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Fantasy Running Back Trick or Treat | Ekeler’s Edge

In honor of Halloween, Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler and Yahoo Sports’ Fantasy Analyst Matt Harmon play a game of Fantasy Running Back Trick or Treat. The guys go through 4 RBs who had strong games in week 7. If they believe that kind of production will not continue, they’ll label that running back a TRICK. However, if they believe the RB can continue to deliver strong performances, they will label the RB a TREAT. The running backs on the list include the Panthers’ D’onta Forman, Miami’s Raheem Mostert, the Jaguars’ Travis Etienne and Baltimore’s Gus Edwards. Catch fresh episodes of Ekeler’s Edge every Wednesday on Yahoo Sports and your favorite social media platforms. Listen to Ekeler’s Edge on the Yahoo Fantasy Football Forecast wherever you get podcasts.

Video Transcript

MATT HARMON: It's Halloween, so I got to come up with a costume.

AUSTIN EKELER: You should be the pylon.

MATT HARMON: I could--

AUSTIN EKELER: You should be the pylon, Matt! And then come in a giant orange inflatable pylon.

MATT HARMON: I could do that. What about you? You got any costumes coming up?

AUSTIN EKELER: Well, luckily, my lady is very big into like, dressing up and all that stuff. It's Top Gun referenced, so we are both pilots. That's what we'll be rocking to the Chargers Halloween party.

MATT HARMON: Oh, so I don't get an invite to that? What's the deal?

AUSTIN EKELER: No, did you hear? The Chargers. Chargers. Chargers only.

MATT HARMON: OK, cool, cool.

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, yeah.

MATT HARMON: So no guests available.

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, no guests. No guests.

MATT HARMON: In honor of Halloween coming up, we're gonna do a little trick or treat segment here on the show. We're gonna take running backs who kind of like under the radar went off in week seven.

We're going to decide if they're gonna be a trick, not a consistent producer going forward, or a treat, consistent producer. So first starting up here, D'Onta Foreman, running back, Carolina Panthers. Obviously, we talk about they traded Chris McCaffrey away. Gets 17 touches, 145 total yards. Against the Bucs defense, which is usually really stout against the run. So Austin, we got to decide. Trick or treat from D'Onta Forman there?

AUSTIN EKELER: You know, I think-- it's tough, because the Panthers are in a situation where I'm like, are you trying to get rid of all your players, or what? Like, what's going on? They're just trying to accumulate all these draft picks. They're gonna rely on him. Him and-- they have, uh--

MATT HARMON: Chuba Hubbard.

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, Chuba Hubbard, right. So they have this two-back set and they're going up against the Falcons. So I'm gonna say treat for this next week against the Falcons.

MATT HARMON: I feel like if I'm picking between those two backs still, I want-- I think I want Foreman more in fantasy than Hubbard going forward. But Hubbard did get injured at the end of the last game, too. So that's another to keep in mind.

AUSTIN EKELER: Oh, yeah. Then even more of a treat. Like-- yeah.

MATT HARMON: All right, next guy up, who always pulls through whenever he is on the field. Raheem Mostert. 20 touches, 109 total yards, touchdown in week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Raheem Mostert's been balling out lately, averaging 4.9 yards per carry since week 4.

And he-- by the way, Austin, I'm gonna go ahead and spoil this one. I think this is gonna be a treat going forward because his schedule the next, like, four weeks is awesome. He's got games against the Bears, the Browns, the Lions, I think the Texans after the bye--

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah, they're playing the Lions this week, yeah.

MATT HARMON: That one's easy. He doesn't-- he kind of stands out in this crowd as like a guy with a bit more of a resume. So yeah, I'm with you. I think we're treat on that one.

AUSTIN EKELER: For sure.

MATT HARMON: Next guy, Travis Etienne. 15 touches, 119 total yards, touchdown in week 7 versus the New York Giants. Trick or treat for Travis Etienne going forward?

AUSTIN EKELER: They're going against the Broncos this week.

MATT HARMON: Tough one.

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah. Tough one for sure. I'm gonna say trick for this next week. Even though he's been a stud, I think the Broncos defense is gonna be stout and hang on after playing them a couple of weeks ago. It's tough sledding in the run game.

MATT HARMON: Yeah, no doubt. Then they get the Raiders, the Chiefs, the bye week, the Ravens, and the Lions in week 13 for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I think rest of season, Travis Etienne is probably a treat. But I could see it being a trick. Like, there could be talk at the end of that Broncos game. Like, why'd they trade James Robinson?

AUSTIN EKELER: Yeah.

MATT HARMON: They didn't get a good run game going. All that stuff. But I do think Etienne is coming on. Another guy here. I'm a big fan of Gus Edwards. 16 touches, 66 total yards. All through-- all on the ground, by the way. no receiving work. Two touchdowns for Gus Edwards. Baltimore Ravens running back.

AUSTIN EKELER: I don't even know how to describe my feelings. But like, being a running back for Baltimore is like-- man. Like, Lamar Jackson's really the starting running back. You know?

MATT HARMON: Yeah.

AUSTIN EKELER: He's just running everywhere, right? I think he's like fifth in rushing before last week. Feel like the running back situation for the past few years, as long as he's been there, has been kind of strange. Just because Lamar is able to do so much.

It's like oh, if it breaks down, fine. Lamar will just run the ball. I'm going to say a trick. Because I feel like Lamar just takes over. Like he should, because that's the type of player he is. And it definitely affects the running game.

MATT HARMON: I disagree with you a little bit, just because I think he is better than some of these backs that they've been cycling. Like kind of these veteran guys at the end of the line. Like, you know, whether it's Kenny Drake, Latavius Murray, last year. Mike Davis sometimes this year. Like, I just always thought-- I've just always been a big fan of Gus Edwards.

Like, I love big backs with balance like that. And especially even if Lamar is typically gonna get-- he actually hasn't been too involved as a goal line runner recently this year. And I think Edwards showed last week that he can be that type of player. So I do think if Edwards is on any, like, waiver wires in fantasy still. Like, come on, you need to go ahead and pick him up.