As the NFL season enters Week 5, fantasy owners need to start making tough decisions with bye weeks becoming a big factor. Good players may need to be let go to fill up roster spots in certain weeks. Today, we will look at the Cleveland Browns running back committee.
Ben Tate
Ben Tate was signed this offseason to be the starting running back. After three years in Houston behind Arian Foster, Tate's been that intriguing backup fantasy owners have wanted to see in a starting role. In Week 1 he appeared to be living up to his promise, averaging 6.83 yards per carry.
Tate's knock has always been an inability to stay healthy and that came to be as well. Tate's only logged those six carries on the season, and in his absence not one, but two effective rushers emerged.
Tate is back in practice now, so the Browns' running back picture is cloudy. His previous output with the Texans should be track record enough for him to resume his role as the starter though.
Terrance West
West was one of the preseason's biggest benefactors of hype. Toward the end of the preseason his stock had fallen thanks to some negative reports, but for most of training camp he was talked up as a legitimate threat to Tate's role. When Tate went down, Tate filled in admirably, rushing 16 times for 100 yards.
In the next two games West scored a touchdown in each, but his total numbers were more pedestrian. Neither the Saints nor the Ravens are boasting top numbers against the run in 2014, so West's stock was dinged just a tad despite his nose for the end zone.
Isaiah Crowell
Crowell is technically third on the depth chart, but in the game Tate went down Crowell scored twice. He's shared the workload with West in Tate's absence, and while West has received more work, Crowell has scored better on the eye test.
Crowell's averaging 5.2 yards per attempt, and looks more likely than either Tate or West to be a big play threat.
What To Do
Tate's the one to own for sure. He is making the most money out of the three, and is the best option in the passing game So far neither West nor Crowell has been targeted much through the air by Brian Hoyer.
Durability is a major issue though, so in reality all three are ownable. Of the two backups, Crowell is preferable. With all three healthy, the Browns' best option to spell Tate is Crowell, who has just seemed more explosive than West. If Tate is injured again, both are fine to start since neither looks to be better than the other in the red zone.
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