Week 8 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Devonta Freeman had his worse game by far as a Giant last week, rushing for just eight yards on three carries against the Eagles. Freeman was outplayed by Wayne Gallman, who also didn’t look great, and the Giants’ backfield doesn’t look primed for any kind of consistent fantasy success. Hold Freeman in case he regains the job after a bad game, but sit him in a very difficult matchup against the Buccaneers this week.
Week 7 at Philadelphia Eagles
Devonta Freeman averaged only 3.4 yards per carry last week, finishing with 61 yards rushing and one reception for a loss of four yards in the passing game. However, he touched the ball 19 times and has averaged 17.7 touches over the last three games. It’s good to see him getting a full workload and Wayne Gallman and Dion Lewis don’t seem to be challenging him at all for carries.
This Thursday night, Freeman faces an Eagles defense that ranks ninth in aFPA to opposing running backs, making it hard to trust him to put up big numbers. Additionally, the Eagles are likely to win this game, so it may be difficult for Freeman to get his usual 17.7 touches. We have him ranked as a fringe RB2 option in a tough matchup.
Week 6 vs. Washington Football Team
Devonta Freeman had 87 yards and a touchdown on 19 touches, including two receptions against the Cowboys last week. His workload has steadily improved since arriving three weeks ago. He had 15 touches against the Rams, and then 19 last week. If he can average 15-plus touches per game moving forward, he has RB2 upside, particularly if the Giants’ offense comes out of the dumpster, though it’s early to assume that’ll be the case.
This week, Freeman faces a Washington defense that ranks 15th in aFPA to opposing rushers and held Darrell Henderson to just 2.5 yards per carry last week – although they did give up a 46-yard run to rookie Cam Akers. Expect enough of a workload for Freeman to be productive again this week, but the struggles of the Giants’ offense makes him a low-end RB2 in most leagues.
Devonta Freeman got the bulk of the touches in the Giants’ backfield last week against the Rams, but that still ended up being just 11 carries for 33 yards. He added 35 yards on four receptions, salvaging an otherwise dismal performance, but it’s clear the Giants are going to struggle to run the ball.
The Cowboys rank 10th in aFPA to opposing running backs, but that’s partially because of how many shootouts they’ve been in. If Freeman can get 15 touches again, he has low-end RB2 potential, but we have him ranked as an RB3/flex option in most leagues.
Week 4 at Los Angeles Rams
Devonta Freeman split snaps with Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman last week after being signed off the street just a few days prior to game time. It was a tough matchup against the 49ers, and he was held to just 10 yards on five carries, but he did receive more carries than Lewis or Gallman. The Giants will likely give Freeman more work going forward. That may not be enough to make him fantasy relevant however. The Giants’ rushing attack didn’t look great with Saquon Barkley in Week 1 and has look atrocious since his injury. Until that changes, Freeman should stay on the bench, and the other two likely on waivers.
Week 3 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Devonta Freeman has a lot of upside going into a situation where his main competition for touches should be journeyman Dion Lewis. However, since he’s fresh off the street and facing the 49ers on what’s been a terrible Giants offense, fantasy owners should add him and bench him for this week.
Week 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In Week 16, Devonta Freeman had 13 rushing attempts for 53 yards and a touchdown, nine receptions on ten targets for 74 yards and a touchdown, and was the half PPR RB3.
The Falcons are out of the playoff picture but they were essentially out of the picture after a 1-7 start to their season. Monitor Week 17 news closely, but the Falcons are planning on playing their starters at the time of writing this blurb. It is unknown how long the starters will play but the starters could play the majority of the game if it stays competitive. This matchup has one of the highest over/unders (48) of the week.
Tampa Bay is the best defense against running backs, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman ranked as a mid-range half PPR RB2. On paper, this is a brutal matchup and the exact opposite of the cakewalk matchup Freeman had against Jacksonville last week. For reference, the Jaguars defense is second to last against running backs.
Week 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Freeman went from one of the worst matchups, on the road against San Francisco, to one of the best matchups, at home against Jacksonville. Jacksonville is ranked second to last against running backs, per our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman ranked as a low-end half PPR RB2. Freeman only had 55 yards from scrimmage last week but is in a good bounce-back spot for fantasy championships.
Week 15 at San Francisco 49ers
In Week 14, Freeman played 67% of the snaps and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season. He finished with 17 rushing attempts for 84 yards and a touchdown, four receptions on four targets for 10 yards, and was the half PPR RB11. Freeman was a popular daily fantasy play on FanDuel and cashed in with an RB1 performance.
Freeman has a much more difficult matchup this week on the road against a dominant run-stopping San Francisco defense. The 49ers are the second-best defense against running backs, as shown by our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman ranked as a mid-range half PPR RB3. Freeman has been held to one touchdown in his last five games and could have difficulty scoring against an elite San Francisco front seven.
Week 14 vs. Carolina Panthers
In Week 13, Freeman played 67% of snaps and Brian Hill played 26%. The blueprint to beating the Panthers is through the running game. The Panthers are the worst defense against running backs, as shown by our signature schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed metric. He hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown all season and hasn’t scored a receiving touchdown since Week 6. 4for4 rankings expert, John Paulsen, has Freeman ranked as a low-end RB2.
