Week 15 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Devontae Booker has gotten some change-of-pace work, and has been productive in limited spurts, but is firmly behind Josh Jacobs on the depth chart. With Jacobs back and seemingly healthy, Booker should go back to the fantasy benches as a strict handcuff-only player.
Week 14 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Devontae Booker was very disappointing in what should’ve been an easy matchup against the Jets last week. Filling in for Josh Jacobs, he averaged just 3.1 yards on 16 carries. Booker was expected to produce closer to his season-average of 5.0 yards per carry, but the Raiders’ running game stalled and they had to rely on a last-second touchdown bomb to Henry Ruggs in order to come away with the victory.
This week, Booker faces a Colts defense that ranks 20th in aFPA to opposing running backs. It should be a reasonably good matchup for him, but after last week, it’s hard to trust him as anything more than an RB3 in most leagues. Fantasy owners should be cautious with him.
Week 13 at New York Jets
Devontae Booker had just five carries for six yards last week in a blowout loss to the Falcons. Assuming the Raiders return to competitive football this week against the Jets, instead of forgetting to show up to the game as they did last week, Booker should be in for a full workload in a nice matchup. The Jets rank 24th in aFPA to opposing running backs and Josh Jacobs is likely to miss the game with an injury suffered against the Falcons. Assuming Jacobs is out, Booker has RB2 upside. He averaged 5.1 yards on 16 carries a few weeks ago in garbage time against the Broncos, showing the type of upside he has against the Jets this week. Start him, but watch Jacobs’ status.
Week 12 at Atlanta Falcons
Devontae Booker only had six touches, including one reception, for 19 yards last week against the Chiefs. Booker is averaging 6.4 touches per game, and has had a few outbursts of production, including scoring three touchdowns over the two weeks prior to last. Still, he should be considered a handcuff in most leagues, with the potential to go off in lopsided Raiders victories, which is hard to predict. Sit him.
Week 11 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Devontae Booker had 16 carries for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Broncos last week. While a two-headed backfield seems to be indeed forming in Las Vegas, Booker’s huge uptick in touches last week were largely due to the huge lead the Raiders took in a lopsided victory. Expect his touches to go back to the five-to-nine range in a more competitive game this week against the Chiefs. He’s too risky to bank on in most leagues, but seems to have found a role for himself as a solid handcuff for Jacobs owners.
Week 10 vs. Denver Broncos
Devontae Booker has been getting supplemental work next to Josh Jacobs this season, and was productive with eight carries, 68 yards and a touchdown last week against the Chargers. However, averaging just 5.9 touches per game this season doesn’t inspire confidence in having him in fantasy lineups. Plus, Booker has a tough matchup against the Broncos this week, who rank 10th in aFPA to opposing running backs. Booker has shown enough to be an intriguing handcuff option for Jacobs owners, but he isn’t getting the ball enough to warrant serious fantasy consideration while Jacobs is healthy.
Fantasy Upside
Even though he is just 27 and in his fourth NFL season, Devontae Booker remains the old man in the Denver backfield, with second-year players Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. With the younger backs ahead of him on the depth chart, Booker made the most of his playing time in ’18, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and snagging a career-high 38 passes.
Fantasy Downside
Unless one of the RBs in front of him succumbs to injury, Booker will be the Broncos No. 3 RB on the depth chart heading into the regular season. After recording 174 carries during his rookie campaign, he has totaled only 109 and 72 touches during the past two years.
Bottom Line
Once again Booker holds little fantasy value when the regular season begins. He has scored just twice the past two seasons and likely won’t see much action near the goal line in ’19. Booker is an RB to keep an eye on if Lindsay or Freeman go down during the season, but there is no reason for him to be a part of your fantasy team in Week 1.
Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
In the loss to the Raiders last Monday, Devontae Booker ran for 21 yards and caught three passes for 21 yards. With Phillip Lindsay out, he’ll be used to backup Royce Freeman for the season finale. However, there’s no way he should be a part of your starting lineup with how inconsistent Denver’s offense has been.
Week 1 vs. Seattle Seahawks
It was announced on Monday that Royce Freeman will be the Broncos starting RB on Sunday, relegating Devontae Booker to mainly the third down back. Booker has registered 61 receptions during his first two NFL seasons and will be a better pass blocking option for the team than the rookie. Expect Booker to receive around 10 touches in the contest, but not enough for him to be in your fantasy starting lineup.
Fantasy Upside
Now that C.J. Anderson is no longer with the team, Devontae Booker has the most NFL experience of the Broncos ball-carriers. In 29 career games, he has totaled over 900 yards on the ground and recorded 61 receptions. During his rookie campaign, Booker posted at least 17 rushing attempts five times, running for over 75 yards on three of those occasions. He has good command of the offense and is a decent pass protector, qualities that will help him in pursuit of the starting nod.
Fantasy Downside
Denver drafted Royce Freeman in the third round and he is likely the franchise’s future RB. After running for over 600 yards and four TDs during his rookie season, Booker rushed for just 299 yards and one score last year. In 2017, he carried the ball more than nine times only twice and has averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in his career.
2018 Bottom Line
It will be a competitive battle during the preseason between Booker and Freeman. While Booker may get the nod to start the season as the No. 1 back, look for a running back by committee approach until the rookie is ready to take over full time. Booker is likely only worth a late-round draft pick for depth after your known starting RBs have been solidified.
