The 2024 Fantasy Football draft season was highlighted by a return to prominence for the bell-cow backs in Round 1. Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson shot up draft boards at the end of August and were commonly selected inside the top-6 picks overall. The perceived dropoff from Hall and Robinson to the next tier of running backs was predicated on a slew of factors, but volume was at the forefront. Well — we’re five weeks into this thing, and that projected volume has been nowhere near what was expected for either back. Hall has lost work to talented rookie running back Braelon Allen, and Robinson has not been involved in the pass game like we had hoped for. Both have lost some work in the red zone, too. Is it time to panic and sell low? Hold? Buy low if you don’t roster either? We’ll dive into the profile for Hall moving forward, in addition to several other running backs and wide receivers you might be starting right now that are getting your blood boiling every week!
For a larger discussion on all of these players and more, be sure to check Fantasy Football Today and the Week 5 recap episode:
Breece Hall, RB, Jets
Hall has gotten off to a slow Fantasy Football start as the Jets have scored as few points through five weeks this year with Aaron Rodgers as they did last year with Zach Wilson. Hall rushed nine times for just 23 yards, adding 14 yards on three receptions in Week 5. Two of his three previous games were saved by a touchdown, but Hall hasn’t topped 62 yards rushing in any game thus far. His involvement in the passing game has kept him more of a factor in PPR leagues, but rookie Allen is going to be a factor in the game plan moving forward and could see his role grow.
Dave Richard believes the issue for Hall right now is more focused around the Jets offensive line. “They can’t run the ball right now. I’m not sure this is the time to buy low on Hall. He’s getting the high-value touches, but he’s still going to share.”
Jamey Eisenberg feels differently. He thinks now is the perfect time to trade for Hall ahead of his favorable matchup against the Bills run defense. “The Bills allow the most Fantasy points to running backs. He’s never going to be this cheap.”
Jamey is willing to pay third-round value on Hall in a trade, Dave is not sure, and Heath was borderline. Keep an eye on Ed Oliver on the injury report this week ahead of the Bills-Jets matchup.
Upcoming schedule for Hall: BUF, @PIT, @NE, HOU, @ARI, IND, BYE, SEA, @MIA, @JAC, LAR, @BUF, MIA
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Christian Kirk, WR, Jaguars
Kirk was one of the most consistent Fantasy producers back in 2022 with Trevor Lawrence, but his profile has drastically changed since. Kirk saved his day with a big catch in Week 5, but he finished with just four targets. Evan Engram is projected to return to the Jaguars lineup in Week 6, per head coach Doug Pederson.
Heath is not counting on Kirk repeating a 61-yard reception every week. His concern is Brian Thomas Jr. has emerged as the WR1 moving forward in this offense, which will lead to Kirk being a low-end WR3 moving forward for Fantasy.
Upcoming schedule for Kirk: @CHI, NE, GB, @PHI, MIN, @DET, BYE, HOU, @TEN, NYJ, @LV, TEN, @IND
Amari Cooper, WR, Browns
Cooper caught just four passes for 60 yards in Week 5 after racking up just four catches for 35 yards the week before. Eight receptions in two weeks is a PPR nightmare, but it gets worse the further back you go — just two receptions against Dallas and three against Jacksonville. The Browns have faced two of arguably the worst passing defenses in the NFL (Jaguars, Commanders), and Cooper has nothing to show for it in your Fantasy lineups. Heath believes this won’t get any better as long as Deshaun Watson stays the starting quarterback, and head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the Browns won’t be making a quarterback change — at least not for this week.
Jamey suggested the key to unlocking Cooper is a trade to the Bills or Chiefs. If you want to get aggressive, you can trade for him now — but that’s leaning heavily on speculative trade reports.
Upcoming schedule for Cooper: @PHI, CIN, BAL, LAC, BYE, @NO, PIT, @DEN, @PIT, KC, @CIN, MIA, @BAL
Zack Moss, RB, Bengals
Chase Brown has been the more efficient back for the Bengals all year, but the touches haven’t always reflected that. Moss left Week 5 with an injury before returning later in the game, but we saw a similar process play out for Joe Mixon earlier this year. Mixon has since missed multiple games. Moss finished Week 5 with just 24 yards rushing on nine carries while adding 28 yards on three receptions. His rushing attempts and receptions have fallen in the last two weeks — he saw season-highs in receptions, carries, and total yards in the first two weeks of the season.
Check out the FFT Week 5 recap (embedded above) for a full breakdown of the Bengals running back situation moving forward.
Upcoming schedule for Moss: @NYG, @CLE, PHI, LV, @BAL, @LAC, BYE, PIT, @DAL, @TEN, CLE, DEN, @PIT
