The top running back currently in fantasy football is shockingly Devonta Freeman. Coleman went down in Atlanta and paved the way for Freeman to breakout. Week 3 set the stage for Freeman. Freeman has had back to back 30 point games and is currently the top running back. Freeman is currently averaging over 20 fantasy points per game and plenty of fans are asking whether or not Freeman will be able to keep these stats up. Freeman matches up with the best fantasy run defense this week (Washington). This is the test week for Freeman since he plays the number 1 run defense this week. Freeman was not a hyped up guy in the preseason and now is looked upon as a potential top running back.
Matchup: Washington @ Atlanta
Atlanta is at home this week and plays the 2-2 Redskins Sunday. The Redskins have completely shut down the run as far as fantasy goes. Through 4 games, only once has an opposing running back gotten into the endzone against Washington. Freeman is coming off back to back 3 touchdown games. The stats currently are clashing with each other with Freeman being the top running back and Washington being the top run defense. This is Freeman’s chance to prove that he is the top running back for a reason or Washington to show that Freeman has had 2 fluke weeks. If Freeman gets over 11.5 points this week I would consider him to be a top running back. The reason I say 13.5 and not 13 or 14 is so Freeman has a baseline that he must get over and not get directly. If Freeman scores 14 or more against the current number 1 defense, he is a no doubt number 1 but if he scores 6 or less I would view weeks 3 and 4 as flukey weeks for Freeman and the Falcons.
30 Points
Freeman has been scoring over 30 points in back to back weeks and now has the expectations to score 30 a game. It is absolutely ridiculous to say Freeman will score 30 each game simply because the expectations for that are way too high. The preseason favorites such as Bell, Peterson, and Charles were never expected to score 30 points each game. Setting these expectations on Freeman is far too high and will never be achieved by any running back on a week to week basis. I currently am not 100% sold on Freeman but if he gets anything close to 15 or 20 points this week I will certainly consider him to be a top running back.
Verdict
Freeman has a lot to prove this week and if he performs once again I will view him as a top running back. Ultimately in my opinion this is the week that either makes or breaks Freeman’s campaign for a spot with the elite running backs. In conclusion, the main fantasy storyline for week 5 will ultimately come down to whether or not Freeman will prove he is a top running back or drop back down to his sub par running back status prior to the season.