Favorable Running Back Matchups for Week 2 (2021)

Jonathan Klonowski

Each week, Fantasy In Frames will help you delve into the most favorable running-back matchups.

Let’s find out who you should be inserting into your lineups with confidence this week!

Najee Harris (@LV)

After being starved of football for months, it is easy to overreact when our pre-season expectations are not met. This is certainly being tested with Steelers’ first-round draft pick Najee Harris and his disappointing 59-yard performance against the Buffalo Bills last weekend. His underlying numbers, however, should provide some comfort that better days lie ahead.

Despite the low total yardage, Harris handled 100% of the running back rushes in week 1 and was on the field for 100% of offensive snaps. It was also promising to see Big Ben targeting him three times. Although the overall fantasy production left a lot to be desired, this was a tough first matchup for the rookie against a stout Buffalo defense. Harris now faces a Raiders team that allowed 189 rushing yards at 5.6 yards per carry and two touchdowns on Monday against the Baltimore Ravens. This was a team that struggled against running backs last season and looks set to be a matchup to target once again this year.

Harris is simply too talented to continue to struggle. With likely heavy usage once again this weekend in a more promising matchup, the former Alabama back will have every opportunity to showcase why he was one of your first fantasy picks in drafts. Don’t overthink it.

Damien Harris (@NYJ)

The New England backfield was one many wanted to stay away from a few months ago, and for good reason. However, the emergence of Damien Harris provides fantasy managers with a solid floor option at running back, and this week’s matchup is enticing after a solid outing last week.

Harris rushed an impressive 23 times, accumulating 100 rushing yards against the Dolphins last week. This represented almost an 80% share of the team’s running back rushes. Harris also, more surprisingly, also saw work in the passing game. After seeing just five receptions from seven targets in his ten games last year, Mac Jones targeted Harris three times last week. Harris’ upside this year took a huge jump once Jones was named the starter given his lack of goal-line work last year. Newton had 19 rushing attempts from inside the five last season and scored 12 total rushing touchdowns. While he did not reach the end zone last week, he did see three red-zone rushes, and we should see a significant increase from the two touchdowns he scored last year

Up next is their division rivals, the New York Jets. The Patriots can be found as high as 6-point favorites with bookmakers, with the expectation New England will be ahead and in control of this game. Expect a heavy workload for Harris yet again, in a positive game script against the lowly Jets.

Melvin Gordon (@JAX)

My bold prediction on the 4th & Frames podcast prior to week 1 was that Javonte Williams would take over this backfield and finish as a top-12 RB in the second half of the season. While I still believe that will happen, we can’t ignore Melvin Gordon just yet. The veteran turned back the clock last weekend, streaking away for a 70-yard touchdown against the Giants. The backfield was split fairly evenly with Williams seeing 14 rushes compared to 11 for Gordon, while Gordon saw three receptions versus just one for the rookie.

This weekend the Broncos travel to Jacksonville to face a Jaguars team that allowed 160 rushing yards to the Texans, including 85 yards to veteran Mark Ingram. I believe both backs are startable in this matchup given how poorly Jacksonville played against the Texans last week, but at this stage, Gordon is still the one I have slightly more faith in.

D’Andre Swift/Jamaal Williams (@GB)

Going into the game last week there were concerns regarding D’Andre Swift’s health and a possible reduced workload against a tough Niners defense. Any fears were quickly forgotten as Swift demonstrated just why so many in the fantasy community held him in such high regard. The second-year running back rushed 11 times for 39 yards with a further 65 yards and a touchdown through the air from a staggering eight receptions (11 targets). This represented Swift’s highest number of receptions and targets so far in his NFL career, and it would not be a surprise to see this type of usage on a more regular basis. Detroit arguably has the weakest wide receiving group, and given quarterback Jared Goff’s tendency to throw the running back, we should expect a healthy number of targets going forward.

Swift and the Lions now face a Green Bay team who have long struggled against opposing running backs. Last year the Packers allowed the fifth-most points to running backs. Despite Green Bay’s offensive struggles last week I still expect the Lions to be playing from behind and Swift should therefore see plenty of passing down work. While Swift is a fairly obvious start for fantasy managers, his running mate Jamaal Williams is also an intriguing flex option against his former team. Williams was targeted nine times last week, reeling in eight catches for 56 yards meaning the two running backs saw around 35% target share combined. I expect the Lions to continue to utilize both backs going forward given the lack of pass-catching options elsewhere and Williams could be a viable flex-play if needed.

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