Fantasy Football Week 8: Start or Sit Crowell, Yeldon, or Doug Martin?

Fantasy Football Week 8: Start or Sit Isaiah Crowell, T.J. Yeldon, or Doug Martin?

It feels like the fantasy football season just started, but this is the last week where we can consider ourselves in the midgame. After this week, you’re entering the last third of your fantasy football regular season, and you have to start thinking of things on a week-to-week basis. Thankfully, we always think of you when considering our week-to-week propositions. Our goal is to help you make the hard start or sit decisions every week. We consider six players at all positions, helping you decide if you should start or sit them. Without further ado, in the second half of our start or sit running backs piece, we help you decide if you should start or sit Latavius Murray, T.J. Yeldon, or Doug Martin?

Start or Sit Isaiah Crowell at Chicago

I have never been an Isaiah Crowell believer, but I’ve never been an Isaiah Crowell hater. Isaiah Crowell is in the perfectly acceptable running back middle class. A tier of RB who will do well in good matchups, but wilt in the face of stronger adversaries. These types of backs occasionally explode when they meet an equally blasé opponent, such as with Crowell’s 219 yards against Denver. However, he’s spent the last two games managing just 2.9 yards per carry against Indianapolis and Minnesota. I know that Powell is out for the season, but that will not suddenly make Crowell any good. This week he takes on a Bears defense that allows the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, and has seen just one running back top 57 rushing yards against them this year. Isaiah Crowell might make that two guys on volume alone, but don’t expect a decent game from him. If you’re wondering if you should start or sit Isaiah Crowell, he is a firm sit for me this week outside of exceptionally deep leagues and/or desperate teams.

Start or Sit T.J. Yeldon versus Philadelphia in London

Things were going so well for Yeldon’s fantasy owners. He’d been running hot, posting at least 12 half-PPR fantasy points in four-of-five games without Leonard Fournette. Then the Jags went and mucked up his whole situation by going and getting Carlos Hyde to fill in while Fournette sits on the shelf. To be honest, a lot of Yeldon’s appeal came from the fact that he was the only real game in town in Jacksonville. Now he will return to his pass-catching role. This also doesn’t take into account that the Jags offense is on the verge of becoming a complete disaster. It’s entirely possible I’m a complete moron and I’m wrong about usage, but this wouldn’t be the week to bet against me. The Eagles have knocked around most run games that have gone against them this year, giving up just two touchdowns to the position all season. Given the situation around him, it is reasonable to wonder if you should start or sit T.J. Yeldon this weekend. To me, he is a sit, until we learn more about what is going on with the Jaguars offense.

Start or Sit Doug Martin versus Indianapolis

There is no reason to be excited about Doug Martin this week. He’s not as good as Marshawn Lynch, and will play the same role. Let’s call Lynch his absolute ceiling. Then ding him a bit for sucking. Then ding him a bit for Jalen Richard saying this week that he will spell Martin at times. Oh, and don’t forget to take a bit off his expectation for the Raiders collapsing around him. The man previously known as Muscle Hamster has an unimpressive 99 yards in 27 rushes this season, after averaging just 2.9 yards per carry over the two previous seasons. He’ll pop up from time-to-time this season (best case scenario), but this isn’t the week. The Colts are middle of the pack against the run, and they’ve allowed just three touchdowns to running backs this season. An owner would need to be desperate to decide to start him if they are choosing whether to start or sit Doug Martin. He is a firm sit… all the way to the waiver wire. This isn’t a situation that is likely to improve.

These are all dreadful options this week, but if I was forced to start these guys, I’d do it in this order