MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014 I just added Chicago RB Shaun Draughn in my deep dynasty experts league. Do I see the 26-year-old Draughn as a long-term asset? No. Do I think that he'll be able to start for my team should Matt Forte go down with an injury? No, I'm pretty deep at RB and barring injury, I should be fine. So why then would I pick him up? Because he could be an asset down the road. With rookie Ka'Deem Carey struggling and Draughn playing quite well in the preseason, it's beginning to look like Draughn will be Forte's handcuff. I'm looking at this move as one that may be able to net me a 2nd- or 3rd-round pick should something happen to Forte. Now, who did I release in order to pick-up Draughn? Mark Sanchez. I picked up Sanchez after the first week of the preseason and he looked great again this week. But, per CSN Philly, "Eagles coach Chip Kelly was asked Sunday what he'd say if another team called and said they were interested in backup Mark Sanchez." "What are you giving me?" Kelly replied. The only reason I had any interest in Sanchez was because of Chip Kelly and his fast-paced offense. If Sanchez ain't in Philly, I ain't interested. As such, I'd be kicking myself if Draughn got picked up by another team while I waited to see how things played out for Sanchez with the Eagles. The Saints Joseph Morgan looked great this week as he reeled in three passes for 108 yards on 4 targets. Morgan is the forgotten man in New Orleans after missing all of 2013 with an injury. Kenny Stills was drafted last year and did a great job of filling the deep-threat role once Morgan went down. But let's not forget that back in 2012, Morgan caught 10 passes for a ridiculous 379 yards and 3 TDs. There are a lot of bodies ahead of Morgan on the depth chart and even if he does see regular playing time, it'll be a crapshoot trying to determine which games he'll go off in. Regardless, I'm intrigued at this time as Marques Colston isn't getting any younger. If Jonathan Grimes is on your waiver wire he needs to be owned. I added him in my smaller experts league in which we only have 24 roster spots including kicker and team defense. He played well again this weekend and is listed as the No. 2 back behind Arian Foster, who missed his second straight preseason game due to a hamstring. Alfred Blue is breathing down Grimes' neck for the No. 2 job, so if you have the room, adding both could pay dividends this season and down the road. With both Ryan Williams and Joseph Randle...

Several years ago, "running back by committee" was not a widely used phrase. Most teams used a primary running back for the majority of carries and then may insert a backup in certain situations or to give their starter some rest. One of the more prolific early running back by committees was the Kansas City Chiefs' combination of Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. Due to their strong skill set and differentiated running styles, both backs had productive seasons behind Kansas City's offensive line. Today, we see teams using both strategies, which can serve as both obstacles and opportunities for fantasy owners. Evaluating career stats, health, running style, goal line scenarios, and more all factor into how teams use their running backs. As millions of fantasy football owners prepare to draft over the next week, I hope to provide clarity on the current running back situations in both the NFC and AFC. Many of these situations will not change this season except for major injury, while others may be in flux from week to week. Let's start off with the NFC! NFC West St Louis Rams - Committed Daryl Richardson has been named the starter for Week 1 by coach Jeff Fisher. Richardson performed well behind Steven Jackson and should maintain the starting gig if he remains productive. Isaiah Pead has been subpar this preseason, and would stand next in line for carries. San Francisco 49ers - Committed Frank Gore used to be the running back that owners cringed at drafting due to his poor health history. Gore has not missed a game over the last two seasons. Kendall Hunter is likely Gore's backup with LaMichael James running in third. Seattle Seahawks - Committed Marshawn Lynch's career was rejuvenated when he arrived in Seattle. Coming off career highs in total rushing yards and yards per carry, Lynch is a workhorse and will receive the bulk of the carries. Robert Turbin has been productive as Lynch's insurance policy and Christine Michael will also see work especially after a solid preseason. Arizona Cardinals - Committed Rashard Mendenhall missed most of 2012, but found himself back in the starter's role with his new team. Despite having five backs on the roster, including Ryan Williams, Mendenhall is the clear starter and should hold onto the role if he remains healthy. NFC East Dallas Cowboys - Committed DeMarco Murray has the talent and the job, but may lack the necessary durability. Since breaking onto the scene in ...

1 Star -- Look elsewhere 2 Stars -- Desperation/Handcuff pick 3 Stars -- Serviceable starter 4 Stars -- Solid Starter you can count on every week 5 Stars -- Stud, Top 10 running back Arizona -- Rashard Mendenhall/Ryan Williams/Stepfan Taylor As of right now Rashard Mendenhall is the No. 1 back in Arizona. Mendenhall served his previous five years in Pittsburgh where he did a good job in the lead role. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry even including his 2012 campaign where he was clearly slowed by injury. While I don't think he is an elite back or will ever be an elite back in the NFL he is still above average nonetheless. He has two starting seasons of more than 1,000 yards and a third right on the cusp at 928 yards. Getting those kinds of numbers are not easy and having a featured back on your fantasy team is always a plus. The problem is these are the Cardinals who came in dead last in rushing yardage, attempts and average yards-per-carry last year. They undoubtedly sported one of the worst offensive lines in the league. The same line that rendered two injured quarterbacks and two injured running backs. With the focus on the line and Mendenhall having another offseason to fully heal from his ACL surgery, I expect a pretty decent showing from him this year. It won't be anything to write home about but it will be serviceable and he could wind up being a great second running back or flex player. Having named Mendenhall the starter already is not a good sign for Ryan Williams or rookie Stepfan Taylor. Ryan Williams will still play a role in this offense to give rest to Mendenhall and as a change-of-pace back but probably won't amount to much in fantasy numbers since they've handed the reins to Mendenhall. Williams has superstar potential but has to stay healthy in order to show that potential. Stepfan Taylor should see even less work as the third-string back this year unless injury rears its ugly head. Mendenhall -- 3 Stars/Williams -- 2 Stars/Taylor -- 1 Star St. Louis -- Daryl Richardson/Isaiah Pead/Zac Stacy So now that Steven Jackson is gone someone else can be the primary backup in St. Louis, right? Wrong. Pead was the supposed heir to Jackson's throne but last year Pead only touched the ball 10 times for a whopping 54 yards and a fumble. Pead was great in college but appears to have done little to impress the Rams so far. Daryl Richardson served as the second back last year leapfrogging Pead and taking 98 carries for 475 yards and 24...

We cover the value of Ryan Williams, shopping the 1.01 and much more this week.

Running Wild After Jackie Battle had a few good performances, it looks like Ryan Mathews is back as the lead back for the Chargers. Mathews had a great game Monday night against the New Orleans Saints, rushing for 80 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. He also had six catches for 59 yards, so it was a solid game for fantasy owners. Battle is still going to get some carries moving forward, but it's safe to say that barring injury Mathews is the back to own from here on out. Don't drop Battle, though, because he still should see the majority of goal line work. Cedric Benson's foot injury has turned out to be a serious one and he will miss at least eight weeks. It appears that James Starks will get first crack at the starting job, but don't count out Alex Green. The Packers are saying that Starks will be the first option, but remember that Green got most of the work last week when Benson went down. He had nine carries for 55 yards and has a nice burst of speed. Green clearly has better upside; Starks has more experience. Nonetheless, both backs should be picked up, with Green being your first waiver priority. New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw had a career day in Week 5, logging 200 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Cleveland. This was definitely an unexpected performance from Bradshaw, especially since New York was down by two touchdowns early in the contest, but he ran hard and got 30 carries. Backup Andre Brown went out with a concussion in this game as well, so that leaves rookie David Wilson to steal a small amount of work from Bradshaw. Owners should feel confident in starting him every week, but be wary in Week 6 as the Giants draw San Francisco and its excellent defense. Sleepers Jeremy Kerley, WR, New York Jets Kerley is now the No. 1 receiver for the Jets since Santonio Holmes is done for the season. I'm not sure how much his fantasy value increases since New York is having a very hard time scoring touchdowns, but he did have a nice game in Week 5 against a tough Houston pass defense (five receptions, 94 yards). Kerley has a favorable matchup on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, so take a shot with him. If the Jets start moving the ball more effectively, he will be one of the main reasons. Also, Indianapolis has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. William Powell, RB, Arizona First, Arizona loses Chris ‘Beanie' Wells for 6-8 weeks. Now they lose Ryan Williams for the season ...

Who can forget the Seattle Seahawks' team that secured a playoff spot in the 2010 playoffs with a losing record? Over the last few years, there has been no shortage of wisecracks and nicknames for the NFC West including "NFC Worst." The St Louis Rams were the last team to win a Super Bowl ring for this division, back in 2000. Like most trends in the NFL, they eventually change. In 2012, Coach Jim Harbaugh was able to help the San Francisco 49ers win the division with an impressive 13-3 record and the top league defense in this first season. Although only five weeks of the season are behind us, the NFC West can temporarily boast that every team in the division currently has a winning record. Although, the San Francisco 49ers' defense has allowed the least amount of points thus far, it is noteworthy that all of NFC West teams have allowed under100 points, which no other division can claim. Could we see a Super Bowl contender rising from this division? Don't be surprised! I highly doubt that even the best psychics could have predicted the highlights and lowlights of Week 5. On Sunday Night football, the world witnessed Drew Brees breaking Johnny Unitas' record for most consecutive games throwing a touchdown pass. Brees was able to cap his record night off with New Orleans' first win of the season. In addition, Week 5 included monster performances from Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston, and Ahmad Bradshaw. Unfortunately, several key fantasy players were injured, including Cedric Benson, Danny Amendola, Robert Griffin III, Matt Cassel, and Ryan Williams. Take a dive with me as we prepare for Week 6. QB Kevin Kolb- Only Brandon Weeden has failed to produce a multi-touchdown game against Buffalo's weak pass defense, which Kolb will face this weekend. Although Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes against Buffalo in Week 4, even satisfactory QB's including Mark Sanchez, Matt Cassel, and Alex Smith were able to expose their secondary. In week 6, Kolb will have to carry Arizona as they look to rebound from a Week 5 loss without the help of running backs Ryan Williams and Beanie Wells. Kolb has been decent lately despite suffering seventeen sacks over the last two games. If your quarterback is on a bye or is facing a difficult matchup, Kolb is worth a look. Week 6 Forecast: 250 passing yards and 2 TDs RB Michael Turner- You may already be starting "Turner the Burner," but definitely keep him in your line up for Week 6 when he faces the Oakland Raiders...

There were a rash of injuries suffered in Week 5. While NFL rosters will plug in the next player in line, fantasy owners will require a more educated approach to fill their holes and continue to field a competitive lineup. Here is a look at a few of the key injuries and some suggestions on where to look for help. Cedric Benson had carved out a nice role in the Green Bay Packers offense over the first several weeks. Benson was a serviceable weekly flex play or a solid backup running back before he exited Sunday's contest with an injury. At first, the injury to Benson appeared to be minor, but, after a more indepth diagnosis Monday, the Packers revealed that he had suffered a Lisfranc foot injury. The injury carries an estimated two-month absence. Alex Green appears to have the inside opportunity to claim the starting role, but does that mean that he should be on the top of your waiver wire adds? Green was effective filling in for Benson, logging 55 yards on nine carries. James Starks has missed the first five weeks battling turf toe, but he should be back in action soon. Starks was the lead back for the Packers last season, but he is not an elusive, dynamic back suited to lead the Packers or your running attack. Green has more upside and is worth a speculative add if you are desperate for help in your backfield. Two weeks after putting Chris ‘Beanie' Wells on Injured Reserve with an injury that will keep him out of action until November, Ryan Williams suffered a season-ending shoulder injury this week. The Cardinals rushing attack has not been dependable with either back this season, and it only figures to get worst with the latest injury. A true running back by committee approach probably lies ahead for the Cardinals. LaRod Stephens-Howling figures to get the first shot, but Alfonso Smith and William Powell will also get carries. Unless one of the backs emerges as a legitimate lead back, none of these guys belongs on your roster. Chris Johnson has now gained less than 25 yards in four of his five games this season after his 24-yard outing on Sunday. Many have been suggesting that it may be time for the Tennessee Titans to let Javon Ringer have a shot at the starting job to see if his skills better suit offensive coordinator Chris Palmer's schemes. On the heels of another terrible outing, Ringer would have been closer than ever to claiming the starting job, but on Sunday he suffered a MCL injury that is expected to keep him out of action for ...

Arizona 3, St. Louis 17 Cardinals It would be safe to say the overwhelming theme for the Cardinals was horrible offensive line play. This has become a reoccurring theme as Kevin Kolb was sacked eight times in week four and nine times in this game. I read a stat that Kolb was hit on 52% of the Cards offensive plays. A popular addition in many leagues last week, Kolb's fantasy value is more along the lines of a mid QB2 as a desperation spot starter. Speaking of the Arizona passing game, another popular sleeper in recent weeks has been Andre Roberts. Thursday night Roberts had the worst fantasy performance of the 2012 season. However, the astute fantasy owner will recognize his 10 targets, including a badly overthrown ball that would have resulted in a surefire touchdown. Roberts remains a mid WR3. Ryan Williams has officially taken control of the Zona backfield with the continued absence of Beanie Wells. If heart dictated fantasy production, Williams would be an every week starter. However, he doesn't possess the raw talent to make defenders miss or the strength to gut out tough yardage. Further compounding Williams problems is the terrible o-line play. Williams also suffered a mysterious shoulder injury forcing him to exit this matchup. Even with the 27th ranked Bills rush defense up next, the second year tailback is only a high end RB3. Rams Nothing is more devastating to a fantasy team than injury, and guess who reared her ugly head on Thursday Night? Danny Amendola went down hard on his right shoulder causing "joint separation" with a projected recovery time table of 6-8 weeks. This puts Amendola on track to return Week 12 against San Francisco. We should further note this is Amendola's second straight season with a significant injury meaning he is a "red flag" in future seasons. As for the here and now, if you have the room on your roster he's worth holding on to, but if you get desperate, I wouldn't fault you for dropping him. We'll be watching which, if any, of the Rams alternate wide receivers step up. As a Steven Jackson owner I kick myself for drafting him, then I wonder where that old Jeff Fischer 3-down running back has gone, ala Eddie George and Chris Johnson. For long stretches of this game, the less effective Daryl Richardson was taking carries, including goal line packages. Very tough to sit, but with a brutal schedule and limited touches S-Jax owners are in for a long season. The final position of note from Thursday night was ...

This week's lines are from usatoday.com (as of Wednesday night). Arizona at St. Louis (O/U 39.5) The Arizona Cardinals remain undefeated (4-0) after a comeback overtime win against the Miami Dolphins last week. Kevin Kolb led the team to a touchdown to tie the game with 22 seconds left, forcing overtime, where Cardinals kicker Jay Feely clinched the victory with a 46-yard field goal. The victory gave the Cardinals an eight-game home winning streak. The St. Louis Rams were able to squeak out a win of their own against the Seattle Seahawks last week, winning 19-13. Rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein was the offensive player of the game. He made four field goals, including ones from 58 yards and 60 yards. The Cardinals defense is third in the NFL in points allowed, holding opponents to an average of 15.2 points per game. However, the offense has a lot to be desired. They rank 31st in total yards (271.8 yards per game) and are scoring an average of 22.8 points per game. The run game looks to get back on track against the Rams defense, which is giving up 135.2 yards per game, ranking 26th in the NFL. Expect to see Cardinals running back Ryan Williams have a nice game and rush for his first career 100-yard game. The Rams offense ranks 20th in the league, scoring 19.8 points per game. They rank near the bottom in both passing and rushing. Sam Bradford has been average at best, throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions with a 80.1 quarterback rating. The Rams defense is a work in progress under new head coach Jeff Fisher, but it has shown an improvement this season by playing harder and being more physical. I see this game going either way as both teams seem to be evenly matched. However, I do not see this being a high-scoring affair. Both teams will rely on their defense to keep them in the game, while their offenses hope to stay mistake free and play a field position game. The under is 7-1 against the spread in the last eight meetings between these two teams. Gimme the under. Please make sure to check back Friday for my 4-star locks and my take on the rest of the NFL schedule. SEASON RECAP (W-L-T) : 4-4 : 5-5 : 1-3-1 : 2-3 Total Record: 12-15-1