There is one rookie running back who will make his third appearance in this article, but likely his last as the season reaches Week 10.
Keep
Alexander Mattison, RB (MIN)
It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Mattison and fantasy managers who have him, but Cam Akers tearing his Achilles turns the backfield completely back over to Mattison.
Kirk Cousins is out for the year after tearing his Achilles, but Joshua Dobbs proved he can at least keep the offense afloat and somewhat maintain the fantasy production of the starters.
Akers was starting to take over the lead role from Mattison, but his injury thrusts Mattison back into the unquestioned RB1 role on the team.
Ty Chandler is the backup, but you should see Mattison ceding far less work to Chandler than he started to do to Akers.
Chuba Hubbard, RB (CAR)
Hubbard has averaged 1.9 and 3.6 yards per carry in the last two games with zero touchdowns, but he is a running back you should keep.
He has overtaken Miles Sanders for the lead-back role on the Panthers. Hubbard led the team in carries and was the primary back in most situations.
Sanders ran the ball six times for 39 yards. He was targeted on five of his 11 pass routes, according to PFF. That resulted in three catches for 22 yards.
Hubbard is still the top player to consider from this backfield. Sanders could close the gap with another good performance on Thursday night. It’s likely to be close to a 50-50 split.
Cut
Roschon Johnson, RB (CHI)
Johnson may be the most talented running back on the team, but that doesn’t seem to matter at this point.
D’Onta Foreman rushed for 83 yards on 20 carries in last week’s loss. Foreman has dominated carries for the Bears for several weeks since Herbert went to injured reserve. Johnson had two carries for six yards, while Darrynton Evans chipped in with one carry for two yards in Week 9.
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Herbert is eligible to return for Thursday’s game against Carolina. Foreman was a healthy inactive earlier in the season when Herbert and Johnson were healthy, but that’s likely to change with the way Foreman has played.
Johnson has averaged 20 yards per game in his last four appearances, and it’s likely heading to a messy three-person committee.
Embed from Getty ImagesTutu Atwell, WR (LAR)
Atwell’s fantasy relevance this season has come to an end. Understandably, his numbers dipped dramatically when Cooper Kupp returned from injured reserve in Week 5.
The problem for Atwell was more than just that in Week 9. He was rotated out for Ben Skowronek in more personnel groupings than in previous weeks, according to PFF.
Atwell had 17 catches for 246 yards in the first three weeks and only 128 receiving yards total in the last six games.
With offensive focus relying heavily on Kupp and Puka Nacua, Atwell can be sent to waivers.
Wan’Dale Robinson, WR (NYG)
Robinson has played well when given opportunities, but the reason he can be dropped like every other skill player on the Giants besides Saquon Barkley is because Tommy Devito is the only healthy quarterback on the roster.
Daniel Jones tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season, and Tyrod Taylor is on I.R. The Giants passing game will look horrendous for at least the next three weeks. Robinson’s upside is capped, and he’s not worth holding a roster spot until Taylor returns.
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