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Week 5 saw some high-pick running backs finally reward their owners (Justin Forsett, DeMarco Murray, Frank Gore) and some earlier waiver pickups make their owners look like geniuses (Devonta Freeman, Thomas Rawls, Shane Vereen). To round out the week's top 10 running backs: Doug Martin was the top scoring running back, Le'Veon Bell torched the Chargers, Matt Forte continued his consistency as a top RB1, and Todd Gurley established himself as a force to be reckoned with for the second straight week. Will we finally get some consistency at the running back position this week? (Probably not).
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Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Analysis |
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1 |
Adrian Peterson |
KC |
Coming off a bye week after going for 15+ fantasy points in each of the previous three weeks, and gets a struggling Chiefs defense. |
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2 |
Devonta Freeman |
@NO |
His ridiculous run has to stop at some point, right? Hard to doubt him at this point. |
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3 |
Marshawn Lynch |
CAR |
Coming back from injury, at home, against a Panthers defense that has given up plenty of RB production over the last few weeks. |
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4 |
Eddie Lacy |
SD |
The Chargers are one of the league's worst run defenses. Lacy is finally going to have a big game. |
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5 |
Le'Veon Bell |
ARI |
Showed last night that he's the best RB in the league. Will be a top-5 option every week, no matter the matchup. |
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6 |
Mark Ingram |
ATL |
Atlanta's run defense is still struggling mightily. New Orleans needs to funnel their offense through Ingram. |
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7 |
Arian Foster |
@JAX |
The Jaguars defense has gotten pasted for 7 RB touchdowns over the least 3 weeks. Foster will take advantage of that. |
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8 |
Matt Forte |
@DET |
Is there a more consistent player in fantasy football than Forte? He'll continue to be heavily involved on offense every week. |
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9 |
Dion Lewis |
@IND |
Is playing ahead of Blount when the Patriots are in a competitive game, which means a massive amount of fantasy upside every week. |
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10 |
T.J. Yeldon |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
HOU |
Houston's defense is a sieve right now, and Yeldon is the every-down back. |
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11 |
Justin Forsett |
@SF |
Forsett has channeled his 2014 self these last 2 weeks. That form should continue against a terrible 49ers defense. |
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12 |
DeMarco Murray |
NYG |
That was more like it. Murray looked good last week and gets another good matchup this week. |
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13 |
Frank Gore |
NE |
After a slow start to the season, Gore has looked refreshed the past 3 weeks. Keep him rolling. |
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14 |
Lamar Miller |
@TEN |
Not sure if a new head coach means more touches for him, but I'm banking on it. |
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15 |
LeGarrette Blount |
New England Patriots |
@IND |
Pats offense is firing on all cylinders, allowing Blount to get plenty of carries. Has looked so much better than Hill. He's the guy right now in Cincinnati. |
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16 |
Chris Ivory |
WAS |
Should be fresh off the bye week. Tough matchup, but he has looked great all season. |
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17 |
Charcandrick West |
Kansas City Chiefs |
@MIN |
With Jamaal Charles done for the season, West is the next man up. Huge production opportunity. |
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18 |
Carlos Hyde |
San Francisco 49ers |
BAL |
Very tough matchup, but Hyde should get a lot of touches in a home game. |
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19 |
Chris Johnson |
@PIT |
Lost goal-line carries to David Johnson. Still looks like the best RB in their backfield. |
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20 |
Giovani Bernard |
@BUF |
Has looked so much better than Hill. He's the guy right now in Cincinnati. |
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21 |
Antonio Andrews |
MIA |
The Dolphins bleed rushing production. Andrew seems to be the lead guy (somewhat) and gets the goal line carries. |
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22 |
Ameer Abdullah |
CHI |
Benching after fumbles is a concern, but won't be phased out of the offense. He's too talented. |
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23 |
C.J. Anderson |
@CLE |
Who knows what to make of this backfield. Cleveland's awful run defense brings up an interesting discussion this week, though. |
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24 |
Danny Woodhead |
San Diego Chargers |
@GB |
He's better than Gordon at this point. Should be heavily involved this week, as the Chargers figure to be trailing for most of the game. |
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25 |
Ronnie Hillman |
Denver Broncos |
@CLE |
Who knows what to make of this backfield. Cleveland's awful run defense brings up an interesting discussion this week, though. |
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26 |
Andre Ellington |
Arizona Cardinals |
@PIT |
Should be more involved after coming back form injury last week. His 63 yard touchdown was a taste of what he can do with any touch. |
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27 |
Duke Johnson |
DEN |
Is arguably the Browns best pass catcher right now, and will be needed to play that role again versus a stout Broncos run defense. |
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28 |
Jonathan Stewart |
Carolina Panthers |
@SEA |
Has cleared 50 yards in each game, but that's about it. Low ceiling, especially this week against Seattle. |
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29 |
Melvin Gordon |
San Diego Chargers |
@GB |
Was more featured in the passing game last week. Might struggle this week as the game script is not in his favor. |
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30 |
C.J. Spiller |
New Orleans Saints |
ATL |
This might be a week where Spiller is needed and used. Falcons give up a bunch of yards to pass-catching running backs. |
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31 |
Jeremy Hill |
Cincinnati Bengals |
@BUF |
It's just not happening for him right now. Tough matchup again. |
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32 |
Isaiah Crowell |
Cleveland Browns |
DEN |
This game sets up more favorably for Duke than Crowell. |
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33 |
Matt Jones |
@NYJ |
Will Clinton Portis come out of retirement and get the most carries for the Skins this week? |
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34 |
Alfred Morris |
Washington Redskins |
@NYJ |
Will Ladell Betts come out of retirement and get the most carries for the Skins this week? |
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35 |
Theo Riddick |
Detroit Lions |
CHI |
Still much better in PPR formats, but is starting to have standard league appeal. |
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36 |
Ryan Mathews |
Philadelphia Eagles |
NYG |
His involvement in the offense is a weekly crapshoot. |
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37 |
Tevin Coleman |
Atlanta Falcons |
@NO |
Freeman has taken the starting job, but Coleman will continue to receive touches as a change of pace guy. |
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38 |
Rashad Jennings |
@PHI |
This backfield is kind of a mess and the matchup is really tough. |
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39 |
James Starks |
Green Bay Packers |
SD |
Anyone can run on this Chargers defense. |
|
40 |
Khiry Robinson |
New Orleans Saints |
ATL |
Anyone can run on this Falcons defense. |
|
41 |
Shane Vereen |
New York Giants |
@PHI |
This backfield is kind of a mess and the matchup is really tough. |
|
42 |
Knile Davis |
Kansas City Chiefs |
@MIN |
Will back up West and get a good amount of touches. |
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43 |
Bishop Sankey |
Tennessee Titans |
MIA |
He's still getting carries, but isn't doing anything with them. |
|
44 |
David Johnson |
Arizona Cardinals |
@PIT |
You're banking on him actually being the goal-line back, which could very well be just a week to week thing. Bruce Arians doesn't care about fantasy football. |
|
45 |
Joique Bell |
Detroit Lions |
CHI |
He is averaging a cool 1.1 yards per carry this season. That's hard to do. |
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46 |
Darren Sproles |
Philadelphia Eagles |
NYG |
Hasn't done much since Week 1. |
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47 |
Boobie Dixon |
CIN |
With Tyrod Taylor out, this could be ugly. |
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48 |
Dan Herron |
Buffalo Bills |
CIN |
With Tyrod Taylor out, this could be ugly. |
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49 |
Javorius Allen |
Baltimore Ravens |
@SF |
Has taken the backup job from Taliaferro. |
|
50 |
Andre Williams |
New York Giants |
@PHI |
This backfield is kind of a mess and the matchup is really tough. |