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Armando Marsal
Fantasy Writer
@Armando_fbguru on twitter
Week 3 is behind us, and now fantasy owners are preparing for Week 4. This is the week that the bye weeks begin. There are six teams on bye this week; Rams, Broncos, Seahawks, Bengals, Arizona, and the Browns. Each one of these teams has arguably a No. 1 or No. 2 fantasy running back on their roster. When you look at it in that perspective you'll understand why some of the backs listed below are ranked much higher than the norm.
In the top 10 this week you'll find some new faces, such as, Rashad Jennings, Lamar Miller, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Knile Davis (assuming that Jamal Charles is out). Jennings has the second most rushing attempts this season. He is also third in rushing yards and tied for second in rushing touchdowns. It's clear that the Giants are feeding him the ball, and in a week with so many other backs out, he earned himself a top 10 spot. Miller quietly sits at the eighth most rushing yards this season and is playing the Raiders who have allowed 476 rushing yards this season. Bradshaw is the best back in the Colts right now. He has 264 total yards, 12 catches, and three touchdowns this season. He takes on the Titans that have allowed the second most rushing touchdowns this season (4).
Right outside the top 10 you will see Donald Brown at 11. He has such a great matchup this week, and will be the workhorse for the depleted backfield in San Diego. A surprise to some may be seeing Lorenzo Taliaferro in the top 20. I'm expecting the Ravens to give the rookie another shot as a starter if Bernard Pierce is not 100%. Taliaferro did well last week when he started in place of Pierce. He rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown. He will face the Panthers that are allowing 145.3 rushing yards per game.
Some guys outside the top 20 that could be great flex options this week, or low-end No. 2 backs in deeper leagues are; Matt Asiata, Shane Vereen, Joique Bell. Vereen and Bell are both coming off bad weeks, and Bell's matchup is tough. However, both have high ceilings because of their talent, especially in PPR formats.
|
Running Backs |
|
|
1 |
Matt Forte CHI (vs. GB) |
|
2 |
Le'Veon Bell PIT (vs. TB) |
|
3 |
DeMarco Murray DAL (vs. NO) |
|
4 |
LeSean McCoy PHI (@SF) |
|
5 |
Eddie Lacy GB (@CHI) |
|
6 |
Alfred Morris WAS (vs. NYG) |
|
7 |
Rashad Jennings NYG (@WAS) |
|
8 |
Lamar Miller MIA (@OAK) |
|
9 |
Knile Davis KC (vs. NE) |
|
10 |
Ahmad Bradshaw IND (vs. TEN) |
|
11 |
Donald Brown SD (vs. JAC) |
|
12 |
Khiry Robinson NO (@DAL) |
|
13 |
Stevan Ridley NE (@KC) |
|
14 |
Doug Martin TB (@PIT) |
|
15 |
Fred Jackson BUF (@HOU) |
|
16 |
Frank Gore SF (vs. PHI) |
|
17 |
C.J. Spiller BUF (@HOU) |
|
18 |
Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL (vs. CAR) |
|
19 |
Reggie Bush DET (@NYJ) |
|
20 |
Pierre Thomas NO (@DAL) |
|
21 |
Justin Forsett BAL (vs. CAR) |
|
22 |
Darren Sproles PHI (@SF) |
|
23 |
Matt Asiata MIN (vs. ATL) |
|
24 |
Darren McFadden OAK (vs. MIA) |
|
25 |
Shane Vereen NE (@KC) |
|
26 |
Alfred Blue HOU (vs. BUF) |
|
27 |
Trent Richardson IND (vs. TEN) |
|
28 |
Carlos Hyde SF (vs. PHI) |
|
29 |
Toby Gerhart JAC (@SD) |
|
30 |
Joique Bell DET (@NYJ) |
|
31 |
Chris Ivory NYJ (vs. DET) |
|
32 |
Steven Jackson ATL (@MIN) |
|
33 |
LeGarrette Blount PIT (vs. TB) |
|
34 |
Bishop Sankey TEN (@IND) |
|
35 |
DeAngelo Williams CAR (@BAL) |
|
36 |
Shonn Greene TEN (@IND) |
|
37 |
Chris Johnson NYJ (vs. DET) |
|
38 |
Bobby Rainey TB (@PIT) |
|
39 |
James Starks GB (@CHI) |
|
40 |
Antone Smith ATL (@MIN) |
|
41 |
Jacquizz Rodgers ATL (@MIN) |
|
42 |
Roy Helu WAS (vs. NYG) |
|
43 |
Marcel Reece OAK (vs. MIA) |
|
44 |
Dexter McCluster TEN (@IND) |
|
45 |
Joe McKnight KC (vs. NE) |
|
46 |
Andre Williams NYG (@WAS) |
|
47 |
Jonathan Grimes HOU (vs. BUF) |
|
48 |
Devonta Freeman ATL (@MIN) |
|
49 |
Denard Robinson JAC (@SD) |
|
50 |
Fozzy Whittaket CAR (@BAL) |