Getty Gallery: 3/5
Top-10 Highest Projected Running Backs on DraftKings
– Alvin Kamara ($9,500) vs. Falcons
– Todd Gurley ($9,200) vs. Chargers
– Christian McCaffrey ($7,800) vs. Bengals
– Saquon Barkley ($7,600) vs. Texans
– Ezekiel Elliott ($7,700) vs. Seahawks
– Melvin Gordon ($7,400) vs. Rams
– David Johnson ($7,200) vs. Bears
– Kareem Hunt ($6,000) vs. 49ers
– Latavius Murray ($5,800) vs. Bills
– Giovani Bernard ($5,900) vs. Panthers
Tier 2
With there being so many running backs and wide receivers worth playing, I've offered up two tiers of rankings for the two positions. Both lists are ranked based on highest projected and the number of players in tier two will depend on how much I like the options.
– Tevin Coleman ($6,400) vs. Saints
– Leonard Fournette ($6,900) vs. Titans
– Lamar Miller ($5,000) vs. Giants
– Corey Clement ($4,300) vs. Colts
– Chris Thompson ($6,300) vs. Packers
– Matt Breida ($5,400) vs. Chiefs
DraftKings Running Back Value Plays
*Note: All value plays at running back cost roughly $6,000 or less.
While David Johnson comes in above $6,500, he deserves some attention for a few reasons. While the Arizona Cardinals offense looks terrible and Johnson had a rough game last week, it's obvious he needs to have the ball a massive amount for the team to have a chance. This week, the Cardinals draw a Chicago Bears team who's allowed 256 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards and five total touchdowns to opposing running backs. This is a breakout spot for Johnson at potentially low ownership.
The value tier at running back is pretty much loaded in Week 3. Kareem Hunt at $6,000 in a solid matchup which should be high-scoring with the 49ers is more than worth the price tag. Also considering the fact that San Francisco should (and surely will) do everything to slow down Mahomes, Hunt should have a nice day on the ground.
The group of Latavius Murray, Giovani Bernard, and Corey Clement are all going to come with high ownership. Each name will get the start due to the injuries of starters, and both Murray and Clement have top-10 matchups this week. My fingers are crossed that Murray's $5,800 price tag may push at least a few people off him, as the Bills have allowed six combined rushing/receiving touchdowns to opposing running backs. They're one of the worst teams in the NFL against the position and Murray should see a heavy workload.
Clement at $4,300 is going to be major chalk, but the Colts have allowed a league-high 22 receptions to running backs. After seeing the Eagles back haul in five passes in limited action last week, I love his overall spot and of course his price tag.
I'm expecting Gio Bernard to have lower ownership than you'd think, as a matchup against the Panthers isn't the same level of smash spot as the two other names. With that said, Carolina is very beatable on the ground and have allowed 228 rushing yards to this point. Another spot starter in Tevin Coleman also ripped off 107 yards on the ground last week against the Panthers.
Finally, Lamar Miller and Matt Breida are simply players in elite spots. I like Miller more for cash games and single entry tournaments due to his safe workload, while Breida is a great large tournament play after ripping off 138 rushing yards and catching three passes last week. The only issue with the latter is that he's still losing some work to Alfred Morris.
Miller will face the Giants while Breida draws the Chiefs and neither team is great against running backs – specifically pass-catching backs. The Giants have given up 188 rushing yards, 13 receptions, 120 receiving yards and three total touchdowns to the position, and with Miller still Houston's workhorse, there's a lot to love there. For Breida, the fact that the Chiefs have allowed 21 receptions for an absurd 261 yards to backs makes his upside tremendous.
Top DraftKings Optimal Lineup Around Favorite RB Play
– QB: Deshaun Watson ($6,100)
– RB: Christian McCaffrey ($7,800)
– RB: David Johnson ($7,200)
– WR: T.Y. Hilton ($6,700)
– WR: Nelson Agholor ($6,100)
– WR: Cooper Kupp ($4,900)
– TE: Evan Engram ($4,300)
– FLEX: Corey Clement ($4,300)
– DST: Dallas Cowboys $2,200)