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Week 2 Running Back Rankings - PPR Leagues

Examining the best matchups for week two running backs from a point per reception-league standpoint.

By Matias Wodner
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Well, that wasn't TOO bad. Week one didn't go exactly as planned, but that was to be expected. Still, there were no major injuries and no one has lost their starting job just yet! Except for maybe Devonta Freeman; he might be the first domino to fall. Let's hope and pray that all remains copacetic in week two.

Rank Player Team Opponent Analysis
1 David Johnson Arizona Cardinals TB DJ showed on SNF why he was so hyped up before the season. He's a stud in both the running and passing game.
2 C.J. Anderson Denver Broncos IND Might be overreacting to a huge week 1, but he gets a cakewalk matchup in a Colts defense that gave up 3 touchdowns to RBs last week.
3 Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys @WAS The Redskins defense just got absolutely exposed on Monday night. Zeke had a tough week 1, but still found the end zone. This week should be easier sledding.
4 DeAngelo Williams Pittsburgh Steelers CIN My fears about DeAngelo's effectiveness were put to rest on Monday night. The dude still has it and he's in an offense that's ripe for RB production.
5 DeMarco Murray Tennessee Titans @DET Whether this game turns into a shootout or not, Murray's overall usage will be that of an RB1. Against a weak Lions defense, that usage should translate into great production for the second week in a row.
6 Lamar Miller Houston Texans KC Solid, efficient start to his Texans career. While this seems like a tough matchup on paper, the Chiefs coughed up 3 touchdowns to RBs last week. Miller should find paydirt after missing out last week.
7 Matt Forte New York Jets @BUF Reports of Bilal Powell taking half of Forte's workload were as overblown as expected. Forte is the workhorse and will be an RB1 in PPR for the foreseeable future.
8 Rashad Jennings New York Giants NO The Saints defense is a bonafide sieve. Jennings had an efficient week 1 and should have a more productive week 2 given the matchup.
9 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings GB After a dreadful week 1, the panic might start mounting quickly if he lays another egg on SNF. Give it another week, though, fellow AP owners.
10 Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints @NYG The Giants run defense was surprisingly solid in week 1. Still, look for the Saints to get Ingram going after leaning on the passing offense in week 1.
11 LeSean McCoy Buffalo Bills NYJ Brutal matchup, but McCoy looks like the entire Bills offense right now. Volume and opportunities will be there.
12 Danny Woodhead San Diego Chargers JAX As much as we keep trying to find reasons to not love Woodhead, he keeps producing like an RB1 in PPR. Keep firing him up, especially now that Keenan Allen is lost for the season.
13 Spencer Ware Kansas City Chiefs @HOU Whenever he plays, he makes plays. Fire him up as a starter, regardless of matchup, until Jamaal Charles is back.
14 T.J. Yeldon Jacksonville Jaguars @SD He was brutally inefficient in his workhorse role with Chris Ivory out, but it looks like he'll get a similar role and gets a MUCH friendlier matchup.
15 Ryan Mathews Philadelphia Eagles @CHI Mathews was bafflingly outsnapped by Sproles, but severely outperformed him. Going into another good matchup, Mathews is a solid RB2.
16 Devonta Freeman Atlanta Falcons @OAK The concern about inefficiency reared its ugly head, and he also lost passing-game targets to Tevin Coleman. Panic will ensue soon, but he should have a better game this week.
17 Todd Gurley Los Angeles Rams SEA This Rams offense is going to be putrid, and I'll admit I didn't think it would affect Gurley all that much. Looks like I was wrong. I'll still bank on his talent shining through in most games, but it won't be easy.
18 Eddie Lacy Green Bay Packers @MIN Lacy looked good running the ball in week one, but gets a tougher matchup this week. He's always a threat to score near the goal line.
19 Latavius Murray Oakland Raiders ATL Murray only got 50% of the Raiders backfield share, which is concerning. He still notched a touchdown, though, and will continue to start for the time being.
20 Ameer Abdullah Detroit Lions TEN Abdullah was electric as both a runner and pass catcher. The Lions LOVE to give goal-line carries to someone else for whatever reason, but Abdullah is talented enough to offset that concern.
21 Jeremy Langford Chicago Bears PHI He is the clear-cut workhorse, albeit an inefficient one. He gets a tough draw against an underrated Eagles front seven.
22 Doug Martin Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ARI Martin was surprisingly very involved in the passing game. If that continues, he'll provide himself with a nice weekly floor to go with his immense upside in PPR leagues.
23 Carlos Hyde San Francisco 49ers @CAR Had a big week one, but, as we saw last year, we mustn't overreact too much. He's still on a bad team and won't be able to play the Rams every week.
24 Jeremy Hill Cincinnati Bengals @PIT Best bet for a touchdown in this backfield. Don't expect much rushing output.
25 Theo Riddick Detroit Lions TEN Week 1 might very well be an outlier in his 2016 season. He doesn't score many touchdowns and has never been an inefficient between-the-tackles runner. But he has a great floor in PPR.
26 Melvin Gordon San Diego Chargers JAX The Chargers took Gordon out of their game plan in the second half, for some reason, while watching their 24-3 lead evaporate. They're fixated on Woodhead, so Gordon might be hit-or-miss most weeks.
27 Arian Foster Miami Dolphins @NE Jay Ajayi is just a figment of our imagination and Foster is the guy in that backfield. The offense is a cause for concern, but his volume sure isn't and he still looks like he's got something left in the tank.
28 Duke Johnson Cleveland Browns BAL His buddy Josh McCown will be back under center, so look for Duke to get more looks than Crowell in this one.
29 LeGarrette Blount New England Patriots MIA If they choose to kill clock with Blount once again, Blount can put up another double digit performance.
30 Matt Jones Washington Redskins DAL Didn't look all that terrible on Monday night but also didn't look all that great. A matchup against the Cowboys is just what the doctor ordered, though.
31 Giovani Bernard Cincinnati Bengals @PIT A disappointing performance in what looked like a tailor-made Gio matchup on paper. His weekly production will be volatile, it seems.
32 Shane Vereen New York Giants NO He's really good and the Giants should get him more touches. This game should be one where he thrives.
33 James White New England Patriots MIA He was good in the Dion Lewis role once again, but they didn't give him the ball all that much, electing to go with a grind-the-clock-out plan.
34 Frank Gore Indianapolis Colts @DEN Brutal matchup for a low-ceiling player in an offense that will throw forever and ever.
35 Tevin Coleman Atlanta Falcons @OAK Let's see if his week one usage is repeated in week two. If so, we'll have an RBBC on our hands.
36 Justin Forsett Baltimore Ravens @CLE The most perfect of matchups, but I would just avoid this backfield altogether.
37 Jonathan Stewart Carolina Panthers SF He has such a low ceiling and his floor isn't particularly high either. In PPR, there is nothing to be excited about with him.
38 Charles Sims Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ARI The fact that Martin got a lot of pass-game work is a bit alarming. Sims didn't get much work aside from his touchdown catch.
39 Christine Michael Seattle Seahawks @LA Looks to be the lead guy in an RBBC, but we'll see how long that lasts. For what it's worth, he looked better than Rawls in week one.
40 Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans @DET He clearly ran as Murray's backup. He was explosive on a couple of runs after catches, but couldn't get much going on the ground.
41 Chris Thompson Washington Redskins DAL Thompson got the goal line touchdown on Monday night, but that was due to no-huddle being run. Still, he's always a PPR sleeper as the Skins dynamic third down back, especially in a prime matchup like this one.
42 Thomas Rawls Seattle Seahawks @LA He wasn't effective and his role isn't clearly defined right now.
43 Jerick McKinnon Minnesota Vikings GB If the Vikings fall behind early, McKinnon will be used heavily.
44 Darren Sproles Philadelphia Eagles @CHI He actually played one more snap than Mathews, but didn't do much of anything with his touches.
45 Isaiah Crowell Cleveland Browns BAL Running room will be non-existent, setting up better for his counterpart.
46 Bilal Powell New York Jets @BUF So much for the even timeshare reports. Powell is still just a backup.
47 Terrance West Baltimore Ravens @CLE The most perfect of matchups, but I would just avoid this backfield altogether.
48 Alfred Morris Dallas Cowboys @WAS Alf Morris Revenge Game. Morris was much more effective than Zeke in week one, but he's still just a spell back that will only get around seven touches per game.
49 Jalen Richard Oakland Raiders ATL Seems to have moved ahead of DeAndre Washington as Latvius' backup. Had an amazing 75 yard touchdown run in week 1, thought that shouldn't be expected again.
50 Shaun Draughn San Francisco 49ers @CAR Not a good bet to score again. Still involved as Hyde's change of pace guy.