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RB Touches and Efficiency Breakdown: Week 4 Preview

We are about to have some big changes at running back heading into Week 4. While some rookie running backs have disappointed this season, we are seeing others starting to climb to the top of their team’s depth chart. Other teams are faced with injuries that have pushed backups into starting roles as well. As the touches start to pile up, we need to start identifying trends that will help us make some important decisions moving forward.

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 4 preview.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best NFL Series, MLB Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!

 

RB Touches and Efficiency Breakdown

Week 3 Report
Teams Car Rec Total Touches Total Yards Yards Per Touch %RB Touches Week 1 Week 2 Week 3
Arizona Cardinals
David Johnson 12 4 16 61 3.8 76% 64% 70% 76%
Yearly Total 34 10 44 180 4.1 70%
Chase Edmonds 5 0 5 10 2 24% 36% 30% 24%
Yearly Total 10 9 19 78 4.1 30%
Atlanta Falcons
Devonta Freeman 0 0 0 0 0 0% 47% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 6 3 9 50 5.6 13%
Tevin Coleman 15 2 17 47 2.8 77% 53% 69% 77%
Yearly Total 40 7 47 217 4.6 67%
Ito Smith 2 3 5 35 7 23% 0% 31% 23%
Yearly Total 11 3 14 89 6.4 20%
Baltimore Ravens
Kenneth Dixon 0 0 0 0 0 0% 43% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 13 0 13 44 3.4 16%
Javorius Allen 6 3 9 26 2.9 30% 30% 48% 30%
Yearly Total 16 13 29 102 3.5 35%
Alex Collins 18 3 21 74 3.5 70% 27% 52% 70%
Yearly Total 34 7 41 183 4.5 49%
Buffalo Bills
LeSean McCoy 0 0 0 0 0 0% 47% 65% 0%
Yearly Total 16 5 21 91 4.3 30%
Marcus Murphy 8 1 9 34 3.8 28% 35% 20% 28%
Yearly Total 17 2 19 78 4.1 28%
Chris Ivory 20 3 23 126 5.5 72% 18% 15% 72%
Yearly Total 25 4 29 166 5.7 42%
Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffrey 28 2 30 194 6.5 88% 67% 88% 88%
Yearly Total 46 22 68 428 6.3 82%
C.J. Anderson 2 1 3 33 11 9% 29% 12% 9%
Yearly Total 12 1 13 99 7.6 16%
Alex Armah 1 1 1 1 3% 4% 0% 3%
Yearly Total 2 0 2 2 1 2%
Chicago Bears
Jordan Howard 24 2 26 81 3.1 76% 71% 77% 76%
Yearly Total 53 10 63 256 4.1 75%
Tarik Cohen 5 3 8 68 8.5 24% 29% 23% 24%
Yearly Total 14 7 21 134 6.4 25%
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Mixon 0 0 0 0 0 0% 92% 69% 0%
Yearly Total 38 6 44 236 5.4 60%
Giovani Bernard 12 5 17 86 5.1 100% 8% 31% 100%
Yearly Total 19 10 29 141 4.9 40%
Cleveland Browns
Carlos Hyde 23 2 25 103 4.1 81% 79% 71% 81%
Yearly Total 61 4 65 218 3.4 77%
Duke Johnson 2 2 4 33 8.3 13% 21% 21% 13%
Yearly Total 10 5 15 68 4.5 18%
Nick Chubb 2 2 6 3 6% 0% 8% 6%
Yearly Total 4 0 4 20 5 5%
Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott 16 3 19 138 7.3 83% 95% 88% 83%
Yearly Total 48 11 59 311 5.3 88%
Rod Smith 0 0 0 0 0 0% 5% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 1 0 1 5 5 1%
Tavon Austin 1 3 4 20 5 17% 0% 12% 17%
Yearly Total 2 5 7 114 16.3 10%
Denver Broncos
Phillip Lindsay 4 0 4 20 5 14% 47% 56% 14%
Yearly Total 33 3 36 224 6.2 39%
Royce Freeman 13 1 14 58 4.1 48% 42% 30% 48%
Yearly Total 36 1 37 157 4.2 40%
Devontae Booker 5 5 10 44 4.4 34% 11% 11% 34%
Yearly Total 10 7 17 74 4.4 18%
Andy Janovich 1 1 2 2 3% 0% 4% 3%
Yearly Total 1 1 2 13 6.5 2%
Detroit Lions
Theo Riddick 0 3 3 36 12 8% 43% 29% 8%
Yearly Total 4 17 21 118 5.6 23%
Kerryon Johnson 16 2 18 110 6.1 46% 38% 42% 46%
Yearly Total 29 10 39 213 5.5 43%
LeGarrette Blount 16 2 18 65 3.6 46% 19% 29% 46%
Yearly Total 28 3 31 110 3.5 34%
Green Bay Packers
Jamaal Williams 5 2 7 45 6.4 29% 75% 76% 29%
Yearly Total 36 5 41 155 3.8 59%
Ty Montgomery 4 6 10 64 6.4 42% 25% 24% 42%
Yearly Total 11 10 21 132 6.3 30%
Aaron Jones 6 1 7 47 6.7 29% 0% 0% 29%
Yearly Total 6 1 7 47 6.7 10%
Houston Texans
Lamar Miller 10 5 15 51 3.4 75% 81% 70% 75%
Yearly Total 44 8 52 230 4.4 75%
Alfred Blue 4 1 5 17 3.4 25% 19% 30% 25%
Yearly Total 16 1 17 89 5.2 25%
Indianapolis Colts
Jordan Wilkins 6 2 8 20 2.5 44% 59% 43% 44%
Yearly Total 30 7 37 144 3.9 49%
Nyheim Hines 5 5 10 43 4.3 56% 41% 18% 56%
Yearly Total 14 13 27 104 3.9 36%
Marlon Mack 0 0 0 0 0 0% 0% 39% 0%
Yearly Total 10 1 11 36 3.3 15%
Jacksonville Jaguars
T.J. Yeldon 7 6 13 90 6.9 62% 57% 55% 62%
Yearly Total 31 11 42 230 5.5 58%
Leonard Fournette 0 0 0 0 0 0% 40% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 9 3 12 55 4.6 16%
Corey Grant 6 1 7 10 1.4 33% 3% 45% 33%
Yearly Total 11 7 18 82 4.6 25%
Brandon Wilds 1 1 5 5 5% 0% 0% 5%
Yearly Total 1 0 1 5 5 1%
Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt 18 0 18 44 2.4 86% 80% 95% 86%
Yearly Total 52 1 53 173 3.3 87%
Spencer Ware 1 2 3 30 10 14% 20% 5% 14%
Yearly Total 5 3 8 73 9.1 13%
Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon 15 2 17 84 4.9 71% 71% 52% 71%
Yearly Total 39 17 56 316 5.6 64%
Austin Ekeler 4 3 7 71 10.1 29% 29% 48% 29%
Yearly Total 20 11 31 295 9.5 36%
Los Angeles Rams
Todd Gurley 23 5 28 156 5.6 85% 100% 65% 85%
Yearly Total 62 11 73 376 5.2 81%
Malcolm Brown 5 0 5 42 8.4 15% 0% 35% 15%
Yearly Total 17 0 17 0 0 19%
Miami Dolphins
Kenyan Drake 5 2 7 10 1.4 54% 65% 60% 54%
Yearly Total 30 9 39 146 3.7 61%
Frank Gore 6 0 6 12 2 46% 35% 40% 46%
Yearly Total 24 1 25 117 4.7 39%
Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook 0 0 0 0 0 0% 67% 76% 0%
Yearly Total 26 9 35 185 5.3 58%
Latavius Murray 2 5 7 31 4.4 70% 33% 24% 70%
Yearly Total 17 5 22 92 4.2 37%
Mike Boone 2 1 3 11 3.7 30% 0% 0% 30%
Yearly Total 2 1 3 11 3.7 5%
New England Patriots
Rex Burkhead 0 2 2 26 13 8% 58% 21% 8%
Yearly Total 24 3 27 117 4.3 32%
James White 4 3 7 51 7.3 29% 27% 39% 29%
Yearly Total 13 14 27 191 7.1 32%
Sony Michel 14 1 15 49 3.3 63% 0% 39% 63%
Yearly Total 24 2 26 90 3.5 31%
Jeremy Hill 0 0 0 0 0 0% 15% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 4 1 5 31 6.2 6%
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara 16 15 31 190 6.1 86% 81% 68% 86%
Yearly Total 37 30 67 430 6.4 79%
Mike Gillislee 3 0 3 10 3.3 8% 14% 29% 8%
Yearly Total 14 0 14 37 2.6 16%
Jonathan Williams 1 1 2 2 1 6% 5% 4% 6%
Yearly Total 3 1 4 1 0.3 5%
New York Giants
Saquon Barkley 17 5 22 117 5.3 73% 80% 93% 73%
Yearly Total 46 21 67 353 5.3 82%
Jonathan Stewart 2 0 2 8 4 7% 8% 0% 7%
Yearly Total 4 0 4 16 4 5%
Wayne Gallman 6 6 25 4.2 20% 12% 7% 20%
Yearly Total 8 3 11 36 3.3 13%
New York Jets
Bilal Powell 14 0 14 73 5.2 44% 43% 42% 44%
Yearly Total 31 6 37 218 5.9 43%
Isaiah Crowell 16 2 18 51 2.8 56% 33% 58% 56%
Yearly Total 38 4 42 192 4.6 49%
Trenton Cannon 0 0% 23% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 6 1 7 21 3 8%
Oakland Raiders
Jalen Richards 0 6 6 59 9.8 16% 42% 7% 16%
Yearly Total 7 15 22 141 6.4 22%
Marshawn Lynch 19 3 22 86 3.9 59% 39% 67% 59%
Yearly Total 48 7 55 203 3.7 55%
Doug Martin 9 9 43 4.8 24% 18% 27% 24%
Yearly Total 20 3 23 90 3.9 23%
Philidelpia Eagles
Jay Ajayi 0 0 0% 52% 42% 0%
Yearly Total 22 1 23 89 3.9 29%
Darren Sproles 0 0 0% 31% 0% 0%
Yearly Total 5 4 9 32 3.6 11%
Corey Clement 16 3 19 75 3.9 59% 17% 58% 59%
Yearly Total 27 8 35 186 5.3 44%
Wendell Smallwood 10 3 13 91 7 41% 0% 0% 41%
Yearly Total 10 3 13 91 7 16%
Pitsburgh Steelers
James Conner 15 5 20 95 4.8 87% 100% 87% 87%
Yearly Total 54 15 69 352 5.1 100%
Stevan Ridley 3 0 3 18 6 13% 0% 13% 13%
Yearly Total 0 0 0 0 0 0%
San Francisco 49ers
Alfred Morris 14 0 14 67 4.8 48% 50% 53% 48%
Yearly Total 40 2 42 185 4.4 51%
Matt Breida 10 3 13 117 9 45% 50% 47% 45%
Yearly Total 32 7 39 327 8.4 47%
Raheem Mostert 1 1 2 8 4 7% 0% 0% 7%
Yearly Total 1 1 2 8 4 2%
Seattle Seahawks
Rashaad Penny 3 0 3 5 1.7 8% 52% 53% 8%
Yearly Total 20 4 24 78 3.3 31%
Chris Carson 32 2 34 124 3.6 92% 48% 32% 92%
Yearly Total 45 5 50 227 4.5 65%
C.J. Prosise 0 0% 0% 16% 0%
Yearly Total 0 3 3 22 7.3 4%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Peyton Barber 8 0 8 33 4.1 57% 83% 65% 57%
Yearly Total 43 1 44 131 3 70%
Jacquizz Rodgers 2 2 4 17 4.3 29% 13% 31% 29%
Yearly Total 9 6 15 56 3.7 24%
Shaun Wilson 2 2 9 4.5 14% 4% 4% 14%
Yearly Total 2 2 4 24 6 6%
Tennessee Titans
Dion Lewis 9 3 12 40 3.3 40% 66% 45% 40%
Yearly Total 39 9 48 193 4 51%
Derrick Henry 18 0 18 57 3.2 60% 34% 55% 60%
Yearly Total 46 1 47 144 3.1 49%
Washington Redskins
Adrian Peterson 19 0 19 120 6.3 68% 67% 44% 68%
Yearly Total 56 5 61 336 5.5 60%
 Chris Thompson 6 1 7 17 2.4 25% 26% 53% 25%
Yearly Total 15 20 35 238 6.8 34%
Rob Kelley 0 0% 7% 3% 0%
Yearly Total 4 0 4 8 2 4%
Kapri Bibbs 2 2 3 1.5 7% 0% 0% 7%
Yearly Total 2 0 2 3 1.5 2%

 

The Great Baltimore Debate

Alex Collins owners have started to panic and some of that is warranted. However, those owners who continue to beat the Javorious Allen drum have exaggerated the actual scenario we see playing out in the Baltimore Ravens backfield. Allen has value in PPR leagues, there is no denying that, but he has not taken all of Collins value away.

In Week 3, Allen was able to find the end zone twice which was the only thing propping up his value. Outside of the touchdowns, Allen only had 26 total yards on nine touches. Collins however was able to find the end zone and had 74 yards on 21 touches. Even though Allen is frustrating because he continues to steal touchdowns from Collins, Allen is only averaging 2.9 yards per touch compared to Collins 3.5 yards per touch.

The Steelers have been one of the better teams against the run, only allowing 12.50 points to opposing backs through three weeks. Collins had the same amount of receptions in Week 3 as Allen, so the key will be who converts their goal line carry first. If you find yourself betting on players to score touchdowns to keep their value, you could be disappointed. Give me the volume every week, something Collins hasn’t given up yet.

 

Don’t Panic About Ezekiel Elliott

The number one player in my rankings to begin the season was Ezekiel Elliott and I am not jumping ship yet. Elliott is currently averaging 5.3 yards per carry on 59 touches. The other running backs to average more than 5.3 yards per touch on 50 or more touches? Christian McCaffrey, Melvin Gordon, Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley and Adrian Peterson.

Elliott is currently the RB8 in PPR formats with a juicy date in Week 4 against a Detroit Lions defense that gives up 26.87 points to running backs this season, third most in the league. If Elliott can find the end zone a couple more times and start to pick up bigger plays in the passing game, he will start moving up the leaderboard.

 

Kerryon Johnson is Ready for the Next Step

For the first time since Reggie Bush in 2013, the Detroit Lions had a 100-yard rusher in Week 3 against the New England Patriots. We saw a truly elite offense with a passing game and running game that functioned well. You haven’t been able to say that about the Lions for a long time. If Matt Patricia knows what is good for his offense, he will let Johnson take the reins atop the depth chart.

Johnson is currently averaging 5.5 yards per touch on 39 touches through last week. One more touch and he would find himself in a special group that includes everyone listed in the previous section along with Joe Mixon and T.J. Yeldon. All these backs have 40 or more touches and more than 5.3 yards per touch this season.

Johnson has 43% of the touch share in Detroit this season and if he can keep up this pace while climbing above 50% of the touches, he will become a legit RB2 with upside. If the Lions can get themselves in a positive game script against the Cowboys this week, Johnson could have another big game.

 

Here Comes Aaron Jones

A two-game suspension for Aaron Jones left the door wide open for Jamaal Williams to take a hold of this job and not give it up. However, Williams has not been effective, averaging 3.8 yards per touch while holding 59% of the touches this season. Jones showed up in Week 3 and got things going, averaging 6.7 yards per touch on 7 touches.

It’s time to hand this job to Jones who is a much more explosive running back than Williams or Ty Montgomery. The Packers need one of their running backs to start breaking some big plays and take the pressure off the passing game. Aaron Rodgers can handle this on his own, but he shouldn’t have to - and if the run game can become more effective, it makes Rodgers that much better. The Bills are fourth worst in fantasy points allowed to running backs, giving up 22.93 points per game.




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