Week 11 Start Em Sit Em: Michael Bush and Bold RB Plays

Running backs in the NFL are a dime a dozen. Don’t believe me? Well, let me ask you this. How many of you drafted Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray this year or the Oakland Raiders Michael Bush?  

Maybe you drafted Bush, but you would have to be playing in a deep league to take a risk on Murray.  

The point is, people like the Bush are players that you could have found late in your draft. You have to make a bold play this week on someone like Bush against the Minnesota Vikings.  

It looks like Darren McFadden is going to miss another game this week. According to ESPN’s Stephania Bell and Raiders blogger Steve Corkran, McFadden missed another practice yesterday.  

With McFadden expected to be out, you have to put Bush in your lineup now. He has rewarded fantasy owners the last two weeks, rushing for 96 and 157 yards with one touchdown against Denver and San Diego. In fact, last week they increased Bush’s attempts from 19 to a whopping 30.  

People who take a chance on Bush will see big numbers, as the Raiders will look to Bush to control the game. The final line for Bush in this game should end with him getting 20-25 carries, with 100-125 yards and a touchdown.  

Now, just like Bush, the Cowboys Murray has taken the fantasy football world by storm.  

He stepped in for an injured Felix Jones back in Week 7 and put the NFL on notice with a 253-yard game. The following weeks, Murray went from unknown rookie to must-have free agent and has not disappointed since. Since getting the starting job, Murray has rushed for over 130 yards in two of his three games, while averaging more than 6.5 yards per carry.  

This week, the Cowboys have a favorable game against the Washington Redskins' weak rushing defense. On the year, the ‘Skins are giving up 4.3 yards per carry, while allowing eight touchdowns and 120 yards per game to running backs. Murray will get the start again, even with Jones back healthy.  

You can expect DeMarco to have another game where his carries are low at 15-20, but his rushing yards high at 115-130. However, just be aware of his touchdowns, as he finally got his first touchdown last week since Week 7. 

Finally, you have to take a chance on Seattle Seahawks Marshawn Lynch. 

Lynch has been a fantasy headache this year, but he has seemed to have turn it around as if late. In his last two games, he’s rushed more than 20 times in each game while gaining over 100 yards and a touchdown.  

This week, the Seahawks have the St. Louis Rams, who not only rank No. 31 in defending the rush this week, but they also gave up that 253-yard game to Murray. What’s amazing is that in fantasy leagues on Yahoo! Sports, Lynch is not at 100 percent owned. So, he may still be available in your league.  

Start Lynch this week, as the Seahawks will go to him at least 25 times on Sunday against the Rams. He will have a season high in rushing yards this week with 150-175 yards and two touchdowns.  

All of these running backs have in common that they were not draft day must-haves. Hopefully for you, they are on your team and you are able to put them into your lineup this week. 

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