Five Fantasy Running Back Situations to Watch in the Preseason Games

The preseason gets started in earnest tonight with six games, as all other teams not in last week’s Hall of Fame game get underway. Here are five running back situations to monitor as you move toward your draft date. I didn’t include the New Orleans backfield, though if I had a crystal ball, that’s one where I would most like to see how the team will use Mark Ingram versus C.J. Spiller (and whether Spiller could stay healthy). I don’t, however, think Sean Payton is going to showcase too much there that will prove definitive in the preseason, given the two veteran backs and saving any surprises for the season.

Here are five, though, where I think you can glean valuable information by how teams approach the preseason, often where there is much uncertainty going in.

ATLANTA FALCONS (Tevin Coleman, Devonta Freeman, Antone Smith)

Steven Jackson is gone, as is 3rd down specialist Jacquizz Rodgers (now in Chicago). Devonta Freeman was considered by some as a sleeper last year, but never really overtook Jackson in the lineup. Antone Smith showed big play ability, but is 30 years old. The team drafted Tevin Coleman in the 3rd round.

Right now, he’s being drafted ahead of Freeman, who is still going in the late 30’s and early 40’s at the RB position. Perhaps last year’s hype followed by little to show for it has people expecting Coleman to jump right in and surpass him. The preseason could go a long way toward sorting out the pecking order in what could be an explosive and PPR-valuable offense.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson, Terrance West)

The Browns were rumored to be interested in Ray Rice, or at least floated the idea out there. That would muddle up an already uncertain situation in Cleveland. Overall last year, despite the week-to-week inconsistency in knowing who would be the main back, the Browns running backs were 17th in the league in RB points. With Duke Johnson, this year’s 3rd round pick, joining the two 2nd year players from last year, seeing who separates themselves in the preseason games could produce a big value.

Currently, none are going in the Top 25 at the position, with Crowell generally going in the late 20’s for the RB position, and Johnson in the mid-30’s.

HOUSTON TEXANS (Alfred Blue, Chris Polk, Jonathan Grimes, free agent signing?)

Thanks in large part to Arian Foster, the Texans produced the most RB fantasy points last year. Now, Foster’s injury has thrown this deal into a big question mark. Polk had only limited action in Philadelphia. Blue wasn’t particularly noteworthy when he got opportunities last year with Foster out. The team opted not to sign a free agent yet, after bringing Pierre Thomas in for a workout, but this is a situation to monitor for value all preseason.

DETROIT LIONS (Ameer Astrongdullah, Joique Bell, Theo Riddick)

Gone is Reggie Bush (to San Francisco). Ameer Abdullah, the dynamic back from Nebraska, has been brought in to replace him. The Lions have been among the most productive team RB situations over the last several years by committee. It will be interesting to see how the Lions showcase Abdullah in the preseason. Currently, there is no real consensus on Abdullah versus Joique Bell in fantasy draft circles, with both ranging from the mid-20’s to mid-30’s in the RB rankings depending on where you look.

DALLAS COWBOYS (Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar)

When DeMarco Murray was entering free agency, the prevailing talk was of the Cowboys’ dominating line. The line was certainly one of the best run blocking units last year, and that will be put to the test with plenty of question marks in the backfield. Still, there is huge value opportunity here. Randle is currently going off the board at about RB20, while McFadden has slipped into the early 40’s with (another) injury that has him currently on the PUP.

How much will Randle be showcased? Will McFadden get healthy enough to get in the mix early? Will a surprise candidate within or outside the organization emerge? These are questions where the right answer could get you a huge boost this year, or leave you cursing.