IS ANTONIO GIBSON WORTH STARTING AS A FLEX? IT’S EITHER HIM OR A.J. GREEN FOR ME. — @LANCEPICTON
Gibson is definitely worth a start in this plus-matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles defense ranked bottom-nine in both targets and receptions to the running back position in 2019. In their first game against Washington last season, ex-Washington running back Chris Thompson had seven receptions on 10 targets with the team playing catch up.
Washington is a home dog in Week 1, and the team could easily be faced with a negative game script, which would be extremely favorable for Gibson in the passing game. Current offensive coordinator Scott Turner showed a strong affinity to target the running back position during his four-game tenure as the play-caller with the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers increased their rate of targeting the running back (28.8% vs. 24.4%) once he took the reins.
You may be hesitant to start a rookie running back — the coaches already said they wanted to use a running-back-by-committee approach — but if Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s usage on Thursday night is any indication of how teams will split backfields with talented rookies, his upside is well worth slotting into the FLEX.
And remember that Ron Rivera’s comments completely contradict what Adrian Peterson said about Washington wanting one guy to do it all and Gibson being that player, so don’t be so sure Gibson won’t lead this backfield in total touches in Week 1.
I'd much rather start Antonio Gibson over A.J. Green, despite the reports that the veteran WR has a clean bill of health. We aren’t sure who Joe Burrow is going to favor in the passing game or how Green will play after so much missed time.
Unfortunately for Green, his Week 1 matchup is against one of the league’s top cornerbacks inCasey Hayward, who isn’t necessarily an absolute shutdown corner but will be able to handle his own versus Green on the outside.
There are just too many question marks to rely on Green as an option in Week 1..
