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 Miami Dolphins running back committee.
Knowshon Moreno
Last season Knowshon Moreno rose from the fantasy dead to become a Top 10 running back, which most owners attributed to having Peyton Manning as his quarterback, running a record-setting offense featuring a plethora of Pro Bowl-caliber receivers. After Week 1 in Miami though, Moreno looked like the real deal.
He rushed 24 times for 134 yards and a score against the New England Patriots, forcing everyone to take notice. In Week 2, however, Moreno's owners were reminded of his lengthy injury history, a major contributor to his falling out of relevance in the first place, when he exited after one carry with an elbow injury.
According to reports, Moreno returned to practice today and expects to play in Week 6. The Dolphins rank first in the NFL in terms of running back yards, and are third in "Stuffed Percentage," defined as the percentage of runs in which the back is taken down behind the line of scrimmage. Miami rushers have posted an 11 percent stuffed rate.
Lamar Miller
The stuffed rank is great, but the Dolphins are also first in second level yardage, which tracks running backs' success once they are between five and 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. That means the linemen are getting downfield, and Miller's running with elusiveness. He's averaging nearly six yards per carry, and in Week 4 found the end zone twice. Moreno's debut was impressive, but it might be difficult to take Miller off the field.
Daniel Thomas
Thomas received very little work with Moreno out, but he averaged 7.1 yards a pop for what it's worth. Probably not very much, but if Moreno goes down again expect Thomas to be that frustrating, goal-line hammer that vultures Miller's touchdowns.
What To Do
Hold on to Miller. He's still a very solid running back doing great things behind an improved line. If you have been heavily reliant on his production though, begin investigating potential trades that will net you a running back.
Moreno is going to be the main rusher in the backfield when healthy, and is a better bet for touchdowns when the Dolphins are close to the end zone. Miller will still have big runs here and there, and could strike on longer TDs, but expect more games of the 10-carry, 60-yard variety with some receptions mixed in.
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