Chargers running back Branden Oliver now leads the team in rushing yards after Week 5. Because of injuries to Ryan Mathews (knee), Danny Woodhead (ankle) and Donald Brown (concussion), Oliver had an opportunity to prove his worth on Sunday against the Jets.
Brown got the start on Sunday, but after nine carries he exited the game with a concussion and did not return. Midway through the second quarter, Oliver took over and carried the ball 19 times for 114 yards in the team's 31-0 victory. The rookie out of Buffalo also had four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, which could solidify his role as the starting running back until Ryan Mathews returns from his MCL sprain.
Oliver's performance was impressive (6.0 yards per carry) and he is now the team's leading rusher with only 31 attempts. Brown has 59 attempts for only 126 yards (2.1 avg.) and Mathews has 23 carries for 71 yards (3.1 avg.). Oliver seemingly mirrors Darren Sproles during his days in San Diego because he also wears No. 43, is very short (5' 7") and catches balls well out of the backfield. He could prove to be an effective running back because he's compact, quick and very low to the ground compared to the 6' 0" Mathews and the not-very-agile Brown.
"Whenever you can have a coming-out party for somebody, it's a great thing," said Chargers linebacker Dwight Freeney, in this ESPN article. "He's a rookie, and we see it all the time in practice. It's crazy. So we kind of expected it. You can't teach that lean, that leverage, that movement and that height. You can't see him."
With Mathews likely out for another two weeks and Brown expected to be out for Week 6 (coupled with his awful play), it looks like Oliver will get the start against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Speaking of injuries to running backs and emerging rookies, the Giants' Rashad Jennings sprained his MCL in the team's 30-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Jennings has had a good season with New York thus far (91 carries for 396 yards and two touchdowns), but his injury is likely to hinder his contribution. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweeted that Jennings could miss "a week or two," which will give rookie Andre Williams more action in the backfield (54 carries for 170 yards and two touchdowns). The Giants will probably want to play it safe, so it looks like Jennings will aim to return after the team's bye week and miss the next two games against the Eagles and Cowboys.
New York could get lucky in two weeks because it looks as if the Cowboys are going lessen Demarco Murray's workload. The Dallas running back already has 130 carries for 670 yards and five touchdowns in the team' first five games, with Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar far behind as the next leading rushers (11 carries each).
"DeMarco was out there and we think that's probably too many carries in the game, week in and week out," head coach Jason Garrett said, in this ESPN article. "He ended up with 31 so we'd like to get that number lower. We'd really just like to get the other guys an opportunity. I don't see any wear and tear in DeMarco but having said that, we want to make sure we create a rotation and we'll focus on doing that in the next few weeks."
The former Oklahoma Sooner has had durability issues, so that's likely another reason Garrett hopes to reduce his touches. He has yet to play in all 16 games entering his fourth year in the league, missing three his rookie season (only started 7), six in his second year and two last year.
If you're looking for some fantasy help, it looks like backup Joseph Randle can be an option moving forward if the team is serious about limited Murray, but we'll see about that after the team's Week 6 game at Seattle. Additionally, it wouldn't hurt to pick up Oliver or Williams if you're in need of a starting running back for the next couple of weeks.
