:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47350212/usa-today-8836820.0.jpg)
Devonta Freeman did it again. Jeremy Hill got himself three touchdowns as well. Ronnie Hillman, C.J. Spiller, and Duke Johnson found themselves in the top 10. Every week has been bringing us the expected and unexpected, but mostly unexpected. What will Week 5 have in store for us?
|
Rank |
Player |
Team |
Opponent |
Analysis |
|
1 |
Le'Veon Bell |
@SD |
Chargers have been getting gashed on the ground and Le'Veon looks even better than last year. |
|
|
2 |
Jamaal Charles |
CHI |
The Chiefs need to start giving him more carries. Alex Smith is not playing well right now, so look for Charles to gradually get bigger workloads. |
|
|
3 |
Justin Forsett |
CLE |
Forsett finally came alive on TNF and now gets one of the league's worst run defenses. |
|
|
4 |
Matt Forte |
@KC |
The Chiefs just have up 4 rushing touchdowns. Forte should get scoring opportunities against an underwhelming defense. |
|
|
5 |
Alfred Morris |
@ATL |
Has regained the starting job and gets the league worst run defense this week. Falcons give up rushing touchdowns to everyone. |
|
|
6 |
Arian Foster |
IND |
Should get a more complete workload on TNF this week. Also gets a plus matchup against a bad Colts defense. |
|
|
7 |
Marshawn Lynch |
@CIN |
The Seahawks are hoping to get him back against the Bengals. They sorely need him. |
|
|
8 |
Eddie Lacy |
STL |
Going up against a hot-and-cold Rams defense, being back home should help Lacy out. |
|
|
9 |
Karlos Williams |
TEN |
Slated for another full workload, he gets an easier matchup this week and will take advantage of it. |
|
|
10 |
DeMarco Murray |
NO |
Looked to get things going a little bit last week, only to be given 8 total carries. This might be the week the run game gets it going against a bad Saints defense. |
|
|
11 |
Dion Lewis |
@DAL |
Is the lead back in their offense. Should be able to attack the Cowboys linebackers in different ways. |
|
|
12 |
Devonta Freeman |
Atlanta Falcons |
WAS |
Is on fire, but faces the second best run defense that has only given up one rushing touchdown. Which immovable object will give way? |
|
13 |
Todd Gurley |
St. Louis Rams |
@GB |
How was that for a coming out party? He tore up a great Cardinals defense in the fourth quarter. Game flow may work against him this week, but he can be huge for fantasy owners if the game is close. |
|
14 |
T.J. Yeldon |
@TB |
Has looked really good this year. Should be able to find the end zone against a soft Bucs defense. |
|
|
15 |
Ronnie Hillman |
@OAK |
Has outplayed C.J. Anderson and will look to take full control of the starting job this week. |
|
|
16 |
Mark Ingram |
New Orleans Saints |
@PHI |
Love Ingram, but this is a really tough matchup. The Eagles haven't given up a rushing touchdown all year. |
|
17 |
Latavius Murray |
DEN |
Very tough matchup, but they did give up a long run to Adrian Peterson last week. Murray has the potential to break one, and is the every down back even if he doesn't. |
|
|
18 |
LeGarrette Blount |
New England Patriots |
@DAL |
If Sean Lee is out, Dallas won't be able to stop the run. Blount scored three touchdowns as the backup in Week 3. He will get plenty of goal line touches. |
|
19 |
Frank Gore |
Indianapolis Colts |
@HOU |
Is operating as the every-down back. Should bounce back nicely after a tough week last week. |
|
20 |
Carlos Hyde |
@NYG |
He's been killed by the 49ers getting blown out, but this game should be more competitive. |
|
|
21 |
Doug Martin |
JAX |
Has looked good all year. If he starts scoring touchdowns consistently, watch out. |
|
|
22 |
Joseph Randle |
Dallas Cowboys |
NE |
May pick up some more pass game work with Dunbar out for the rest of the season. |
|
23 |
Danny Woodhead |
San Diego Chargers |
PIT |
Woodhead has been outperforming Gordon so far this year and will continue to get plenty of touches. |
|
24 |
Chris Johnson |
Arizona Cardinals |
@DET |
CJ2K is looking like the lead dog, but the return of Ellington may change the landscape a bit. |
|
25 |
Jeremy Hill |
Cincinnati Bengals |
SEA |
Going to be tough to run on them, but it was always a threat for a touchdown. |
|
26 |
C.J. Anderson |
Denver Broncos |
@OAK |
Hillman is flat out playing much better than him. Anderson will continue to get around 10 carries. |
|
27 |
Ameer Abdullah |
ARI |
Tough matchup, but Gurley was able to run on them. Abdullah was ok in his matchup against the Seahawks. Should be a little better this week. |
|
|
28 |
Melvin Gordon |
San Diego Chargers |
PIT |
So much for that breakout week. Woodhead looks like the better player right now. |
|
29 |
Giovani Bernard |
Cincinnati Bengals |
SEA |
Smaller backs seem to give Seattle more trouble, so Bernard may see some success in this matchup. |
|
30 |
Rashad Jennings |
SF |
Hasn't been impressive, but neither have their other running backs. |
|
|
31 |
Andre Ellington |
Arizona Cardinals |
@DET |
Might be eased in with Chris Johnson playing well. |
|
32 |
Duke Johnson |
@BAL |
Should get plenty of catches as the run game shouldn't have much room. Has forced a timeshare with Crowell. |
|
|
33 |
C.J. Spiller |
New Orleans Saints |
@PHI |
Showed off his playmaking ability with a walk-off 80 yard touchdown. Should get more looks against a banged up Eagles line backing corps. |
|
34 |
Antonio Andrews |
BUF |
May have earned the lead back job, but will face a brick wall in the Bills run defense. |
|
|
35 |
Isaiah Crowell |
Cleveland Browns |
@BAL |
Played very well last week, but gets a very tough matchup that plummets his value since he doesn't catch many passes. |
|
36 |
Tevin Coleman |
Atlanta Falcons |
WAS |
Aiming to return this week, but has lost his starting job with Freeman playing so well. |
|
37 |
Darren McFadden |
Dallas Cowboys |
NE |
Should get an increase in snaps with Lance Dunbar out for the reason. |
|
38 |
Charles Sims |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
JAX |
Two straight weeks with a receiving touchdown. Can he do it again this week? |
|
39 |
Matt Jones |
Washington Redskins |
@ATL |
Hasn't been effective since his blowup Week 2. Is operating as the backup to Morris. |
|
40 |
Joique Bell |
Detroit Lions |
ARI |
He is so bad. Will continue to get carries for no apparent reason and might score a one yard touchdown if lucky. |
|
41 |
Lorenzo Taliaferro |
Baltimore Ravens |
CLE |
Doesn't get many carries, but will be able to do damage with his limited touches against a really bad Browns run defense. |
|
42 |
Ryan Mathews |
Philadelphia Eagles |
NO |
May or may not be a better fit in Chip Kelly's system. It doesn;t matter because he's the clear backup to Murray. |
|
43 |
Bishop Sankey |
Tennessee Titans |
BUF |
Who knows what will happen in Ken Whisenhunt's backfield. |
|
44 |
Andre Williams |
New York Giants |
SF |
There were talks of him taking the starting job from Jennings, but he's just not very good. |
|
45 |
Darren Sproles |
Philadelphia Eagles |
NO |
Will always be involved in the passing game. Cue up the revenge game narrative. |
|
46 |
James Starks |
Green Bay Packers |
STL |
A fully healthy Eddie Lacy = not a lot of James Starks touches. |
|
47 |
David Johnson |
Arizona Cardinals |
@DET |
DJ is a dynamic playmaker, but there are too many mouths to feed in the Arizona backfield. |
|
48 |
Khiry Robinson |
New Orleans Saints |
@PHI |
A more involved Spiller could mean a reduced role for Robinson. |
|
49 |
Theo Riddick |
Detroit Lions |
ARI |
Will get plenty of receiving work. |
|
50 |
Thomas Rawls |
Seattle Seahawks |
@CIN |
Even with Marshawn back, he may still have a role to play with Fred Jackson now out. |