Like many fantasy owners this week, I had a dilemma in which running backs to start. Unlike most owners, I benched Marion Barber AND Marshawn Lynch—and still won!
How I did it (I also have Matt Forte and DeAngelo Williams) is not as important as why I did it, especially in the case of Lynch. In Buffalo's first four games (all wins) Lynch had 18, 19, 23, and 19 carries, respectively.
Prior to last night's game, in three previous games (all losses) Lynch had 13, nine, and 14 carries. Need more convincing? In their first loss, against the Cardinals (when Trent Edwards suffered a concussion), Lynch had 13 carries. In their next game after the bye (a win against San Diego), he had 19 carries.
Granted, they lost last night's game even though Lynch had 23 carries, but I would argue that was because of three Trent Edwards interceptions and not because of one missed field goal.
Lynch was drafted by most as a number two, if not a number one, fantasy running back and would be considered a disappointment, if not a bust, depending on where he was drafted at this point in the season.
Before this week, he was averaging 11.2 points per week, and only because of last night's performance did he climb into the top 15 in fantasy running backs. In fact, I didn't start him in weeks nine and 10, and it was the right move because he had six and four points to show for it.
With last night's performance, Lynch is definitely a must-start running back again—at least for the next two weeks (against Kansas City and San Francisco). After that he has division games against the Dolphins and Jets, but gets Denver in week 16 in what will be the championship game for many leagues.
He will likely fare well in many owner's championship games—provided he can get you there weeks 14 and 15.
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