NFL’s adding a game: Impact on FF running backs (1 Viewer)

[King of the Jungle]

We are already seeing most teams going to RBBC. An additional game doesn’t seem like much, but tell that to a guy who gets slammed to the ground 20 times on Sunday. Do you think this will further impact the running back position as far as amount of the workload being spread between 2 to 3 different running backs?

I think teams will continue to spread the workload and this will bring even more inconsistency to the position. Throw in the fact that more quarterbacks are mobile (which gives OC’s more options around the goal line) and the true “stud” running backs may continue to become more and more rare.

Just curious if this has any impact on strategy for anyone. In dynasty I am concentrating on being strong at QB/WR and filling RB with pass catching specialists and high upside backups. In redraft even though there is an abundant amount of WRs, I still like the zero RB strategy with the same thought of loading up with upside backups.

Are high workload running backs going to further inch towards extinction?

 

[BobbyLayne]

There were only 2 RBs (Henry & Hunt) in the Top 15 who played all 16 games. But even extending it out to RB36 - two Starters and a Flex - it’s become pretty rare, with only 5 more: Hines, McKissic, Edmonds, Giovanni, Singletary. I don’t think it’s a coincidence all those guys have are shifty and have a role in the passing game. Bigger guys who take on tacklers and get their pound of flesh tend to miss time more often. Obviously taking satellite backs in the kid to late rounds works best in half/full PPR.

Caveat: in the three previous years, RB 1-36 played all 16 more often: 17, 15, and 20 back on 2017. Maybe last year was an aberration. But I feel like heightened awareness about player safety, CTE concerns, concussion protocol, et sl, have made teams become more inclined to holding players out (or the athlete deciding he’s not ready yet.) That’s not a bad thing, traumatic head injury is a real thing, and their window of opportunity to earn big money is very narrow.

 

[rockaction]

I don't think the trend is reversing. I think these guys take too many hits and the bodies are so big and moving so fast that every hit is like being in an automobile wreck. There's just no way the human body can handle it outside of the very, very select few, and even those are rarer as the players get bigger and faster.

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

I don't think it's going to be complete upheaval or anything close, but yes, it's one more factor that isn't going to help the endangered species of a bellcow RB.   

For situations where there's a clear lead RB, should we expect them to yield more snaps to the second back than past years?  Possibly, maybe slightly.  But I'm thinking (and hoping from a fantasy standpoint) that it's a marginal impact that doesn't register on the Richter scale.  One thing that Waldman said that makes some sense to me is that you might see teams that are more willing to let an injured player sit for an extra week if they're truly questionable. I think this is the hope from a fantasy perspective.   The lead back still gets you big point production when he's in the game.   And then if he's more likely to get a maintenance week, then the #2 gets a chance to come in and make some noise for that week.

In general, I love to load my dynasty roster with as many talented (clear) #2 RBs that I can muster.   Guys with big potential if the #1 goes down.  Pollard, Dilllon, Mattison, Henderson, Murray, Hines, Ja-Will, really any true handcuff that would get the majority of the carries with an injury ahead of them.  I think we might be slightly more likely to get spot starts from these guys throughout the season, instead of just hoping for a big injury ahead of them for them to have any impact.

 

[Biabreakable]

I dont really see an extra game changing the way coaches are using their players much at all.

The extra game does throw off the framework that I and others have grown accustomed to and that is going to make projections a bit different. Its going to be harder to compare seasonal stats to previous years because of the extra game. That is true for all positions though, not just RB.