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Week 5 was very brutal for fantasy owners as far as running backs are concerned. Donald Brown, Rashad Jennings, Zac Stacy, Reggie Bush, and Montee Ball all suffered injuries. Some of these backs will miss Week 6 and some are uncertain. That leaves a handful of players ranked higher than most weeks. For example, Andrew Williams is ranked eighth. The Giants are expected to be without Jennings for at least a couple of weeks. This week they play the Eagles, which are allowing 132 rushing yards per game this season. Williams was used as an every down back when he stepped in for Jennings, so there's no reason to believe that will change. Frank Gore is also cracking the top 10, appearing at ninth on the rankings. Every season he proves his doubters wrong. Gore has back to back 100 yards games and has another favorable matchup this week.
Outside the top 10 is this season's leading rusher, DeMarco Murray. The Cowboys are headed to the west coast to take on the Seahawks stout run defense. The Seahawks are allowing the fewest rushing yards per game (62.3) and have allowed just one rushing touchdown. This defense is tough enough as it is, but even tougher at home. The Chargers are down to their fourth back and he somehow finds his way in the top 20. Branden Oliver totaled 182 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5 against the Jets. This week's matchup is much more running back friendly. Steven Jackson finds himself in the top 20 for the first time this season. This is a good matchup for Jackson who has scored twice in the last three games.
A back that has potential to finish much higher than ranked is Bishop Sankey. The Titans will face the Jaguars, which is ranked 25th against the run. It all depends on the volume Sankey gets. C.J. Spiller, Darren McFadden, and Trent Richardson are all ranked outside the top 30. For the most part it has to do with matchup, the little amount of volume, and lack of production in recent games. All are capable of putting together a big game or score on a big play, but each of them is far from consistent.
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Running Backs |
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1 |
Matt Forte CHI (@ATL) |
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2 |
Marshawn Lynch SEA (vs. DAL) |
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3 |
Le'Veon Bell PIT (@CLE) |
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4 |
Arian Foster HOU (vs. IND) |
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5 |
Eddie Lacy GB (@MIA) |
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6 |
Andre Ellington ARI (vs. WAS) |
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7 |
Giovani Bernard CIN (vs. CAR) |
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8 |
Andre Williams NYG (@PHI) |
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9 |
Frank Gore SF (@STL) |
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10 |
LeSean McCoy PHI (vs. NYG) |
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11 |
Ahmad Bradshaw IND (@HOU) |
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12 |
DeMarco Murray DAL (@SEA) |
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13 |
Branden Oliver SD (@OAK) |
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14 |
Ben Tate CLE (vs. PIT) |
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15 |
Lamar Miller MIA (vs. GB) |
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16 |
Alfred Morris WAS (@ARI) |
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17 |
Justin Forsett BAL (@TB) |
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18 |
Steven Jackson ATL (vs. CHI) |
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19 |
Chris Ivory NYJ (vs. DEN) |
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20 |
Joique Bell DET (@MIN) |
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21 |
Doug Martin TB (vs. BAL) |
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22 |
Bishop Sankey TEN (vs. JAC) |
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23 |
Stevan Ridley NE (@BUF) |
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24 |
Shane Vereen NE (@BUF) |
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25 |
Zac Stacy STL (vs. SF) |
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26 |
Fred Jackson BUF (vs. NE) |
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27 |
Matt Asiata MIN (vs. DET) |
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28 |
Ronnie Hillman DEN (@NYJ) |
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29 |
Antone Smith ATL (vs. CHI) |
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30 |
Shonn Greene TEN (vs. JAC) |
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31 |
Darren Sproles PHI (vs. NYG) |
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32 |
C.J. Spiller BUF (vs. NE) |
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33 |
Darren McFadden OAK (vs. SD) |
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34 |
Bernard Pierce BAL (@TB) |
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35 |
LeGarrette Blount PIT (@CLE) |
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36 |
Carlos Hyde SF (@STL) |
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37 |
Trent Richardson IND (@HOU) |
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38 |
Devonta Freeman ATL (vs. CHI) |
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39 |
Jerick McKinnon MIN (vs. DET) |
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40 |
Jeremy Hill CIN (vs. CAR) |
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41 |
Bobby Rainey TB (vs. BAL) |
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42 |
Darrin Reaves CAR (@CIN) |
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43 |
Roy Helu WAS (@ARI) |
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44 |
Theo Riddick DET (@MIN) |
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45 |
Storm Johnson JAC (@TEN) |
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46 |
Terrance West CLE (vs. PIT) |
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47 |
Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL (@TB) |
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48 |
Ka'Deem Carey CHI (@ATL) |
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49 |
Juwan Thompson DEN (@NYJ) |
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50 |
Chris Johnson NYJ (vs. DEN) |
Armando Marsal
Fantasy Writer
@Armando_fbguru on twitter