Three Emerging Running-Backs-by-Committee

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RBBC.

No fantasy football acronym has caused so much frustration among fantasy owners in recent years than the one for running-back-by-committee. What a dirty four-letter acronym it is.

Fantasy owners averted the early RBBC's at almost any cost. But as more NFL teams began to employ the tactic—it is a copycat league, after all—fantasy owners were forced to accept the RBBC.

And, to be fair, it has been pretty lucrative.

Because of the rampant RBBCs across the league, quality running backs run deep. Fantasy drafts this summer had one of the deepest talent-rich classes of running backs in recent memory.

Hard to complain about an abundance of running backs if you play fantasy football.

Not all running-backs-by-committee are assembled in the offseason, training camps and/or preseason games, however. Sometimes it takes an in-season opportunity for a RBBC to crop up, like the three below did in week eight.

Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats, and Chris Brown, Texans

Slaton and Brown became a familiar tandem for fantasy owners earlier this season, but Moats decided to crash the party —hard—with a three-touchdown performance last Sunday.

So what happens now in Houston?

Slaton likely will get the rock back as the starter until he coughs it up again. He simply is too talented and explosive not to be on the field. Houston can get away with that against Buffalo, but not against teams like Indianapolis.

Brown should see goal-line and short-yardage duties per the usual. Moats deserves some playing time after his display in Buffalo, but it is going to take an injury or continued fumble-itis for Moats to become fantasy trustworthy.

Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris, Lions

Smith continues to deal with injury issues . It may not be fair to question his durability given that he runs behind the Lions' offensive line, but his bumps and bruises have opened the door for the veteran Morris.

Sure, it was against St. Louis, but Morris had a better day on the ground (14 carries, 63 yards) than Smith (16 for 45). Smith is too talented in the receiving game to see less time on the field than Morris, but Morris likely will see more time in the rotation in an effort to shield Smith from some hits.

Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy, Eagles

It took a 66-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for McCoy to deliver a solid fantasy performance in Westbrook's stead on Sunday against the Giants.

But his near-insignificance in the game was not necessarily a result of his ineptitude but that of the Giants' secondary. Donovan McNabb took to the skies early and often, throwing for 240 yards and three touchdowns.

McCoy is too talented not to see the field at this point. If the Eagles are going to keep Westbrook healthy for the playoff push, McCoy should start to see more touches per game even when Westy returns to the starting lineup.

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