RADIO
The crunch time of the fantasy football season is here. For most standard fantasy leagues, this is the final week of the regular season. Many of us are in a “win or go home” situation and will need a victory to make the fantasy playoffs. The decisions of starting and sitting the correct players are more pivotal than ever with everything riding on one game. There are two star running backs that you will need to stray away from if you can.
Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller has been widely inconsistent all season. Following a poor start to the season and a coaching change, Miller started to look like an elite running back under the coaching of Dan Campbell. The stretch of great games unfortunately ended rather abruptly. Over the last four games, Miller is averaging fewer than thirty rushing yards per game. There has been value from his receiving yards and touchdowns in a couple of those games but last week’s disaster showed just how bleak things can get for Miller. Against the New York Jets, he rushed five times for two yards and completely destroyed matchups for his owners. The upside has been great, but Miller’s worst games frustrate fantasy football fans more than Cam Newton’s touchdown celebrations frustrate uptight soccer moms.
Miami made a change following the debacle by firing offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and naming Zac Taylor the interim replacement. Taylor has stated he wants the team to develop a commitment to the running game. This sounds like great news but we’ve heard it on multiple occasions this season and Miller has yet to carry the ball more than 20 times in a game. The matchup against the underrated Baltimore Ravens run defense and backup Jay Ajayi eating into his carries will make Miller a tough player to start.
Another running back falling on hard times in the world of fantasy football is Philadelphia Eagles star DeMarco Murray. The Philadelphia offense is a complete mess and Murray has been hit by the situation. Murray’s last two starts have been horrible and this week could be even worse against the New England Patriots. Coming off their first loss of the season, the Patriots will likely dominate the Eagles from kickoff until the final snap. Philadelphia may be forced to abandon the run early in an attempt to make up points. The running back position is very weak right now but if you have other options, avoid DeMarco Murray and Lamar Miller at all costs or it may end your season.
