1. Austin Ekeler LAC vs. NYG
2. Aaron Jones GB vs. CHI
3. Alvin Kamara NO at NYJ
4. Najee Harris PIT at MIN
5. Saquon Barkley NYG at LAC
6. David Montgomery CHI at GB
7. Joe Mixon CIN vs. SF
8. Alexander Mattison MIN vs. PIT
9. Javonte Williams DEN vs. DET
10. Nick Chubb CLE vs. BAL
11. Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC vs. LV
12. Josh Jacobs LV at KC
13. Jamaal Williams DET at DEN
14. Cordarrelle Patterson ATL at CAR
15. Leonard Fournette TB vs. BUF
16. James Conner ARI vs. LAR
17. James Robinson JAX at TEN
18. Antonio Gibson WAS vs. DAL
19. Chuba Hubbard CAR vs. ATL
20. Ezekiel Elliott DAL at WAS
21. Darrell Henderson LAR at ARI
22. Devonte Freeman BAL at CLE
23. Tony Pollard DAL at WAS
24. Kareem Hunt CLE vs. BAL

 

Austin Ekeler has the role and the matchup this week against the New York Giants, who are a run-funnel defense, ranking 31 against the run and 8th against the pass. 

On the other side, it is the same case, where the Chargers are even worse(!) than the Giants in run defense, ranking dead last, but 9th against the pass, meaning Saquan Barkley has a clear path to a strong game. 

Najee Harris faces a Minnesota Vikings defense that is ranked 29th against the run and 13th against the pass. With the Steelers likely to want to guard against needing Ben Roethlisberger to throw and wanting to keep the Vikings potent offense off the field, they will likely lean on Harris to do both. 

Green Bay is another run-funnel defense, ranking 27th against the run, and 10th against the pass. Like the Steelers, the Chicago Bears want to keep Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, and Devante Adams on the sideline as much as possible, so it will fall to David Montgomery to make it happen. 

The Carolina Panthers rank 20th against the run and fifth against the pass, meaning we could be seeing a lot of Cordarrelle Patterson to make plays on the ground in this one. 

Javonte Williams has emerged, officially, for the Denver Broncos, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and getting 23 carries against the Chiefs in Week 13. Now, he gets the 23rd ranked run defense of the Detroit Lions in what might be a fantasy breakout game for Williams. 

Chuba Hubbard takes over again at RB for the Carolina Panthers and get the 21st ranked run defense of the Atlanta Falcons, at home, making Hubbard a nice streaming flex pick, if needed. 

 

Jason Walker