NFL Notebook, Week 11: Browns-Steelers incident, Tua injury, awards and more

Fantasy Focus

As the season rolls on, it’s only appropriate that every week I discuss a little about America’s new favorite past-time: Fantasy Football. 

I’m frustrated. I knew going into the season that Philadelphia wouldn’t just hand bell-cow duties over to Miles Sanders. That’s not how they roll.

However, I was expecting more than 13 touches in Sunday’s game against New England, though it is the Patriots. Boston Scott, who was promoted from the practice squad on Oct. 11, got seven touches after averaging 4.3 in the four games prior.

Sanders is too talented to waste like this. To show you how good of a fantasy player Sanders can become, consider that every running back who averages at least 20 touches a game is a top-ten fantasy player (in ESPN standard leagues). Only Le’Veon Bell (20.8 touches) and Marlon Mack (20.4 touches) fall outside the top ten at 12 and 15, respectively.

Let’s say the Eagles resorted it to an approach that favored Sanders rather than a committee. Between Sanders, Howard, Scott and Darren Sproles, Philadelphia running backs combined for 32.2 touches a game. If you reduce Scott and Sproles’ touches to one each and cut Howard’s touches in half, that leaves Sanders with approximately 23.8 touches a game.

If numbers aren’t your strong suit, all I’m saying is that a few extra touches for Sanders are feasible. Given the opportunity that he’ll probably never get, Sanders can be a star in the league.