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We're getting to the point in the season where we start to realize that we know so little about what will happen each week. Eddie Lacy has been arguably the biggest bust at any position so far. C.J. Anderson has been awful. Devonta Freeman is the best running back since Jim Brown. Nothing makes sense. Yet we can't get enough of it, due to that unpredictability itself. What will this week have in store?
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Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Analysis |
|
1 |
Devonta Freeman |
@TEN |
No more words can describe his fantasy performance so far. |
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2 |
Todd Gurley |
CLE |
Couldn't have a better matchup, coming off a bye week after totaling 305 rushing yards the previous two weeks. |
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3 |
Adrian Peterson |
@DET |
Has been somewhat consistent, but the Lions defense is atrocious. |
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|
4 |
Le'Veon Bell |
@KC |
Another tough matchup, but he's a weekly top-5 option. |
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|
5 |
Latavius Murray |
@SD |
Raiders might be down in this game, but the Chargers run defense is a sieve. |
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6 |
Arian Foster |
@MIA |
Struggling on the ground, succeeding in the passing game. He's back to being an RB1 regardless. |
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7 |
LeSean McCoy |
@JAX |
Looked great last week and gets a good matchup again this week. He's their entire offense right now. |
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8 |
Marshawn Lynch |
@SF |
Finally over his hamstring issue, Beast Mode is back to being a locked-in RB1. |
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9 |
Lamar Miller |
HOU |
Hello, Lamar Miller. Finally getting the touches he needed, Miller exploded in Week 6 and will be back in the top 10 against the Texans. |
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10 |
Chris Ivory |
@NE |
Ivory might be a top-3 running back in the league right now. Game flow in this game may be a problem, but it might not matter for Ivory to put up points. |
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|
11 |
DeMarco Murray |
@CAR |
That was more like it. Murray finally got going once the Eagles started running power plays in the second half against the Giants. He'll look to build on that against a stingy Panthers defense. |
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12 |
Frank Gore |
NO |
The Saints are currently bleeding fantasy point to running backs. Gore should capitalize. |
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|
13 |
Mark Ingram |
New Orleans Saints |
@IND |
Is only averaging 3.8 yards per carry, but he is as good a bet as anyone for a touchdown every week. |
|
14 |
Doug Martin |
@WAS |
The Redskins once stout run defense has come apart at the stitches the last two weeks. Look for Martin to build on his recent performances. |
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15 |
Dion Lewis |
NYJ |
A late-week abdominal injury contributed to his poor performance on Sunday night. This week should be more of a Lewis than Blount game. |
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16 |
Jonathan Stewart |
Carolina Panthers |
PHI |
Has J Stew risen from the dead? For this week at least, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. |
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17 |
Justin Forsett |
@ARI |
Hard matchup, but he's earned back RB2 honors over the last few weeks. |
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18 |
T.J. Yeldon |
BUF |
Yeldon should be back this week. He's a true every down back. |
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19 |
Rashad Jennings |
New York Giants |
DAL |
Dallas is giving up a bunch of rushing and receiving yards to running backs. With Andre Williams and Shane Vereen operating at an embarrassingly inefficient level, Jennings should get a lot of work. |
|
20 |
Carlos Hyde |
SEA |
Seattle gives up the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, but just coughed up two touchdowns to Jonathan Stewart. They can be penetrated. |
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21 |
Chris Johnson |
BAL |
Matchup is tough, but he is the featured running back in Arizona right now. |
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22 |
Danny Woodhead |
San Diego Chargers |
OAK |
Gordon is playing himself out of touches. Woodhead should get even more usage this week. |
|
23 |
Matt Jones |
Washington Redskins |
TB |
Trying to solve the Redskins running back rubik's cube. |
|
24 |
LeGarrette Blount |
New England Patriots |
NYJ |
Feels like more of a Lewis game, but Blount is the closer in this high-scoring offense. |
|
25 |
Christine Michael |
@NYG |
Is supposedly going to start. This is looking like a full-blown committee. |
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|
26 |
Duke Johnson |
@STL |
His usage (10 rushing attempts, plenty of pass-catching opportunities) makes him the back to own in Cleveland. |
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27 |
Charcandrick West |
PIT |
Didn't show much and lost a fumble in Week 6. Seems to be the main guy, though. |
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28 |
Ameer Abdullah |
Detroit Lions |
MIN |
His fumbling issues are becoming a real problem. Still, with Bell struggling to stay healthy, Zenner out for the season, and Riddick as the passing down back, Abdullah's role should stay the same. |
|
29 |
Alfred Morris |
Washington Redskins |
TB |
Trying to solve the Redskins running back rubik's cube. |
|
30 |
Joseph Randle |
Dallas Cowboys |
@NYG |
This is looking like a full-blown committee. |
|
31 |
Melvin Gordon |
San Diego Chargers |
OAK |
It's been rough so far, but will continue to get double digit carries. |
|
32 |
Charles Sims |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
@WAS |
Much better option in PPR, but gets enough usage to be valuable as a low-end flex in standard leagues. |
|
33 |
Theo Riddick |
Detroit Lions |
MIN |
See: Sims, Charles. ^^^ |
|
34 |
Tevin Coleman |
Atlanta Falcons |
@TEN |
Might be able to get some garbage time points against a lowly Titans team. |
|
35 |
Andre Ellington |
Arizona Cardinals |
BAL |
Only being used in the pass game, and barely in that aspect. |
|
36 |
Antonio Andrews |
Tennessee Titans |
ATL |
Tennessee's running back situation is depressing. |
|
37 |
Knile Davis |
Kansas City Chiefs |
PIT |
Barely got any run, but if West isn't effective again, Davis could get the opportunity to show what he can do. |
|
38 |
Ryan Mathews |
Philadelphia Eagles |
@CAR |
Continues to look really good on his limited touches. Murray is taking up most of the work. |
|
39 |
Darren McFadden |
Dallas Cowboys |
@NYG |
This is looking like a full-blown committee. |
|
40 |
Ahmad Bradshaw |
Indianapolis Colts |
NO |
Should start becoming more productive as he incorporates himself back into the offense. |
|
41 |
Bishop Sankey |
Tennessee Titans |
ATL |
Tennessee's running back situation is depressing. |
|
42 |
Khiry Robinson |
New Orleans Saints |
@IND |
Clearly the backup to Ingram, he's getting a good amount of work behind him. |
|
43 |
Isaiah Crowell |
Cleveland Browns |
@STL |
Not a good matchup, and has started losing carries to Robert Turbin. |
|
44 |
Joique Bell |
Detroit Lions |
MIN |
1.1 yards per carry. |
|
45 |
Dexter McCluster |
Tennessee Titans |
ATL |
Tennessee's running back situation is depressing. Has a role to play as Falcons give up a ton of catches to running backs. |
|
46 |
David Johnson |
Arizona Cardinals |
BAL |
Rare goal-line carry or kick return for touchdown is your only shot with him at this point. |
|
47 |
Javorius Allen |
Baltimore Ravens |
@ARI |
Forsett is getting almost all of the work. |
|
48 |
C.J. Spiller |
New Orleans Saints |
@IND |
Is barely a part of the offense. |
|
49 |
Chris Thompson |
Washington Redskins |
TB |
Is the clear-cut passing down back. |
|
50 |
Shane Vereen |
New York Giants |
DAL |
Is not the clear-cut anything. |