Bell Cow Updates: RB Touch Leaders and Largest Projected Workloads for Week 5

Shame on you if you’re an NFL team running the ball fewer than 20 times per game.

Through the first month of the season, the Packers have packed in the running game, averaging just 17.5 rushing attempts per game.

That’s not just bad news for the backfield. When an offense becomes that one-dimensional, it changes how we should look at everyone involved from a fantasy standpoint.

Volume is still king in fantasy football, and finding those bell-cow RBs can be the difference between winning and watching somebody else talk trash in the group chat.

As we head into the second quarter of the season, the trends are starting to speak.

Keep an eye on these three heading into Week 5…

RB Touch Leaders and Largest Projected Workloads for Week 5

Kyren Williams | RB | LAR

Monday night, we all have a date with the Rams and Bills in an early October showdown in L.A.

Kyren Williams is coming off a 26-touch game against those Philly Tweety Birds, including 10 catches. Meanwhile, Blake Corum still can’t crack the RB1 code, getting just six touches in Week 4.

Are we surprised?

Williams has always been the guy HC Sean McVay trusts most, and it’s showing.

Leading all RBs in targets is already a fantasy luxury. Turning that volume into an RB-leading 31 receptions? Now we’re talking.

The matchup is screaming for more. Buffalo allows just over 28 rushing attempts per game and five receptions to RBs.
If L.A. wants to control the clock and keep Buffalo’s offense watching from the sideline, Williams should be busy.

Carries? Check.

Targets? Check.

A matchup built for both? Check.

Another big bell-cow performance is loading.

Kyle Monangai | RB | CHI

Targeting the Bears early and often in this series is easy. Why? They run the ball more than anybody, and Ben Johnson knows exactly how to marry the run game with the pass.

Having a running back come downhill at you five times is annoying. Having Kyle Monangai come at you 30 times like he did in Week 4? That’s exhausting.

That’s right, 30 carries. And don’t get it twisted, D’Andre Swift saw his fair share of touches too.

Going against a fraud team like the Packers makes this matchup even more appealing. Yes, it’s a divisional game and arguably the oldest rivalry in the NFL, but this isn’t a Lombardi-led Packers team. They almost gave up the game to Jalon Daniels.

Back to the Pack.

They’re allowing the third-most rushing attempts at 33 per game. You have to know Johnson and the Bears are licking their chops.

Monangai gets stronger with every hit he absorbs. If Chicago plays from ahead and controls the clock, another monster workload could be coming.

Bhayshul Tuten | RB | JAX

Though we’re still in the toddler stages of the season, the Jaguars have been in midseason form since Week 1.

Bhayshul Tuten has been a fantasy manager’s delight, sitting inside the top 20 at RB. He’s also a perfect 7-for-7 in the passing game.

He needs more opportunities there to truly become a bell cow, but Jacksonville hasn’t exactly needed to play catch-up. The Jaguars are No. 2 in point differential at +51, creating the type of positive game scripts that keep the running game cooking.

Now it’s back to a home-away-from-home.

Jacksonville returns to London against an Eagles team that can’t even win in Philly. So what are these bloodthirsty felines going to do to those Birds?

Good luck, Guv’na!

The Eagles are giving up 30 rushing attempts per game, and with Jacksonville’s defense playing the way it is, this could be another favorable game script for Tuten.

He’s averaging 16.75 carries per game, but this matchup is screaming for more.

If Jacksonville gets ahead, don’t be surprised if Tuten blows past that number in London.