Week 11 Running Back Rankings

Armando Marsal

Fantasy Writer

@Armando_fbguru on twitter

This week's top four are backs who most fantasy owners are used to seeing in the top part of the rankings on a regular basis. At number five we have Mark Ingram who has rushed for over 100 yards in three consecutive games. This week he has a great matchup against a suspect run defense. The Bengals have allowed at least one rushing touchdown in all but one game. Last week, they surrendered three to the Browns running backs. A few spots below you'll see Alfred Morris. He's been unreliable this season for the most part. However, in the last two games, he has scored three touchdowns. Having Robert Griffin III back helps Morris' value. He'll take on the Bucs that are giving up 18.6 fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Another unusual back in the top ten is Ahmad Bradshaw. Don't get me wrong, he's been ranked in the top ten before, but it's not something you see on a weekly basis. He has a great matchup this week vs. New England. Both teams are coming off a bye and should be well rested. The Patriots have yielded a rushing touchdown in three of the last four games, and have given up a rushing touchdown in three of their four road games. Bradshaw already has eight total touchdowns this season, and should continue to find success against the Pats this week.

Right outside the top 10 is Andre Ellington. He's someone who you see more often than not within the top 10. With that said, this week he has a tough matchup. The Lions have been stingy against the run this season. They've only allowed one 100+ rushing yards game and have surrendered just four touchdowns. With Drew Stanton as the starting quarterback for the Cardinals, I'm expecting eight in the box from the Lions. I still think Ellington manages to have a good game, but I'd be tempering my expectations as a fantasy owner. We have two of the more seasoned running backs in Steven Jackson and Frank Gore cracking the top 10. Gore has a great matchup against the Giants who are the second worst defense against the run. They just got torched by Marshawn Lynch as he scored four touchdowns. Prior to last week, they gave up a touchdown in all but two games. Jackson also has a favorable matchup against the Panthers. Carolina has given up two rushing touchdowns in four of their last five games. They have allowed 10 or more fantasy points to running backs in each of their games this season.

Outside the top 20 we have a couple of questions marks. Ben Tate has a good matchup, but volume is a concern. He plays the Texans which give up 18.3 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. The issue is that it's tough to guess which Browns back will play well. Terrence West who is in my top twenty is the favorite because he receives the larger amount of the carries. McKinnon also has a pretty solid matchup this week against the Bears. The concern here is how much Matt Asiata cuts into his goal line carries. McKinnon clearly gets most of the carries, but how efficient is a back that doesn't get many goal line attempts for fantasy owners? A player we haven't seen on our list in a while, Monte Ball, cracks the top 30. Ball is expected to return this week. It's unsure if the Broncos plan on easing him in or if they are just going to get him rolling again now that Ronnie Hillman is out.