Fantasy football busts: RB - Week 11

November 19, 2009 @ 14:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Tim Heaney

Fantasy football busts: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

In this article KFFL breaks down the fantasy football sleepers of the week. We will avoid marquee names because players of that caliber are rarely benched, regardless of their matchup. Instead, we will focus on the players that make your fantasy lineup decisions stressful each week. Read on to learn which midrange to low-end players that you wouldn't necessarily consider that you need to get into your lineup.

Note: All statistics are from Week 7 to Week 10, unless otherwise noted.

Fantasy football busts: Running backs

Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers

Fantasy value: No. 2 or flex

• Knowshon may disappoint this week

  The Broncos leaned heavily on Moreno last week; he was utilized 23 times, his second most this season. He finished the game with 97 yards on 18 carries (5.4 yards per carry).
• San Diego has done a number on this position, limiting them to only 83.3 rushing yards and 0.25 rushing touchdowns per game. They've given up just 4.00 receptions and 28.5 receiving yards per game to this position, too.
• Quarterback Kyle Orton (ankle) missed practice Wednesday, Nov. 18, and it won't be known until later in the week if he plays. Regardless of who starts behind center, the Chargers probably will be able to key on the running game to shut down Denver's offense.

Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots vs. New York Jets

Fantasy value: Flex or bench

• Maroney has double-digit utilizations in all four of New England's games since Week 5. Last week the Indianapolis Colts held him to just 2.4 yards per carry (31 yards on 13 carries), and he fumbled once. He has scored in four straight games, though.
• Opposing running backs have averaged just 93.0 rushing yards and 0.33 rushing touchdowns per game against the Jets.
• Sammy Morris (knee) is expected to return this week. His return further clouds an already murky picture at the position for New England, especially given Maroney's fumble last week.

NEW - Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Fantasy value: Flex or bench

• McFadden's return in Week 10 didn't result in a huge workload; he carried the ball just four times for 11 yards and didn't catch a pass.
• The Bengals have allowed the fewest rushing yards per game to this position (48.3). They also have allowed just 0.33 rushing touchdowns per game. Cincy has faced some decent offenses, too: the Chicago Bears, the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Michael Bush and Justin Fargas received more work ... and did more with their carries. Sure, McFadden could be used in more creative ways, and he's a threat to score on any play (more so than Bush or Fargas), but he isn't as "safe" the other two.

Fantasy football busts: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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