Week 2 vs Patriots
LeSean McCoy had mixed results in Week 1. He had 20 touches for 87 yards, but don't forget he was banged up most of the preseason and probably not 100%. With that said, he had problems with his hamstring in practice this week, so it should still be a concern.
McCoy will face a Patriots defense that was average at best in Week 1. Steelers backup running back DeAngelo Williams found big holes, but that could be misleading as the Patriots were willing to give up the run to avoid Big Ben hurting them. For Week 2, McCoy is ranked as a solid RB2. He is expected to play Sunday, but the hamstring is worrisome. If he gets 20 touches again, the numbers should be good enough to warrant the start.
Week 1 vs Colts
LeSean McCoy has been deemed healthy enough to play against Indy Week 1. The new Bills running back has not played since mid-August, as he has been nursing a bad hamstring. So, what will we get from him? There are still plenty of questions, including how Buffalo will use him and how new QB Tyrod Taylor will manage the offense. For now, McCoy cannot be deemed the stud he was in Philly, but he should be in your starting lineup as a high-end RB2 against the Colts.
Fantasy Upside
The Bills acquired 'Shady' McCoy and gave him $26 million for a reason. They expect results. McCoy put up some impressive numbers in Philly over the years. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards four of the past five seasons and until last year, he caught at least 40 passes every season. No doubt McCoy can make big plays and that is what attracted the Bills to him. Most fantasy experts predict he can continue to put up those numbers in Buffalo and is a consensus top 10 back.
Fantasy Downside
There were reasons Chip Kelly shipped one of this best offensive players away. McCoy has put up good numbers as previously mentioned, but he also was in the top 5 in negative rushes last season, which happened 13% of the time. There are also the TD totals. He is not a great goal line back (Only 16 rushing TDs over the past three seasons), and there is solid depth behind him on the Bills' roster. Fred Jackson will still get plenty of touches and they also like Boobie Dixon, Bryce Brown and Karlos Williams.
Shady will be the man in Buffalo, but will he be the full time guy? McCoy is the No. 9 back per 4for4 and his ADP is 15. The TDs hurt his value and keep him out of the top 5, plus the Bills depth should worry fantasy owners as Jackson always seems to end up a major factor in Buffalo's offense. McCoy will give you RB1 numbers but he is not a first round pick.
Week 17 - McCoy vs. NY Giants
LeSean McCoy ran 22 times for 88 yards last week and added a TD, just his fifth of the season. He caught three balls for 28 yards. The 28 yards are his highest receiving total since Week 1 as the team went back to using RBs in the passing game a little more.
McCoy was certainly effective in this contest, and now gets another good matchup against the Giants who are in the middle of the pack in terms of allowing fantasy points to RBs. The Eagles say they will play the starters in what is now a meaningless game, but there's certainly a chance McCoy loses some more work than usual in this contest. He should still make for a solid play.
Week 16 - McCoy vs. Washington
LeSean McCoy struggled for just 16 carries on 64 yards last week against the Cowboys, even after shredding them for 25-159-1 just two weeks ago.
This week's matchup is a tougher one as the Skins are 10th in allowing fantasy points to RBs. Back in Week 3, Shady had 19 carries for just 22 yards against Washington. While his line is healthier than it was Week 3, it hasn't helped all that much the last two weeks. McCoy is ranked just 11th this week on our RB list, so he comes with some risk. It's hard to keep Shady out of lineups, but if you have some other great options and want to play matchups this time of year to win your titles, Shady may be a guy you sit. Be sure to monitor the weather leading up to this Saturday evening game.
Week 15 - McCoy vs. Dallas
LeSean McCoy had 17 carries for just 50 yards and also lost a very key fumble to begin the second half. It was his second-straight game with a fumble lost. And, for the second-straight week he wasn't even targeted in the passing game.
McCoy said he wasn't fully into the game after losing a cousin last week leading up to the Seattle contest. This week, it's a familiar opponent as the Birds host Dallas on Sunday night. Back on Thanksgiving, McCoy went off for his best fantasy performance of the year with a 25-159-1 line. This week he comes in ninth on our list. The Cowboys are 21st in allowing fantasy points to RBs and you have to believe the Birds are going to heavily use McCoy again in this all-important contest. McCoy may feel like he has a lot to prove this game and should bounce back.
Week 14 - McCoy vs. Seattle
LeSean McCoy is coming off his best fantasy game and that's the second-straight week we've said that. Last week on Thanksgiving it was 25 carries for 159 yards and a TD. It was his second-straight game with a TD, too, and it's his third in his last four games.
This week's matchup on paper isn't at bad as you might think, which means the Birds could once again depend on the running game. Seattle is actually 17th in allowing fantasy points to RBs, compared to second in terms of allowing fantasy points to QBs. McCoy comes in as just a higher end RB2 this week but his workload should provide owners with at least the opportunity to produce.
Week 13 - McCoy vs. Dallas
It was perhaps LeSean McCoy's best fantasy game of the season in Week 12. He ran 21 times for 130 yards and a TD, his third TD of the season and second in the last three weeks. McCoy almost had to have a good game last week as the Titans ranked 32nd in allowing fantasy points to RBs, so it was nice for owners to see him bust out a bit.
Now McCoy gets a quick turnaround and plays at Dallas on Thanksgiving. It's a pretty favorable matchup as the Cowboys are in the middle of the pack in fantasy points allowed to RBs. The Giants Andre Williams, at times, gashed them pretty good in Week 12, so it's another encouraging sign for McCoy owners.
McCoy should get his 20-plus carries and likely give away some to Darren Sproles and Chris Polk, but McCoy is still a good RB1 option.
Week 12 - McCoy vs. Tennessee
LeSean McCoy ran 23 times for 88 yards last week and added a catch for 18 yards.
This week he comes in ranked sixth on our list of RBs in a very good matchup against the Titans. Tennessee is ranked 30th in allowing fantasy points to RBs, but while McCoy has been solid he still hasn't seemed to bust out for yards and TDs like he did last year for fantasy owners.
Perhaps this is the week, but we are now 12 weeks in and it probably isn't realistic to count on. The good news is he's averaged 89.5 yards over his last six games.
Week 11 - McCoy vs. Green Bay
Last week was a struggle for McCoy in a favorable matchup with a mostly healthy offensive line. He finished with 12 carries for 19 yards but did add a TD, just his second of the year and first since Week 2.
McCoy had put together four pretty good fantasy outings in a row leading up to last week. This week's matchup is a little tougher as the Packers are 16th in allowing fantasy points to RBs. It will be an interesting matchup, one that could see a lot of points, or perhaps both offenses trying to run the ball to keep the other off the field. McCoy is still a top-ten, RB1 play this week and should bounce back.
