Running backs (RBs) are arguably the most valuable position in Fantasy Football.
That is why it is very important when you are drafting to choose your RBs wisely.
One way to choose your RB's wisely is to pick RB's on teams that don't use a RB by committee approach (share the carries between multiple running backs).
Obviously there are some outliers (for example the Browns: Chubb/ Hunt), but for the most part you want to aim to draft RBs that don't split carries often and that will get 18-20+ carries per game.
So, here are the teams most likely going with a RB by committee approach in 2021 that I would recommend staying away from this season in Fantasy football.
1. Houston Texans
I wouldn't have put Houston on a list like this before Free Agency started because I was really warming up to the idea of what David Johnson would do in his 2nd season in Houston. However, after the Texans added the former Ravens RB, Mark Ingram and the former Bronco All-Pro RB, Phillip Lindsey it only seems logical that David won't be as valuable this season after all. Not to mention how Houston has to work with a mediocre O-Line, a questionable WR squad at best, and likely no Deshaun Watson at QB. It's definitely fair after considering the team as a whole, the RB situation on this Texan's team is no longer as enticing to me. Can't forget that they still have Duke Johnson too. As you can see there will be a lot of mouths to feed on this team. Even if they decided to leave Ingram on the bench, with their Star QB Deshaun Watson likely to be dealt soon, and the swarm of talented RBs they can use, I would rather have other Fantasy RBs on my Fantasy team.
David Johnson could be an ok flex in standard, but I would not draft him as a RB1 or RB2.
2. New England Patriots.
If you have played Fantasy football in the past you know it's essentially a given that the New England Patriots will run a RB by committee in their backfield for the 2021 season. In 2020, Patriots RB Damien Harris seemed to emerge as the RB1 down the stretch for the Pats, but even though he found success and is likely to remain the RB1 on the team (at least if they don't sign a guy like Leonard Fournette), to me a lot of his carries were given due to an injury plagued roster and there is no garauntee he will even get close to 200 carries next season. Not to mention how the Patriots are sticking with Cam Newton at QB (who is basically a RB) or how they still have and frequently use both Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel when they are healthy.
Damien Harris could be an ok flex in standard, but I would not draft him as a RB1 or RB2.
3. Detriot Lions
I was really rooting for the Lions to take charge and make Swift their go-to and bell-cow RB for the year. However, with the recent addition of former Packers RB Jamaal Williams and a healthy Kerryon Johnson returning, it seems like he will just be the lions "Swiss Army" guy. Not exactly what you want to hear from a fantasy perspective, but the good news is he should still be their RB1.. he just won't have what a guy like Cam Akers or James Robinson has in store for them. Not to mention with the personnel changes they have made this off-season (Jared Goff at QB, No Kenny Golladay or Marvin Jones at WR) and their improving O-line they are bound to run the ball more with everyone just to take some pressure off a guy like Goff.
DeAndre Swift could be an excellent flex in PPR and standard this year, but I would not draft him as a RB1.
*Other teams are likely to split carries this season too, off the top of my head, The 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles have been known to use this strategy before. The three teams above though are the ones I'm most worried about for this upcoming season from a fantasy perspective (also I'm fairly confident the Eagles will move on from this strategy, but I will explain this in an upcoming post).
If you have any questions or comments about this topic feel free to send me an email to bullseyefantasy1@gmail.com or message me on twitter @bullseyefantasy.