James Robinson Fantasy Update
Jaguars running back James Robinson is active for Week 10, making him a must-start despite a difficult matchup against the Colts' stout rush defense thanks to his workload and talent, which are enough to keep him well inside the RB2 tier.
Editor's note: The following was written before Robinson's final status was made clear.
Fantasy football managers could get a major asset back in Week 10 if James Robinson (heel) is able to return from his one-game hiatus to face the Colts.
Let's dig into the latest on Robinson's status for Sunday, plus the potential fantasy implications of if he starts or sits.
James Robinson Injury Report
Sunday morning update: Jacksonville Jaguars running back James Robinson's status won't be determined until game-time as the running back deals with a lingering heel injury.
According to a report from NFL Network on Sunday morning, Robinson is a “true game-time decision." The worry seems to be pain tolerance more than re-aggravating the injury, as Ian Rapoport notes playing isn’t expected to make the injury worse.
Hours before kickoff, Robinson is the RB18 in The Action Network’s consensus rankings. Those rankings will be updated as we get more clarity on Robinson's status, so be sure to check back frequently as news breaks.
Early-week update: Robinson has been battling a heel injury he suffered in the first quarter of the Jaguars' Week 8 contest against the Seahawks. Although it looked serious initially, he was deemed "day-to-day" having avoided a major injury and was a question mark heading into Week 9. He missed practice all week and ultimately sat out the team's upset victory over the Bills, which was a difficult matchup for the run game. His backup, Carlos Hyde, shouldered the workload out of the backfield and saw 21 attempts for 67 yards.
Robinson appears to be moving in the right direction and returned to practice on Thursday in a limited fashion, though it's worth noting that he also logged a limited practice on Friday before being declared out. I would feel confident in his Week 10 status if he logs a second straight practice on Friday.
Through the first six weeks of the year, Robinson was RB11 in half PPR on a per-game basis, averaging a whopping 16 points. The Year 2 back was an undrafted free agent from Illinois State and was the waiver wire find of the season last year. He finished as RB7 in half PPR in his shocking rookie campaign and once again won the role as the Jaguars’ workhorse back with 2021 first-rounder Travis Etienne Jr. suffering a season-ending Lisfranc fracture in the preseason.
Worry-o-meter: 3 out of 5.
James Robinson Fantasy Outlook If Active
Robinson is a must-start if active for Week 10. The matchup is suboptimal against the Colts' run defense, which has been brutal all year. Indianapolis ranks second-best in fantasy points allowed to running backs this year (behind the Bills), although Robinson's workload and talent keeps him well inside the RB2 tier.
James Robinson Fantasy Outlook If Inactive
If Robinson suffers a setback and/or does not play in Week 10, expect Hyde to, once again, handle the lion's share of the workload. Hyde finished as RB40 in half PPR stepping in for Robinson last week in a brutal matchup versus the Bills. He should be considered a RB3/flex play based on workload, but has a low floor in light of the matchup.
