Fully healthy for the first time since 2011, Jonathan Stewart is just 10 carries away from a new career high. Of course, when he took the rock 221 times in 2009, it produced 1,133 yards (5.12 YPC). This season, his 211 totes have created a more modest 832 yards (3.94 YPC). J-Stew is grinding, moving the chains through sheer will instead of big plays.
But touches are the most important thing in fantasy, and Stewart has them in spades. J-Stew has cleared 20 carries in seven straight games, something that’s practically unheard in an era of 2-3 man backfields. He’s produced four touchdowns in the process, and averaged 87 yards on the ground. In good matchups with the Eagles and Redskins, Stewart turned in 100-yard days. A good matchup is what he has for Week 13 in the Saints, a defense allowing 135 weekly yards (30th in the league) and 4.86 yards per carry (31st).
J-Stew’s film is that of an RB2/3, but his Week 13 matchup and workload mean he’s all but guaranteed to produce an RB1 day, and quite possibly a top-five one. You don’t have to love the player, you only have to understand the circumstances. Stewart’s could scarcely be better vs. the Saints.
