Best Offensive Line/Strength-of-Schedule Combos for Fantasy Running Backs in 2020
Trashman’s 5 Favorite Offensive Line/RB Strength of Schedule Combos
These teams may not all have the best backs, but they do have the best pairings of offensive line strength and RB strength of schedule. Make sure you grab a piece of their backfields in your upcoming drafts!
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have the best combo of offensive line and running back strength of schedule going into the 2020 season. Their line is actually ranked first in the league, a designation that they held last year, and they’ll return with virtually the same group this year. The major boon here is the cushy schedule. The Colts only face three formidable run defenses all season (CHI,BAL,PIT), and they’re spread out throughout the season. Week 16 is at the Steelers, but the rest of their slate makes up for it, especially the three games prior which are at HOU,LV and HOU again.
Sans Francisco 49ers: Now it may be a bit of a puzzle as to who will be getting the bulk of carries between Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Jerick McKinnon from week to week, but rest assured the 49ers will be amongst the league leaders in carries, in addition to having a solid offensive line and favorable strength of schedule. Stalwart left-tackle Trent Williams rounds out the 9th best line in our rankings, and they’ll get to face ARI, NYJ, NYG and MIA in four of their first five games. It’s very possible that you could have two startable backs from this offense over the duration of that time.
Baltimore Ravens: It’s no shock that the run-heaviest team in football has a capable offensive line, but the fluffy bookends of their season create an embarrassment of fantasy riches for all involved. CLE, HOU, KC, WAS, CIN are going to lay down for the Ravens before they hit a rough patch in the middle of the season. Don’t fret though because they’re going to get CLE, JAX, and NYG to end the fantasy season. Mark Ingram should play above his current ADP, but so should rookie J.K. Dobbins, who has been making highlight reel runs in practice on a daily basis.
Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders have the third best offensive line according to our rankings, and that’s a good thing because Derek Carr is about as middling a QB as you can get. With that line and their current strength of schedule, expect Josh Jacobs to get a slew of action. The Raiders don’t have a string soft matchups, but they only see stout defenses back-to-back once, in weeks two and three (NO, NE).
New England Patriots: The Patriots have the 13th best line in the league, which isn’t elite, but their schedule for RBs certainly is. Not only do they face only three decent run defenses all season, but they have the fastest projected start of any team in the league. MIA, SEA, LV and KC get the party started for New England who are looking more and more comfortable with Damien Harris in a major role if Sony Michel isn’t ready by the time the season starts. Things get grayer after that run, but the Pats end the fantasy season in style against MIA and BUF, both of whom should let the Pats have their way on the ground.
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12 team PPR draft question: I’m looking at going CEH with my first round pick and likely getting C Carson as my RB2 in the third round. If it plays out this way, would I be taking too much risk in going with another rookie RB (looking at Cam Akers) in round 6 or would a more experienced back like Ingram or Ronald Jones be a better play given CEH being a rookie? Thanks
JB:
You bring up some really great points about how much risk you should assume in your draft. I use the edict that you cant win your draft in the first round but you certainly can lose it. My draft philosophy is that you want floor in round one, and as you move through the draft you want more ceiling and upside.
Reading this would make you think I am fading CEH as a first round pick. I can totally see wanting to pay up for CEH’s upside in round one. It is a league winning type of move. My advice is if you do it, you can proceed one of two ways
1) go all in on upside. Take the players you want like Akers etc and understand you may bottom out.
2) add some floor picks like Ronald Jones
The path fwd really depends on your risk tolerance and league format.
Good luck and let us know how you do!
Awesome great info thanks! Have won 2 championships in 3 years since joining the site so I’m a big fan. Are you guys down on OJ Howard? Not seeing him at all on the PPR cheat sheet. Thanks again!
I haven’t had him on the sheet, but will be adding him. Still won’t have him in the tier we really like in the end though, that includes Jonnu, Herndon, Hock, etc. In reality, we aren’t going to own much of him, but we’ll keep an eye on the waiver wire. I don’t think he’ll be drafted in many leagues so more of a watch list guy.
OJ MURDERED my season!!!! Never again until he proves it!
Well its taylor by 3 rounds or so ..
Alternatively u can consider fournette or aaron jones with ur 2nd rd pick and go wr in rd three ..or go completely rb robust and go 1.2.3 rb to start. Many of Alexs mocks using the sheet have them getting 3 backs in 1st 3 rounds.
Jump on fantasypros .com and try some mocks to come to a direction u think toes the line between too risky and not.
Funny story
I just checked my bestball leagues last night
Out of 27 i have 17 shares of CEH none taken in the 1st rd.
If he pans out baron will be cashing out!!
12 Team PPR- 2 keepers
Do I keep Chubb and Sanders for my 3rd and 4th
OR
Keep one of them for a 3rd and Lamar for a 5th?
If its a 1 qb league take the 2 backs and sleep like a baby
The elephant in the room, Mack or Taylor?
Well its taylor by 3 rounds or so ..