	0%	0%	74%	41%	22%
Yearly Total	39	7	46	225	4.9	26%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Peyton Barber	13	4	17	106	6.2	81%	83%	65%	57%	42%	N/A	81%
Yearly Total	63	6	69	267	3.9	67%
Jacquizz Rodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0%	13%	31%	29%	0%	N/A	0%
Yearly Total	9	6	15	56	3.7	15%
Shaun Wilson	0	0	0	0	0	0%	4%	4%	14%	0%	N/A	0%
Yearly Total	2	2	4	24	6	4%
Ronald Jones	1	3	4	19	4.8	19%	0%	0%	0%	58%	N/A	19%
Yearly Total	11	4	15	47	3.1	15%
Tennessee Titans
Dion Lewis	5	2	7	14	2	47%	66%	45%	40%	57%	58%	47%
Yearly Total	60	23	83	321	3.9	52%
Derrick Henry	7	1	8	26	3.3	53%	34%	55%	60%	43%	42%	53%
Yearly Total	72	4	76	257	3.4	48%
Washington Redskins
Adrian Peterson	17	0	17	97	5.7	77%	67%	44%	68%	N/A	25%	77%
Yearly Total	77	7	84	475	5.7	57%
Chris Thompson	0	0	0	0	0	0%	26%	53%	25%	N/A	58%	0%
Yearly Total	23	26	49	297	6.1	33%
Rob Kelley	0	0	0	0	0	0%	7%	3%	0%	N/A	0%	0%
Yearly Total	4	0	4	8	2	3%
Kapri Bibbs	2	1	3	17	5.7	14%	0%	0%	7%	N/A	17%	14%
Yearly Total	8	1	9	29	3.2	6%
Samaje Perine	1	1	2	0	0	9%	0%	0%	0%	N/A	0%	9%
Yearly Total	1	1	2	0	0	1%

 

Can we start trusting Alex Collins again?

I’ll be the first to say it’s been frustrating not only being an Alex Collins owner this season, but a Collins truther. This was a guy I had high in the rankings heading into the season, projecting a solid RB2 return, but it hasn’t worked out that way. I thought the goal line fumble two weeks ago was going to be the nail in the coffin for Collins, but behold! Collins was able to convert two touchdowns in the red zone last week.

The fact is, Javorius Allen is not that good and not nearly good enough to make Collins irrelevant. Allen is highly touchdown dependent and needs to have a big games catching passes to help return value in PPR leagues. Collins is still the lead back in Baltimore, evidenced by having 50% of the running back touches for the Ravens through six weeks. If the volume for Collins was the same as Carlos Hyde, Collins would be near RB1 status, he just hasn’t gotten that type of volume. Don’t give up on Collins, last weeks two touchdown performance could be a kick start for him.

Jordan Howard vs Tarik Cohen

Tarik Cohen truthers rejoice! Off-season promises by Matt Nagy that Cohen was going to be a vital part of this offense may finally be coming true. Cohen has been hot the past two games, getting 63% of the carries in Week 4 and 41% of the carries in Week 6. Cohen has told Jordan Howard to step back because he has this.

Cohen is also sporting a healthy 8.1 yards per touch this season on 32 touches. That number will likely come down as he handles more volume, but at this point, his impressive play the last two games warrant more opportunities. Ride the hot hand while it’s hot. If you are a Howard owner, hopefully, he was only a RB2 or RB3 for you. Cohen will severally limit Howard’s weekly upside since he is making an impact on the ground and in the year.

Meet Kerryon Johnson, RB1 in Week 7

Maybe a little too much too soon, but reports are that Theo Riddick may not be healthy for Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. If Riddick is out for some reason, then Kerryon Johnson is going to get all the pass work out of the backfield. If that happens and he is just as efficient as he has been, then we could see a big week in the making.

The Dolphins have given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Johnson has averaged 12.6 touches per game while Riddick has averaged 6.2 touches per game. If Johnson can get to 20 touches this Sunday against the Dolphins while keeping his 5.6 yards per touch, he’ll have over 100 yards of total offense. I don’t think Matt Patricia can even keep Johnson owners down this week.

Is Marlon Mack really back?

The turnstile at running back could finally be over if Marlon Mack is healthy and can stick in the lineup. Mack saw 13 touches in Week 6 and averaged 7.2 yards per touch. If the Colts can get Mack and Nyheim Hines, who also averaged 7.0 yards per touch, working together, this could be a backfield that helps to take pressure off Andrew Luck.

The Colts still need to get Hines the ball in the passing game. Hines has averaged 4.5 yards per touch this season on 67 touches, the most for any running back in Indianapolis this season. Hines disappeared last week though with only five touches. Hines could end up being dependent on game script, but if Mack can handle a majority of the running calls, Hines could be much more effective in the slot and in the backfield.

Patrick Mahomes does know how to throw to Kareem Hunt

Heading into Week 6, Kareem Hunt only had five receptions in the first five weeks of the season. Last week against the Patriots, he had five receptions for the night. The buy low window is officially closed and hopefully, Mahomes will find Hunt more often now.

Hunt had been playing well this season, but the dual-threat running back we came to know last season was gone. If he can start making an impact in the passing game, Hunt could be a top five running back by the end of the season. The Chiefs offense is explosive enough for Hunt to start pulling some more targets and not affect others.

Who is Raheem Mostert and should you invest?

Since waivers have already processed this week, more than likely someone has already acquired Mostert. If they haven’t though, should you? Kyle Shanahan mentioned earlier in the week that Alfred Morris is still a part of the game plan. The question is whether we should believe him or not.

As of right now, Matt Breida is still the lead back and is averaging seven yards per touch on 74 touches. No one is taking that work away unless Breida can’t get healthy. We must turn our attention the backup at this point and who should we start if Breida can’t go any given week. Mostert only has 20 touches this season but has averaged almost a yard more per touch than Morris. Seeing as Shanahan completely forgot about Morris last game, we should forget about him now as well.