There’s only eight teams left with Super Bowl dreams as we enter the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. While that means fantastic and meaningful football to watch, it also means a small four-game slate, where finding value isn’t all that easy — especially at the running back position.
Still, I’m going to try. I have to try. It is technically my job.
Here are my top two RB values for this weekend’s action.
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Kareem Hunt ($5,000)
It’s been so long since the Chiefs starters have played that I think I need to refresh people’s memory on the team’s backfield duo. Isiah Pacheco ($5,500) returned from a lengthy injury absence back in Week 13 against the Raiders. No one was expecting the RB to immediately take on a bell cow workload, yet there was a belief that, at some point, Pacheco would re-gain the role that saw him rack up 41 touches in Kansas City’s first two games of the season. To be blunt, that has not been the case.
In fact, Pacheco has seen his involvement decrease as we’ve gotten closer to the playoffs. In Week 16 and Week 17, Pacheco was out-snapped by Kareem Hunt 62-to-46. Even more concerning for Pacheco owners was where these snaps were coming, as Hunt saw five red zone carries to Pacheco’s zero in those two contests. Not surprisingly, Hunt found the end zone twice and handily outscored Pacheco by fantasy points in both weeks.
I suppose it’s possible that Andy Reid was saving Pacheco’s legs for the postseason, but given the usage we’ve seen in recent games and considering each’s touchdown expectancy, Hunt should be more expensive than his teammate on this slate. Instead, he’s $500 cheaper. Take advantage.
Ty Johnson ($4,500)
There is no doubt that James Cook ($6,700) is the man in the Bills’ backfield. However, Johnson does get his fair share of opportunity. In fact, Johnson and Cook each saw exactly 34 snaps in last Sunday’s Wild Card victory over the Broncos, though the lopsided nature of the final score may account for some of that usage.
If you don’t count Week 18 — a contest where Buffalo rested a majority of its key players — Johnson has logged at least a 30% snap share in each of the Bills’ last five games. It’s a trend that I expect will continue against the Ravens, particularly if Ray Davis ($4,000; concussion) is unable to suit up. Davis suffered a concussion versus Denver and, as of Wednesday, he remains in the league’s protocol.
Johnson is rarely used near the goal line, but he has proven to be a very dangerous weapon in the passing attack. Among the 60 running backs who have played at least 25% of their team’s offensive snaps this season, Johnson ranks first in receiving yards per reception (15.8). Heck, no other qualified RB is averaging over 12 yards per catch. Johnson’s also found the end zone four times as a receiver, including a 24-yard TD against the Broncos. As per usual, Buffalo sports one of this slate’s highest implied team totals. Getting any piece of this offense in your lineups at a decent price is solid idea.
