Market Share Report: Never Trust Doug Pederson

Carry Market Shares

1. C.J. Prosise Bursts Ahead of Christine Michael

The writing was on the wall that C.J. Prosise was the new lead back for the Seattle Seahawks when he out-snapped Christine Michael in Week 9. He put that writing in Sharpie Sunday night.

Prosise had his assumed passing-game usage with a season-high 7 targets, but he also had 17 of 23 running-back carries. Michael had five, and Alex Collins had the other. Prosise dominated the snaps, as well, with a 77% rate, showing that -- at least for that game -- he had distanced himself from the pack.

There are two major complications here. First, Michael was dealing with a hamstring injury that potentially capped his usage. Second, we're about to add another mouth into the mix.

Well. Poo.

Thomas Rawls was awesome last year, and he'll have a role when he gets back. But that's not going to squash Prosise completely. Rawls had just 11 targets in 13 games last year, meaning he's not a threat to Prosise's role in the passing game. And Prosise showed that he can produce as a running back Sunday, as well. Because of this, we should be viewing Prosise in a light similar to Giovani Bernard going forward with guaranteed passing-down usage and some carries to go along with it.

2. Rob Kelley Cements His Role

Just in case Matt Jones was holding out hope that he'd eventually re-gain his starting job for Washington, Week 10 at least provided him with some closure.

Jones was a healthy scratch, and Rob Kelley again carried a heavy load. He rushed 22 times, ceding just 4 carries to Chris Thompson. It was Kelley's second consecutive game with at least 20 carries, a mark Jones hit just once in seven healthy games. Jones' fumbles ignited a remix to the backfield, and R. Kelley came out on top.

What was almost equally important about this game for Kelley was his effectiveness. It was Washington's first game without left tackle Trent Williams, who will also miss the next three games because of a suspension. Even without Williams, Kelley was able to amass 97 rushing yards against a solid defense. When Washington is in good matchups going forward, Kelley will be a guy we can trust in fantasy.

3. Never Trust Doug Pederson

If Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson ever calls you the team's "lead back," bring a seat cushion to the next game. You gon ride that pine, bruh.

After Darren Sproles posted back-to-back snap rates above 80% in Weeks 8 and 9 -- controlling 28 of 44 running-back carries -- Pederson said Sproles was their top option at the position. This was after he had previously and repeatedly backed Ryan Mathews as the team's starter while giving Sproles more work. Sproles should have known his time was toast once he got the verbal backing.

Mathews carried the ball 19 times in Week 10 out of a total 34 running-back carries. Only 2 of those went to Sproles with the other 13 in the hands of Wendell Smallwood. It tied Sproles' smallest carry total of the season, and his 39.2% snap rate was his second-lowest mark. It was a complete 180 on what we had seen the past two weeks.

This makes it hard to figure how we handle the backfield the rest of the way. Given that Sproles still finished with a whopping 10 targets and now has a 20.6% target market share the past three games, he's the back we want in fantasy. We can use him at times and not hate ourselves for doing so. Mathews' 21 touches came on just 26 snaps (33%), meaning he'll be difficult to ever trust, even in the best of matchups. Overall, though, this situation is back to being a pile of muck where every asset involved lacks a reliable floor.