College Fantasy Football: LSU-Alabama RB matchup
Top-ranked LSU visits No. 2 Alabama in a huge SEC showdown and the best college football matchup so far this season on Saturday afternoon. Here is a fantasy breakdown by position looking at running backs on both teams.
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ALABAMA
The difficult part about playing Alabama’s top running back from a fantasy perspective is that the Crimson Tide use a by-committee approach so points are spread around far too much.
Former five-star Najee Harris is the primary back and he might be leaned on in such a big setting like the game against LSU. So far this season, Harris has 642 yards and five touchdowns on 108 attempts and it’s also helped his fantasy stature that Harris has added four receiving scores as well.
For that performance, Harris is No. 15 overall in fantasy points at running back. He is nursing a minor ankle injury so that’s something to watch leading up to gametime. But Brian Robinson Jr., has 76 carries and Keilan Robinson has 28 so that’s cutting into the fantasy production of Harris.
LSU
There is a possibility that LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is available for this weekend since he’s owned in only 72 percent of fantasy leagues. It might be a worthwhile pick since he’s carried the ball 115 times for 683 yards and eight touchdowns.
Again, though, Edwards-Helaire’s production is slowed because Tyrion Davis-Price has 41 carries and three touchdowns. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow also has run 52 times for three scores, so stats are spread out, hurting fantasy running backs.
Also, if LSU is going to find success downfield in this game, my guess it will be through the pass game, which has worked against every opponent this season. Burrow has been phenomenal throwing for 30 touchdowns and receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase each have nine TDs. I’m not sure Edwards-Helaire is going to get a ton of opportunities as LSU won’t try to pound it against Alabama’s front all night.
FANTASY ADVANTAGE: ALABAMA
Part of my reasoning on picking Alabama here is because of the lack of clarity on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s injury. If he plays this weekend, he still won’t be 100 percent and so he won’t be running much. That means Harris could get more work in the backfield and that’s great for fantasy owners.
I also think LSU has convinced itself to win on Saturday it’s going to have to win in a high-scoring affair. That means throwing the ball often and trusting in Burrow and the passing attack.
This game is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s quarterback has an ankle injury, Harris is a really talented back and my prediction is that he puts up better numbers than Edwards-Helaire from a fantasy perspective.