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So it begins. The position of cataclysm (I coined that). The position of death. The position of "I want to gouge my eyes out". Too much? Probably, but the running back position was an absolute catastrophe last year. While this year appears to be more clear-cut and the position should be much less volatile, all it takes is a few injuries and one-too-many meals for running backs I won't name before the position begins to fall apart. Let's hope the gods are on our side this year.
Rank | Player | Team | Opponent | Analysis |
1 | Lamar Miller | Houston Texans | CHI | Miller should pass his initial season opening test with flying colors. |
2 | Todd Gurley | Los Angeles Rams | @SF | He is the entire Rams offense and the 49ers are not a good defense. |
3 | Ezekiel Elliott | Dallas Cowboys | NYG | Zeke will get his "Welcome to the NFL" party at home against a Giants defense that struggled heavily against the run last season. |
4 | Latavius Murray | Oakland Raiders | @NO | The Saints defense isn't stopping anybody. Murray could have a field day in the Superdome. |
5 | David Johnson | Arizona Cardinals | NE | DJ will be a usage machine, though the matchup is a tough one against an underrated Pats defense. |
6 | Adrian Peterson | Minnesota Vikings | @TEN | He might get 40 carries with Shaun Hill at quarterback. |
7 | Doug Martin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @ATL | The Falcons run defense (overall defense) was nothing short of atrocious last year. Look for Martin to start the year smoking hot. |
8 | Ryan Mathews | Philadelphia Eagles | CLE | I wrote "Cleveland Browns run defense" in most of the player analysis columns last year for those RBs that went up against them. So, Cleveland Browns run defense. |
9 | LeSean McCoy | Buffalo Bills | @BAL | The Ravens run defense isn't what it used to be, while McCoy is primed for a big season. |
10 | Eddie Lacy | Green Bay Packers | @JAX | The Jags were underratedly stout against the run last year, but I'll bank on Lacy getting into the end zone at least once. |
11 | Devonta Freeman | Atlanta Falcons | TB | Can he be more efficient than his 4.0 ypc average signaled last year or will he continue to rely on goal-line chances and receptions? |
12 | Matt Forte | New York Jets | CIN | Their passing offense might find it tough to operate against the Bengals, providing Forte with plenty of checkdowns and rush attempts. |
13 | Mark Ingram | New Orleans Saints | OAK | If he's as involved in the passing game as he showed last year, he'll rack up points in this one. |
14 | Spencer Ware | Kansas City Chiefs | SD | I have a feeling Jamaal Charles is going to be held out for at least Week 1. If so, Ware is a great option against an atrocious against a weak Chargers run defense. |
15 | Giovani Bernard | Cincinnati Bengals | NYJ | This game sets up much better for Gio than Hill. |
16 | DeMarco Murray | Tennessee Titans | MIN | Tough opponent, but Murray will get the rock plenty. |
17 | Rashad Jennings | New York Giants | DAL | Dallas struggles mightily against the run and they actually have kept Odell Beckham very quiet over the past two years. The Giants should attack the Cowboys on the ground. |
18 | Jeremy Langford | Chicago Bears | @HOU | Tough opponent, but the volume will surely be there. |
19 | Danny Woodhead | San Diego Chargers | @KC | This matchup is more in Woodhead's favor than his backfield counterpart. |
20 | Carlos Hyde | San Francisco 49ers | LA | Will he be cleared in time for Week 1? If not, Shaun Draughn becomes an intriguing streaming option. |
21 | DeAngelo Williams | Pittsburgh Steelers | @WAS | I think people are expecting way too much of him during these first three weeks, and this matchup figures to be a shootout that favors the receivers. |
22 | Frank Gore | Indianpolis Colts | DET | What figures to be a legit shootout could find Gore stumbling to the end zone behind a porous offensive line. |
23 | Duke Johnson | Cleveland Browns | PHI | The way to attack the Eagles is not between the tackles, but around the edges, which sets up better for Duke than Crowell.. |
24 | Charles Sims | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | @ATL | This offense can sustain two productive running backs and the matchup couldn't be more perfect. |
25 | C.J. Anderson | Denver Broncos | CAR | I think it's going to be tough sledding for the entire Broncos offense in the NFL season opener. |
26 | Ameer Abdullah | Detroit Lions | @IND | His second-year breakout should get started nicely in an easy matchup. Praying that they let him get the goal line carries. |
27 | James White | New England Patriots | @ARI | Can he be as productive as he was from Weeks 13-16 last year? |
28 | T.J. Yeldon | Jacksonville Jaguars | GB | I'm expecting the Jags to be chasing points all game, which bodes well for Yeldon as he's the pass-catching RB. |
29 | Theo Riddick | Detroit Lions | @IND | I have Abdullah ahead of him, but if this turns into a shootout then Riddick will vacuum targets. |
30 | Melvin Gordon | San Diego Chargers | @KC | A bounceback season is very much on the table, but it may have to get going in a better matchup next week. |
31 | Jeremy Hill | Cincinnati Bengals | NYJ | It's going to be hard to breathe as a suffocating Jets front seven won't let Hill operate. |
32 | Thomas Rawls | Seattle Seahawks | MIA | He's slated to get around 15 carries, but we'll see if that's true. |
33 | Matt Jones | Washington Redskins | PIT | It appears he'll be good to go against an underrated Steelers front seven. |
34 | Jonathan Stewart | Carolina Panthers | DEN | His line against the Broncos in the Super Bowl (12 att for 29 yds, 1 td) seems likely, although the touchdown might be hard to come by. |
35 | Derrick Henry | Tennessee Titans | MIN | Not expecting Shaun Hill to sustain much offense for the Vikes, leading to plenty of carries for the Titans backfield. |
36 | LeGarrette Blount | New England Patriots | @ARI | This could be one of his 5 carries for -2 yards games, or he can get into the end zone. |
37 | Shane Vereen | New York Giants | @DAL | He figures to be a bigger part of the offense this year, and he gets a cupcake matchup to start it off. |
38 | BIlal Powell | New York Jets | CIN | Forte should get the bulk of the work, but there will be targets and carries for Powell to do damage. |
39 | Justin Forsett | Baltimore Ravens | BUF | I really have no idea what this team is. They don't make sense to me. |
40 | Arian Foster | Miami Dolphins | @SEA | He might catch a good amount of passes, but I'm not expecting much of anything against the Seahawks. |
41 | Darren Sproles | Philadelphia Eagles | CLE | Cleveland Browns run defense. |
42 | Chris Ivory | Jacksonville Jaguars | GB | How many carries will he get in a game in which the Jags are likely to be behind? |
43 | Isaiah Crowell | Cleveland Browns | @PHI | The Eagles run defense is very stout. He won't find much room to run, setting up much better for Duke. |
44 | Terrance West | Baltimore Ravens | BUF | I really have no idea what this team is. They don't make sense to me. |
45 | Christine Michael | Seattle Seahawks | MIA | Slated to get about seven carries. That's not enough to feel very good about. |
46 | Tevin Coleman | Atlanta Falcons | TB | They've seemed intent on giving him more carries, but we'll see if that comes into fruition now that the games matter. |
47 | Chris Thompson | Washington Redskins | PIT | In what can be an old-fashioned shootout, Thompson could very well be more important than Jones in this one. |
48 | DeAndre Washington | Oakland Raiders | @NO | Should be involved whether or not Lat gets going. |
49 | C.J. Spiller | New Orleans Saints | OAK | Was very involved in the preseason, but as we saw last year, that may mean nothing come the regular season. |
50 | Jerick McKinnon | Minnesota Vikings | @TEN | Could be a very useful weapon for Shaun Hill. |