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Week 4 Running Back Rankings - PPR Leagues

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

By Matias Wodner
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

This week might be the one where running back apologists puff up their chests and declare that the running back position is not dead just yet. The return of Le'Veon Bell and possible return of Jamaal Charles can alleviate some of the headaches that the position has caused through the first three weeks. A man can dream, right?

Rank Player Team Opponent Analysis
1 David Johnson ARI LA He's earned top-3 status every week.
2 Ezekiel Elliott DAL @SF Got vultured three different times on SNF. Good bet for at least one score in this matchup.
3 Le'Veon Bell PIT KC Arguably the most RB-friendly offense gets back a dynamic three-down back. Welcome back, Juice.
4 Melvin Gordon SD NO Gordon owners that just watched Freeman and Coleman eviscerate the Saints defense are licking their chops right now.
5 Lamar Miller HOU TEN Inefficient, but his usage indicates an explosion is coming soon.
6 Mark Ingram NO @SD Ingram has been great so far this season, but they just weren't getting him the ball until Monday night. Another big game should come against a weak Chargers run defense.
7 LeSean McCoy BUF @NE He still looks like Shady and is getting the touches to prove it.
8 DeMarco Murray TEN @HOU His receiving usage makes him an RB1 no matter how tough the matchup is.
9 C.J. Anderson DEN @TB The Bucs are more prone to damage through the air, but he must be trusted due to his every-down role.
10 LeGarrette Blount NE BUF The Bills aren't giving up a lot of yards per carry, but they've coughed up five rushing touchdowns over the past two games.
11 Jeremy Hill CIN MIA Might be chasing points here, but Miami has gotten sliced up on the ground over the last two games.
12 Jamaal Charles KC @PIT His expected return should be met with some caution. He won't get a full workload, but his receiving prowess is the biggest weakness on this Steelers defense.
13 Carlos Hyde SF DAL All of his fantasy production came in garbage time, but he gets a plus matchup this week and could easily find the end zone again.
14 Isaiah Crowell CLE @WAS Crowell is the second-leading rusher in the NFL and gets a great matchup against a struggling Redskins defense.
15 Christine Michael SEA @NYJ He has awakened. Thomas Rawls isn't getting his starting job back, even when he comes back.
16 Todd Gurley LA @ARI He's averaging just over 3 yards per carry. He has become touchdown or bust, but his talent doesn't allow you to bench him without feeling regret.
17 Charles Sims TB DEN Tough matchup, but the Broncos struggle against pass-catching backs and Sims will be given a full workload.
18 Devonta Freeman ATL CAR So much for losing his starting job. Freeman looked great on Monday night and needs to be in lineups every week.
19 Matt Forte NYJ SEA Came crashing back to Earth last week and now gets a brutal matchup. Don't expect much.
20 Dwayne Washington DET @CHI The Bears defense is made of swiss cheese right now and Washington is Detroit's best (only) between-the-tackles runner.
21 Jordan Howard CHI DET It looks like Howard will get the lion's share of the work this week and moving forward until Jeremy Langford comes back.
22 Latavius Murray OAK @BAL His efficiency is great news, but his snap percentage isn't. The Raiders are giving all their running backs work.
23 Matt Jones WAS CLE Jones has actually showed well over the past two weeks and gets a prime matchup this week.
24 Tevin Coleman ATL CAR The matchup is tough, but this offense is so predicated on both RBs that Coleman is a solid RB2 every week.
25 Giovani Bernard CIN MIA This might be more of a Hill game, but Gio should still be a solid in PPR.
26 Jerick McKinnon MIN NYG Looked tons better than Asiata and will continue to out-touch him. Unfortunately, this isn't a great matchup.
27 Frank Gore IND @JAX He has been consistent, albeit not impressive. This is a tougher matchup than it seems.
28 Theo Riddick DET @CHI His inability to run between the tackles was exposed this week. He's still just a receiving back that catches passes and doesn't score many touchdowns.
29 Cameron Artis-Payne CAR @ATL Atlanta's defense is a sieve, so Artis-Payne will have plenty of opportunities to do damage.
30 Duke Johnson CLE @WAS If this game turns into a shootout, Duke will rack up receiving yardage.
31 Chris Ivory JAX IND The last time Ivory played in London he went off for 166 yards and a touchdown. Don't expect the same in a terrible Jags offense.
32 Jay Ajayi MIA @CIN Should head a volatile four-back committee.
33 Spencer Ware KC @PIT Even with Charles coming back, Ware will still be involved in some capacity.
34 Rashad Jennings NYG @MIN He'll get a good amount of work. I guess that's something to like about him.
35 Kenneth Dixon BAL OAK It looks like he'll make his debut in this one. He could easily run away with the job this week.
36 Fozzy Whittaker CAR @ATL In a game that could be high-scoring, that sets up nicely for Fozzy receiving production.
37 T.J. Yeldon JAX IND This Jags offense has been atrocious through three weeks, but a horrible COlts defense could be their remedy.
38 Justin Forsett BAL OAK I'll admit I have no idea what to make of the Ravens running back situation.
39 Kenyan Drake MIA @CIN If the Dolphins fall behind early, Drake can soak up targets.
40 Derrick Henry TEN @HOU Hasn't been as involved as many believed, but will continue to get around 10 touches per game.
41 Travaris Cadet NO @SD Cadet has been involved in the passing offense and that should continue in a good matchup for RBs.
42 Chris Thompson WAS CLE Didn't see much passing game volume last week, but could get work against a bad Browns run defense this week.
43 Matt Asiata MIN NYG As "touchdown or bust" as it gets.
44 Alfred Morris DAL @SF Might get clean-up work again, but him and Lance Dunbar siphon touches from each other.
45 DeAndre Washington OAK @BAL Every Raiders running back takes touches from the other.
46 Devontae Booker DEN @TB Save for a fumble in the first game, Booker has looked pretty good when he's on the field.
47 Dexter McCluster SD NO Can't believe I'm ranking him once again, but Gordon can't handle 100% of the snaps.
48 Bobby Rainey NYG @MIN Could be shifted into a lite version of the Shane Vereen role with him sidelined.
49 Josh Ferguson IND @JAX Has shown to be a very capable pass-catcher out of the backfield, but doesn't get much usage.
50 Jalen Richard OAK @BAL Every Raiders running back takes touches from the other.