Strategy when dealing with RBBCs (1 Viewer)

[koreansteve]

Seems like everyone in FF land will be running into the dreaded RBBC this year with BAL, IND, TB, MIA, DEN, NYJ, NYG, NE, DAL, and possibly the Bills all going with a RBBC approach this year (TEN, CAR, PIT, SD also but to a lesser degree). For those of us who have 2 RBs from the same team (for me Cadillac/Ward), what's the plan for the season from here on out?

These seem to be our options:

1. Try to trade for a STUD (in what likely will be a package deal involving WRs, etc.)

2. Start both, 1 of them likely at as a flex

3. Attempt to guess which has the better day

4. Wait and hope that 1 back becomes the clear-cut starter

I'd just like to hear what you guys in a similar situation to me are doing. Thanks.

I generally try to avoid RBBC situations they are mentally frustrating as a FF owner, but it's tough to avoid them this year.

 

[koreansteve]

anyone?

 

[Jason Wood]

It's a real conundrum, something you're going to have divergent viewpoints about.

In most leagues, starting 2 RBs from the same team isn't going to win you many weeks. Yet, in a true RBBC, how (if at all?) do you decide?

This came up in conversation last night between Sigmund, Andrew Garda and me on Twitter. Sigmund was pointing out what a shark move it was to grab McFadden in the 3rd/4th and then follow that up with Bush in the 10th/11th or so. Andrew and I said that was only a 'shark' move in deeper leagues, where the majority of quality backup RBs are going to be rostered. But unless you're in a Best Ball league, seeing Bush and McFadden split touches is NOT a good thing, even if you own them both. If I'm in a 10-team league, I drafted McFadden to be my RB2 most likely, or RB3 at the absolute worst if you can start a 3rd RB/flex each week. So now what? What solace do I take in the fact I might have Bush as my RB4 right now? None. Now, granted, if McFadden gets hurt, or Bush gets hurt, you have a much clearer path (assuming Fargas doesn't work his way back into the mix), but that could be said for a great many backup handcuff options.

 

[SuperJohn96]

I think nobody must have any of those RBs. Clearly STAY AWAY is the shark move.

 

[prgromek]

1) Your decisions should be tailored to your scoring system. If you have McFadden/Bush in a PPR, start McFadden. If it's a standard or TD-heavy league, maybe you go with Bush

2) I would only consider starting both RBs on a team if they had a good matchup on a team that is likely to be run-heavy (Jets, Raiders, Bucs). If you are loaded at other positions, starting both RBs from a team can be a safe play to lock in some "guaranteed" points.

 

[Chase Stuart]

1) Your decisions should be tailored to your scoring system. If you have McFadden/Bush in a PPR, start McFadden. If it's a standard or TD-heavy league, maybe you go with Bush2) I would only consider starting both RBs on a team if they had a good matchup on a team that is likely to be run-heavy (Jets, Raiders, Bucs). If you are loaded at other positions, starting both RBs from a team can be a safe play to lock in some "guaranteed" points.

Definitely think focusing on the "safe" play is wise.If you've got a bunch of guys going in late games, including two members of a committee, the wait and see approach is wise. If you're projected to win, start both guys. If you're projected to lose, roll the dice.

 

[MOAT]

Oneone with any other thoughts here? It is easy to say keep away in a standard league but in a TD heavy league a 100yd game is over-shadowed by a 1yd TD. I fell to this with Parker versus The Bus a few years ago. Parker got all the yards but Bettis would have 8 yds with 3 TDs and be a stud.

Certain share time teams come to mind this year where one guy might get the bulk of goal-line carries and in the end have more value in TD heavy leagues:

TB: Williams/Ward

Oak: McFadden/Bush

Cle: Lewis/Davis

Buf: Lynch/Jackson

Has anyone successfully drafted and deployed both RBs to ensure you get any TDs that happen? I am considering it this week with the boys from TB. Wondering if it is successful in the long run, for spot starts, or not really at all.

 

[Darth Cheney]

Starting both is a crapshoot. The guy who brags about starting LT and Sproles and them both going off once isn't telling you about the four times he did it and it didn't work out.

Trading is a bit difficult early in the year ( particularly if the RB had a bad week) because most people don't see future potential but past results. Unless you are trading 1/2 of a handcuff to the guy who has the other for an underachiever...it's a tough task.

I personally don't have two RB from the same team and am trying to trade Felix Jones, Joseph Addai and Ray Rice right now....with no success. If I didn't have Gore and Turner.....I'd be looking to acquire Brown and Barber and just go with the feeling. Most of us have been around the sport and the fantasy game for awhile. You have a good idea who the lead dog is in the RB rotation.....and you should probably go with the guy who gets the most touches....as, IMO...things like TD's and long, long runs are very arbitrary. You can't beat yourself up if you have Barber and Jones, you start Barber and he goes 20 for 86 and a TD and Jones goes 12 - 114 with a long TD. Touches usually are the stat you want to go by.

 

[Tong Po]

It's a real conundrum, something you're going to have divergent viewpoints about.In most leagues, starting 2 RBs from the same team isn't going to win you many weeks. Yet, in a true RBBC, how (if at all?) do you decide?This came up in conversation last night between Sigmund, Andrew Garda and me on Twitter. Sigmund was pointing out what a shark move it was to grab McFadden in the 3rd/4th and then follow that up with Bush in the 10th/11th or so. Andrew and I said that was only a 'shark' move in deeper leagues, where the majority of quality backup RBs are going to be rostered. But unless you're in a Best Ball league, seeing Bush and McFadden split touches is NOT a good thing, even if you own them both. If I'm in a 10-team league, I drafted McFadden to be my RB2 most likely, or RB3 at the absolute worst if you can start a 3rd RB/flex each week. So now what? What solace do I take in the fact I might have Bush as my RB4 right now? None. Now, granted, if McFadden gets hurt, or Bush gets hurt, you have a much clearer path (assuming Fargas doesn't work his way back into the mix), but that could be said for a great many backup handcuff options.

This is EXACTLY the problem I'll be faced with from week to week. I drafted McFadden to be my #2 RB and got Bush late for security. Watching them split carries in that San Diego game was frustrating to say the least. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be seeing that in the box scores all season. I feel like I have to start McFadden over Bush in the RB2 slot. Mainly because yardage carries significant weight in my scoring system, and I feel like McFadden SHOULD outproduce Bush in yards. We also get bonuses for long TDs. And I think D-Mac has a better shot at ripping off a long one. Touchdowns may be hard to come by in general since the Raiders QB play is pretty pathetic and I don't except a ton of opportunities.Long story short... I think you have to evaluate your scoring system when trying to decided between two runningbacks splitting carries like this, and play the upside guy.

 

[Judge Smails]

You can't start both unless you're pretty confident of a huge blowout, with the backup dominating in the 2nd half. I have lots of RBBC's. Thomas/Bell - decision is easy now, play Bell until Thomas asserts himself. Also have Caddy/Ward like the OP. A little dicier there. Personally, I like Ward better, and I think Caddy will get nicked again, then Ward dominates - he's underrated. The only RBBC I would consider playing often is Jacobs/Bradshaw - as I think they meet my criteria in the first sentence.

 

[Mister CIA]

I was expecting big things from starting Bush/Thomas in PPR this year (and I'm warming up to Bush/Bell for week 2).

 

[Rovers]

This is not a WDIS, because I am not asking for any advice. Now that that is cleared up....

In one 12 team IDP league I have Brown.R Williams and Rice/MaGahee. I can start 3 RB, the other is Gore.

With the news about SD's NT going on IR, I am very tempted to bench the both of the Dolphin RB's for Ravens duo. I don't think think I'm alone, obviously, in this scenario. I think for me, it comes down to which team will run more. In this case, Miami may fall behind Indy early, and run less even though the Colts run D is soft. The Ravens may even try to run as much as they did last week.

Barring any injuries, looks like I will have to struggle with this conundrum all year. I'm still on the fence here, but will bump this thread after the games are played... maybe others can chime in on how their decisions worked out too.

As far as the guy who said the shark move is to stay away... unless you start only 1 RB this year, just how exactly does one avoid NOT having at least 1 RB in an RBBC situation? The entire AFC east is RBBC once Lynch returns. Even guys like Slayton lose GL carries. RBBC in a start two RB twelve team league.... show me how RBBC can be avoided?