Start or Sit TJ Yeldon in Fantasy Football Week Five?
Leonard Fournette owners continue to rue the moment in the first or second rounds of their 2018 fantasy football drafts when they selected the sophomore back. The guy had a myriad of lower body injuries headed into the season, and he continues that trend. Fournette reaggravated his hamstring strain last weekend, and he’s already been ruled out for this weekend. That leaves TJ Yeldon to carry the load in his absence, who was the back the Jags desperately wanted to replace when they took Fournette early in the 2017 NFL Draft. For those owners who snagged Yeldon, can they trust him this weekend? Today we take a whack at sorting out whether you should start or sit TJ Yeldon as the Jags take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
TJ Yeldon did not do amazingly on a yards per carry basis in his second-time debut as the Jaguars 2018 starting running back against the Jets. He totaled just 52 yards on 18 carries for a truly pitiful 2.89 YPC. However, he made his hay in the passing game, going for 48 yards on three targets, punctuated by a long catch-and-run against the Jets defense that has allowed five RB touchdowns in their last three games. There was initially worry among the fantasy football community that there would be a Yeldon-Corey Grant split if (when) Leonard Fournette went back down. However, that is yet to come to fruition, with Yeldon out snapping Grant 48-7 on Sunday. Grant and Yeldon had split snaps a bit more equitably with Fournette out previously (79-50). However, Grant’s iffy showing against the Pats and complete disappearing act against the Titans likely had Jags coaches questioning putting him back out there. He’ll get more touches this weekend as a change-of-pace back, but not enough to leave me worried.
This weekend, he gets the second-best matchup he could hope for as he grabs control of the reins once again. The Chiefs run defense is an absolute sieve, and they have allowed seven running backs to reach double-digit fantasy football days in standard scoring against them in just four weeks, including Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman last week. The Jaguars game plan will also likely include limiting the opportunities the Chiefs offense receives against their defense, which means a good, ol’ fashioned GROUND ‘N’ POUND game for the Jags. That means a ton of Yeldon this weekend.
TJ Yeldon did not do great as a traditional running back against the Jets last week when he took over for Leonard Fournette. However, he still scored two touchdowns and ended up with 100 total yards when all was said and done. You’ll take that from anyone you slot into your lineup anywhere (ok, except quarterback). This weekend, Yeldon gets a buttercup defense against running backs for him to flex against. If you’re wondering whether you should start or sit TJ Yeldon this weekend? Go ahead and fire him up. Yeldon is a start.
If we helped you decide whether or not you should start or sit TJ Yeldon this week, maybe you have these other guys on your fantasy football squad and need some additional help.
Start or sit Mike Davis?
Start or sit Vance McDonald?
Start or sit David Njoku?
