Steven Jackson

Week Seventeen Analysis: In Steven Jackson's last seven games, he's averaged 109 total yards, and his lowest output over that span has been a very respectable 86 yards. He's also scored in two of his last three games, which is a big deal for a guy who'd scored just three times in his previous 21 outings. Seattle is a top-10 run defense, but they give up 4.5 yards per carry, which is a full yard more than the Tampa Bay defense that Jackson just dented for 81 yards and a score. He's a solid second option again this week.
Week Sixteen Analysis: Steven Jackson has quietly been a borderline No. 1 fantasy back over the last six weeks. While he's scored just twice over that span, he's averaged a rock-solid 20 carries for 84 yards. More importantly, his 14 catches and 151 yards over the last three weeks lead all backs. He'll definitely need the heavy workload this week against a league-best Tampa Bay run defense that's allowed less than 70 rushing yards per game to opposing backfields this season. Fortunately, the Bucs have given up the third-most receptions to the position, and that's where Jackson's really been excelling in recent weeks, so he remains a safe total yardage play.

Week Fifteen Analysis: Steven Jackson has averaged 23 touches for 108 combo yards in his last five games, and he's scored and/or topped 85 combo yards in each of the five outings. He looks as driven as ever, and he's put himself squarely back into the weekly top-20 conversation less than two months after his fantasy career was on life support. The Vikings allow just 3.7 yards per carry, but they've surrendered 10 touchdowns to the position in their last eight games. Moreover, Jackson's totaled at least 117 combo yards against a significantly tougher San Francisco defense twice in the last month. He's earned our trust as a No. 2 back this week.

Week Fourteen Analysis: In his four games since St. Louis' bye, which have included a pair of meetings with an elite San Francisco run defense, Steven Jackson has averaged a very healthy 24 touches for 117 combo yards. Sure, he's scored exactly three times in his last 21 games, but the yardage has been a pleasant surprise nonetheless. Jackson draws an outstanding matchup this week against Buffalo's 29th-ranked run defense. No team has allowed more than the 16 touchdowns Buffalo has surrendered to the position, so in addition to strong yardage totals, Jackson actually has a reasonable chance of scoring this week.

Week Thirteen Analysis: Apparently Steven Jackson didn't take kindly to the fantasy community sticking a fork in him last month. He's been on a mission the last three weeks, averaging 23 touches, 117 combo yards and 4.9 yards per carry. The hot streak began against these same 49ers, when Jackson totaled 127 combo yards and a score, but the odds of a repeat are slim. It took overtime and a season-high 31 touches for him to accumulate those numbers, and the 49ers have given up just three touchdowns and 3.5 yards per carry to the position this season. Jackson should get enough work to deliver solid yardage, but don't expect anything more than that.

Week Twelve Analysis: A few weeks ago, Steven Jackson's role had diminished to a 50-50 timeshare with rookie Daryl Richardson, but the tides have turned back in the veteran's favor. In the two games since not being dealt at the trade deadline, Jackson has touched the ball 46 times to Richardson's 15, and he's looked ferocious, totaling 213 combo yards and a score. Adrian Peterson is the only opposing back who's eclipsed 90 rushing yards against Arizona's solid run defense, and the Cardinals rank inside the top-10 in scoring with just five touchdowns ceded to the position all year. Jackson managed a scoreless 76 yards in the first meeting, and his upside remains limited in the rematch.

Week Eleven Analysis: If you started Steven Jackson in San Francisco last week, you were either desperate, or locked out of your Yahoo league. Fortunately, against all odds, trends and logic, Jackson posted season highs across the board—31 touches for 127 combo yards and a score. Prior to the devastating matchup, Jackson was averaging just 15 touches for 63 combo yards and .125 touchdowns. While it was a remarkable effort, keep in mind that a fair chunk of it came in overtime, and Daryl Richardson isn't going away. The Jets rank 29th in run defense and have given up a touchdown per game to opposing backs, but keep your expectations for Jackson in check.

Week Eight Analysis: While Steven Jackson scored his first touchdown in his last 10 games last week, he's now touched the ball just 27 times to Daryl Richardson's 24 the last two weeks. Moreover, Jackson has yet to reach even 90 combo yards this year, so he certainly appears to be sky diving off that cliff we warned you about all preseason. Jackson's Rams hop the pond this week to "host" a New England run defense that's surrendering just 3.1 yards per carry. Only two opposing backs have scored against the Patriots through seven games, so don't expect a repeat of last week's performance for Jackson.

Week Five Analysis: Steven Jackson now has now scored once in his last 278 touches. I think there's a blue pill for that… Jackson's also nursing a chronic groin injury, averaging a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry, and facing a top-tier Arizona run defense. The Cardinals have allowed just one rushing score this year, and no back has reached 100 combo yards. Jackson didn't score in either divisional matchup last year, and while he totaled 142 and 78 combo yards in the two games, all the trends suggest something closer to the latter Thursday night.

Week Two Analysis: Steven Jackson has become about as predictable as a Chris Berman catch phrase: he's good for a boatload of touches and decent all-purpose yardage totals, but he never… goes… all… the… way. Jackson has scored exactly one time in his last 10 games. Washington represents a neutral matchup, so there's really no reason to expect anything different from Jackson this week. He'll continue to have a high floor thanks to his heavy workload, but a low ceiling due to his scoring deficiencies in the Rams' anemic offense.

Week One Analysis: With 2,529 NFL touches on his tab, Steven Jackson has accumulated more wear and tear than Jenna Jameson's uvula. Moreover, he hasn't topped eight touchdowns since 2006, and he still plays in a lousy offense. With all that said, the 29-year old's overuse will continue under the run-centric Jeff Fisher, so Jackson should remain a consistent volume runner. Detroit was below average in terms of yardage allowed to opposing backs last season, but only San Francisco ceded less than their five rushing touchdowns. As usual, expect Jackson to post decent yardage totals and a goose egg in the touchdown column.

NEXT: #22 Trent Richardson