Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (2020): Running Back Edition: Week 10: Chase Edmonds, Darrell Henderson, Antonio Gibson & More

Trying to decide who you should start or sit this week? Let’s take a look at a few potential decisions owners have and try to sort through them:

Start – Chase Edmonds (ARI) vs. Buffalo

This selection is contingent on Kenyan Drake missing another week, which isn’t a given after he returned to practice. That said even if Drake is out again after last week’s mediocre production against Miami it would be understandable if owners were wary of using Edmonds once again:

• Rushing – 25 carries for 70 yards
• Receiving – 3 catches for 18 yards

Obviously his production was contingent on the workload, something we can’t guarantee will happen again. That said Buffalo isn’t a defense that you’re going to avoid, having allowed 900 rushing yards to opposing running backs (eighth most in the league) and 9 TD. Assuming he has no competition for lead back duties, that makes him a must use option.

Sit – Darrell Henderson (LAR) vs. Seattle

Seattle’s defense isn’t what it used to be, and while they are middle of the pack against opposing running backs the numbers don’t scream of a must target opportunity:

• Rushing – 537 yards and 6 TD
• Receiving – 406 yards

Brown is not a pass catcher (10 receptions for 120 yards) and he’s coming off a game where he had just 8 carries as the team split the touches evenly among three running backs (Malcolm Brown had 10 carries and Cam Akers had 9).

Tough Defense + Uncertain Touches = Difficult Start

Start – Antonio Gibson (WAS) at Detroit

Gibson has scored in back-to-back games, but the results have been far different:

• vs. Dallas – 20 carries for 128 yards and 1 TD
• vs. New York Giants – 6 carries for 20 yards and 1 TD

This week against the Lions there’s a good bet that the production is closer to that against the Cowboys. Detroit has allowed the most points per week to opposing running backs, including 15 TD (10 rushing, 5 receiving). Obviously J.D. McKissic is going to be a factor in the passing game, but Detroit has been torched on the ground (1,079 rushing yards, 5 TD over the past three games) and Gibson is going to capitalize on that.

Sit – Devin Singletary (BUF) at Arizona

At this point why would anyone trust Singletary? He’s clearly been overtaken by Zack Moss on short yardage/goal line work, as he has just 1 TD on the season (five straight without a TD). Over these five games Singletary has 32 yards or fewer in four of them and it’s not like he’s been an elite pass catcher (8 total receptions over this five game stretch).

At this point matchup shouldn’t matter, the opportunity simply isn’t there.

Start – Leonard Fournette (TB) at Carolina

The Carolina Panthers have allowed the fifth most points per week to opposing running backs, so the question regarding Fournette is more about the touches and not the matchup. We all know that Ronald Jones is going to be a part of he backfield mix, and even if he were to dominate the carries Fournette isn’t disappearing any time soon.

Let’s not forget that Fournette has 15 catches over the past three games and the Panthers have allowed 428 receiving yards to opposing running backs. With the Buccaneers likely looking to rebound after a miserable Week 9, the upside is too great to ignore.

Sit – Jerick McKinnon (SF) at New Orleans

The Saints have allowed the fourth fewest points per week to opposing running backs, and while McKinnon has scored in back-to-back games the production hasn’t been impressive (12 carries for 52 yards last week). We also have to remember that the 49ers fell behind big early last week, which led to a greater workload for McKinnon. It’s possible there’s a similar game flow against the Saints, but it’s hardly a given. That risk of touches, as well the matchup, makes McKinnon too hard to trust.

Sources – NFL.com, ESPN

Make sure to check out all of our Week 10 rankings:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Kickers

Defenses