Fantasy Football 2016: Making Sense of NFL's Most Muddled Backfields

It seems to be more frequent as time goes on in fantasy football, but there is always that batch of backfields in the NFL that leave us scratching our heads and saying, "I don't know what the heck is going on."

The days of workhorse running backs carrying the ball 300 or more times are withering away each year, though a few remain. As a result, we ask questions about workloads and roles for certain running backs and what those translate to in terms of value and average draft position (ADP).

Fortunately for you, I'm going to do my best in deciphering a few backfields that still leave us scratching our heads with just under a week until the regular season kicks off.

In each slide, I'll also recommend which guy you should own, or maybe even all or a few of the named backs.

Let's start with a backfield that was clear-cut for years, but is no longer.

Baltimore Ravens

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Baltimore Ravens are a hot mess at running back. There are four guys who are worth mentioning.

These backs are Justin Forsett, Javorius Allen, Kenneth Dixon and Terrance West.

To start 2016, we can figure that Forsett will be the starter. However, with the Ravens' depth at the position, does "starter" really mean anything?

Probably not.

This preseason, Forsett hasn't been the clear-cut, go-to guy. In fact, he's been splitting first-team snaps with Allen. Although Forsett is 30, he's not the typical 30-year-old running back. He was never a full-time player until he arrived with the Ravens. The concerning thing, though, is the injury Forsett is coming back from—a broken arm.

Earlier this preseason, Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun reported that former Cleveland Browns third-round pick West had been outperforming Forsett.

Given his veteran status, Forsett should get the first crack as "the guy," but don't expect that to last long. I'd avoid Forsett.

Looking at Allen, he has a clear role—the pass-catcher. While he isn't the greatest runner, he was highly touted coming out of USC as a great pass-catcher. That translated to the NFL when he caught 37 passes from Week 11 (Forsett's injury) to the end of the season, returning top-three points-per-reception (PPR) running back value over that stretch.

Allen is a draftable asset, especially in PPR.

The last two guys—West and Dixon—should also be avoided for now. If you're hellbent on taking a flier, use it on West. So far this preseason, West has played well. In Week 1, he displayed all the traits you want in a running back at a high level and even scored two touchdowns.

What eliminated Dixon from this equation is his MCL injury. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Dixon will be out four weeks with the injury, but it does not require surgery. That is obviously a good thing, as he would be out for the entire season if surgery was needed.

As a result of the injury, Dixon will be slow getting back, but he could make a case for himself later in the season. In this case, monitor him on your waiver wires.

Chicago Bears

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The Chicago Bears backfield has some depth, but what makes it more confusing is head coach John Fox.

According to Dan Durkin of The Athletic, there has been one instance during Fox's head coaching career in which one running back received 60 percent or more of the team's carries that season.

The odds are not on the side of Bears running backs Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard and Ka'Deem Carey with that statistic.

As a result, we can expect some kind of carry split.

I've gone on the record multiple times this preseason preaching to you to avoid Langford. However, his skill as a running back and fantasy points don't always correlate, as we've seen in the past with many players who are not good in real life but rack up the points for your squads.

If you ask me, I'd say Howard, the rookie, deserves the majority of the carries.

To his credit, Langford has looked good at times this preseason, most notably in his game against the New England Patriots. 

In his third preseason game, Langford played every snap of the Bears' first three series. This is encouraging if you're a Langford fan/owner. For whatever reason, this just screams the Toby Gerhart situation with the Jacksonville Jaguars when he first signed there, meaning everyone gets so excited and overdrafts him.

Howard excites me as a goal-line, touchdown-vulture running back. The guy has size and speed that will give coaches and fans something to brag about.

If you're going to draft Langford, you need to own Howard, too. Who knows where this backfield could lead. 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

With the Jacksonville Jaguars, there are really only two guys: running backs Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon.

However, the confusing part is who will see the most touches. The short answer: Who knows?

With that said, Ivory figures to be the initial lead back who will see goal-line work, whereas Yeldon will get his carries but is more of a pass-catching threat.

According to John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site, the team listed both Ivory and Yeldon as co-starters, and that has shown this preseason.

Looking at their ADP, Ivory is going as the RB34 and Yeldon the RB39, so they're pretty close. It seems as though the general public is starting to see that this is more of a timeshare.

These guys may be better suited for certain types of leagues.

For instance, if you're in a standard league, give Ivory a look. If you're in a PPR league, maybe Yeldon is your guy. Of course, this isn't a perfect system, and I'm not saying to draft Yeldon only if you're in a PPR. Both guys have value, but Yeldon has more of an upside in PPR as opposed to Ivory, and vice versa.

As mentioned in my Zero RB piece, Yeldon is a nice play in that format because of his ADP.

Building up running back depth is what helps make championship teams, as running back is a position that is littered with injuries year in and year out.

Draft both of these guys depending on your league format.

New England Patriots

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Same thing, different year.

That old axiom applies perfectly to the New England Patriots and their mad scientist, head coach Bill Belichick.

Every season, the fantasy world is divided about what to do with the Patriots backs. It's either avoid altogether or draft this guy or that guy.

To me, there are only two backs who will be on the roster Week 1 that make any sense to draft: LeGarrette Blount and James White.

With the injury to Dion Lewis, James White is the next guy up on the Patriots' depth chart of pass-catching backs. As we saw during Lewis' nine-week stretch before he suffered an ACL injury, he was a top-seven running back in PPR leagues.

Of course, this was with quarterback Tom Brady full-time and not backup Jimmy Garoppolo. This clear difference in talent at the position doesn't scare me one iota, though. In fact, Garoppolo being the starter may benefit White the most. With young quarterbacks, it's always nice when they have a reliable dump-off option. When they have this, it allows them to rack up not only completions, but confidence.

Even with Brady missing the first four games due to suspension, I'd still draft White. The fantasy world is drafting him as late as the RB37 in PPR leagues.

Looking at Blount, he's just a wrecking ball. He's going to run straight toward you with the intent to run you over. We know the story with Blount, though. At season's end, he may not accumulate a ton of yards, but he racks up the holy grail of fantasy—touchdowns.

As the RB38 in PPR, he's going just one spot behind White. While I prefer White in PPR, Blount's touchdown upside cannot be ignored. Owning both may cause a headache, so don't stress if you only get your hands on one of these guys.

Seattle Seahawks

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

A few months ago, the Seattle Seahawks backfield was 100 percent solved with Thomas Rawls leading the charge. Due to injury and missed practice/preseason playing time, it seems longtime folk hero Christine Michael has been reborn.

Not only that, but the addition of rookie running back C.J. Prosise in the 2016 NFL draft has added another element of confusion.

Prosise figures to be more of a pass-catching option and a bit of a gadget play with his wide receiving background. Although his presence could take away reception possibilities from Rawls and Michael, Prosise is worth a late-round flier. Prosise is not among the top 57 running backs being drafted in PPR leagues, according to Fantasy Football Calculator.

However, the main focus is Rawls vs. Michael. In the past, Michael was behind Marshawn Lynch during his previous stint with the Seahawks.

Not anymore.

Now, he will be competing against Rawls, a second-year man. With that said, Rawls was otherworldly in 2015 before his ankle injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14.

Because of his preseason play, including an average of over six yards per carry, Michael figures to have some kind of role to start the season, as Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com reported.

Quick personal note: I managed to snag Rawls in the sixth round of a PPR league. Why is this important? Could it be the idiocy of my home-league mates? Probably, but it also shows that people are afraid of this situation.

Even though Michael has displayed starter-caliber play this preseason, Rawls needs to get the nod Week 1 of the regular season.

Michael is a must-own handcuff if you're a Rawls owner.

To conclude, draft Prosise late, draft Rawls and make sure you get Michael as a handcuff or even by himself as trade bait or as a starting option down the line.

Stats courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All ADP references courtesy of Fantasy Football Calculator.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.