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The Cutback: Running Back Start/Sit Week 2

Week 2 is here already! The NFL is back! @DarthDbacks gives you some running back start/sit this week in order to win your matchup.

I’m back again to guide you through your running back start/sit questions and help you win the championship. Week 2 of the NFL Season is already here. Last week was chaotic and sad because of the injuries that occurred. It was great to see Nick Chubb and Christian McCaffrey go off. However, it’s incredibly depressing that J.K. Dobbins is now out for the season with a torn Achilles. This year will be a roller coaster like usual, filled with many highs and some lows. I’ll be here to help you navigate your lineups every week as you look towards winning that elusive championship.

Enjoy the NFL season, and remember it is only around for 18 weekends. Watch as much as you can and soak it all in. It goes by fast, and you don’t want to miss out on the best parts.

Also, enjoy the chaos, as this fantasy football season is unlike anything we have ever experienced. It’s a scary sight looking out at the many running back committees. However, I’ll do my best to advise you on your running back start/sit needs. Look below at my running back start/sit for Week 2.

I’ll be helping the Nerd Herd out this season with some running back Start/Sit for that week of fantasy football. Analysis and reasoning will be provided for every player that I mentioned. I’m here to help you win your fantasy football week and, ultimately, the championship. You might remember me from last year as I covered the start/sit for running backs. This year, I’m again covering the running back start/sit.

Be sure to follow our other start/sit articles and authors; they contain great advice to help you each week.

Changing the Call (QB): Mike Hicks
The Cutback (RB): Jake Oliver
Slant Pattern (WR): Tristan Cook
12 Formation (TE): Steven Pintado
Flex on ‘Em (FLEX): Evan Brown
IDP Start/Sit (IDP): Jon Glosser

There is one thing I want to note. For this article and every running back start/sit article I write, I won’t include players like Christian McCaffrey or Austin Ekeler. These are apparent starts so long as they aren’t on bye or injured. If you don’t start them, well, you’re a Taco. I’ll be focusing on players who are a bit harder to decide whether to start or what to expect from them. All scoring in this article series will be PPR. All stats/RB# number finishes come from FantasyPros. So, let’s make this a great season as we watch over 200+ games of NFL football. It’s back! Good luck with this dynasty fantasy football season.

Week 2 Running Back Start/Sit

Start: Joshua Kelly, Los Angeles Chargers, RB40

Kelley shocked the fantasy football world when he saw 16 carries and rushed for 91 yards. He added in a touchdown to finish as the RB12 on the week. It was an impressive display, with him averaging 5.7 yards per carry. This new-look offense fits him. He will often be used as the Chargers’ offense morphs into Kellen Moore’s style. He likes using two running backs often, so expect Kelly to be used quite a bit. This is especially true if Austin Ekeler were to miss this week’s game with an ankle injury. Kelly has a super easy path to finishing as an RB2, let alone even an RB1, against the Titans this weekend. Fire Kelly up as a solid flex with RB1 upside should Ekeler miss the game.

Honorable Mention: Roschon Johnson RB47, Raheem Mostert RB27, Zack Moss RB48

Sit: Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, RB15

Rachaad White continues his slow start to 2023 despite being projected as RB15 in Week 2. The good news, White dominated the snaps (79%) and touches (19) in Week 1. The bad news, all of that volume added up to 6.9 ppr points. This week, Tampa and White are going against a Bears defense that gave up just 2.9 ypc. If not for two pass plays to Aaron Jones, the Bears defense against the RBs would be even better. And let’s face it, Rachaad is not Aaron Jones. The Vikings gave up 1.73 yards before contact to the Bucs, while Tampa faces a Bears team that gave up just .44 yards before contact. I expect White to be outside the top 20 and, more likely, a flex at best.

Sit: Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams, RB37

Akers struggled mightily against the Seahawks. He saw Kyren Williams do quite well against them and saw him get the red zone touches. Akers, meanwhile, did have a touchdown, but he had just 29 yards on the ground. That was over 22 rushing attempts. This means he averaged just 1.3 yards per carry. He saw zero targets, too. That isn’t going to get him playing time on the field this week. Especially not when Williams did much better. Plus, they are facing the ferocious 49ers defense. So, I’d bench every Rams player against the 49ers.

Sit: Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears, RB34

Herbert struggled last week against the Packers, averaging just three yards per carry. He had nine rushes for 27 yards and three catches for 37 yards. He finished at the RB25, but I’d expect lower this week. He’s a touchdown or bust play right now. The Bears have three capable running backs, including Roschon Johnson, who starred in Week One. Herbert isn’t good at pass protection, which limits his time on the field. I’d be very wary of starting him this week. The Buccaneers aren’t bad at defending the run. In fact, they are very good. Start him at your own risk.

Honorable Mention: Dalvin Cook RB31

Good luck this week with your running back start/sit dilemmas!

Do you want to become the best dynasty player you can be? Be sure to use my promo code “Darth” for 15% OFF your subscription to Dynasty Nerds! It makes it only three dollars or so! Connect with me on Twitter @DarthDbacks. I love to talk football, baseball, movies, shows, Star Wars, and Marvel, and interact with the fantasy football community. For more articles of mine, click here.

As always, May the Force be with You…

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