When a team can't run for more than even 20 yards in a game -- as was the case last week with the Dolphins (2 yards) and Colts (18) -- should fantasy leaguers stay away? Or is that a deal where then that team goes into its next game hell bent on fixing that part of the offense?
It's happened 41 times in the last 10 years. And the track record of those teams (in their next game) might surprise you.
Over half of those teams (23 of 41) ran for over 100 yards in their next game. Over a quarter (11 of 41) went over 140.
What the heck? I thought these teams weren't supposed to be able to run?
Kansas City is your all-time leader in this category. It went for only 10 yards in a game against the Raiders last December, then came back and up 352 the next week against the Colts (and still managed to lose that game). Jamaal Charles went for 226 in that game, and Peyton Hillis added 101.
The average of these teams, helped along by KC's 352, is 113 rushing yards per game.
So for this week, look at the matchups. Miami is at home against a pretty ordinary San Diego defense. The Colts play tomorrow night against a Tennessee defense that's been softer than expected against the run. Both of those teams easily could go for about 100 rushing yards.
TERRIBLE RUNNING TEAMS -- THE NEXT WEEK | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Run Yds | Next |
2003 | St. Louis | 9 | 47 |
2004 | New England | 5 | 147 |
2005 | Jacksonville | 12 | 181 |
2005 | Minnesota | 12 | 160 |
2005 | St. Louis | 6 | 138 |
2005 | Baltimore | 14 | 115 |
2005 | Buffalo | 14 | 75 |
2005 | Philadelphia | 19 | 24 |
2006 | Miami | 4 | 186 |
2006 | Arizona | 17 | 137 |
2006 | Detroit | 16 | 132 |
2006 | Cleveland | 18 | 68 |
2006 | Detroit | -3 | 58 |
2007 | Kansas City | 10 | 121 |
2007 | Kansas City | 16 | 89 |
2007 | Tampa Bay | 17 | 30 |
2007 | Detroit | -18 | 25 |
2008 | St. Louis | 14 | 129 |
2008 | Denver | 14 | 123 |
2008 | Tennessee | 20 | 114 |
2009 | Seattle | 4 | 170 |
2009 | Seattle | 14 | 79 |
2009 | San Diego | 16 | 73 |
2010 | Oakland | 16 | 251 |
2010 | Seattle | 20 | 161 |
2010 | Washington | 18 | 116 |
2010 | Detroit | 20 | 115 |
2010 | Arizona | 13 | 105 |
2010 | Denver | 19 | 39 |
2011 | Chicago | 13 | 224 |
2011 | Detroit | 20 | 63 |
2012 | Kansas City | 10 | 352 |
2012 | Carolina | 10 | 219 |
2012 | Miami | 19 | 97 |
2012 | Dallas | 19 | 65 |
2012 | Arizona | 7 | 54 |
2012 | Cincinnati | 14 | 47 |
2012 | Tennessee | 20 | 38 |
2013 | St. Louis | 18 | 143 |
2013 | Miami | 20 | 101 |
2013 | Atlanta | 18 | 27 |
2013 | Miami | 2 | ? |
2013 | Indianapolis | 18 | ? |
--Ian Allan