FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Running Backs

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			Darren McFadden 105 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 40 rec yards Run DMC turned into Catch DMC in Week 1, with 13 catches for 86 yards on 18 targets. No player (RB or WR) had more targets than McFadden. Thirteen catches and 15 rushes means he had more touches than any other player. That's not good for a brittle RB. Considering he is still healthy, he'll have a big Week 2, however.	at
2			Matt Forte 84 rush yards, 3 rec, 45 rec yards, rec TD In his lone meeting against Green Bay last year Forte was far deadlier as a pass receiver. This week he'll do the bulk of his damage on the ground, exploiting a run defense that was worn down by San Francisco late last week.	at
3			Arian Foster 124 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 6 rec yards Last week Adrian Peterson averaged 4.9 yards per carry against Jacksonville, and he was more banged up than Foster. We sense big things are on the horizon for Houston's back this week. Big things.	at
4			C.J. Spiller 85 rush yards, 4 rec, 35 rec yards, rec TD Against the Jets Spiller showed flashes of what he used to do every Saturday at Clemson. He had a 56-yard TD run and then another 49-yarder that came up just short of another TD. The Chiefs weren't bad against the run in Week 1, but Spiller is worth a start in Week 2 anyway, with Jackson sidelined.	vs
5			Ray Rice 83 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 31 rec yards Rice struggled a bit in games against NFC teams last year, averaging just 13.2 carries and 57.5 rushing yards per game against the NFC West. This week, however, Rice figures to see a hefty workload. Fantasy owners can expect between 20-25 touches.	at
6			Adrian Peterson 94 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 18 rec yards Peterson will follow the lead of Chicago's Matt Forte, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry last week against Indianapolis' defense. The Vikings may still trim AP's workload a bit, but how many carries does a franchise back really need against these Colts?	at
7			Reggie Bush 70 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 35 rec yards The Dolphins leaned on Bush to carry them offensively in the opener and he did what he could, but still couldn’t get into the end zone. Owners in PPR leagues loved his six catches for 46 yards. He's still a decent RB2 option in Week 2.	vs
8			DeMarco Murray 79 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 22 rec yards It was remarkable to see how well the Cowboys ran the ball in the second half last week with a patchwork offensive line. This week, however, the unit faces a Seahawks team that allowed just 3.8 yards per carry last year. Murray could experience a slight dip in production.	at
9			Darren Sproles 15 rush yards, 6 rec, 85 rec yards, rec TD This “running back” had just one carry the entire game in Week 1 -- during a two-point conversion. He did catch five passes (on eight targets) for 35 yards, and he remains a score-from-anywhere threat.	at
10			Stevan Ridley 80 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 20 rec yards The Patriots ran the second-year back early and often at Tennessee, allowing him to rack up 125 yards on 21 carries. He's a hard runner who's going to see defenses that are trying to stop the passing game more than the run. He's a bona fide fantasy starter now.	vs
11			Marshawn Lynch 81 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 16 rec yards Ahmad Bradshaw was patient last week, finally breaking free for a big run in the second half. Lynch's date with Dallas will play out much the same -- frustrating series after series, but with a few big runs to pad the numbers.	vs
12			Jamaal Charles 75 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 20 rec yards The Falcons loaded up against the run in Week 1, which prevented Charles from really racking up yardage and TDs. Expect the Bills to do the same, although they struggled against the Jets offense, giving up 118 rushing yards.	at
13			LeSean McCoy 66 rush yards, 4 rec, 27 rec yards, rec TD The Ravens allowed only 92.6 rushing yards per game last year -- second-fewest in the NFL. McCoy will make enough plays to matter for fantasy owners, but for the most part it will be a down week for the top three fantasy pick.	vs
14			Ahmad Bradshaw 75 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 15 rec yards With rookie David Wilson fumbling the ball early in the game against Dallas, the Giants used Bradshaw extensively in Week 1. The Bucs stood strong against Panthers back DeAngelo Williams, but Bradshaw remains a solid option.	vs
15			BenJarvus Green-Ellis 89 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 9 rec yards Green-Ellis' 5.1-yards-per-carry average last week was his best single-game average since December 2010. This week he'll feast on a Browns defense that allowed LeSean McCoy to gain 5.5 yards per carry (20 attempts).	vs
16			Maurice Jones-Drew 67 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 20 rec yards The Jaguars were supposed to ease Jones-Drew into action. That didn't happen. Now the team has no reason to hold back. In a game sure to be won between the tackles, Jones-Drew will carry the ball for as long as Jacksonville is in contention. He gained 166 yards from scrimmage in his last game against Houston.	vs
17			Jonathan Dwyer 68 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 19 rec yards Dwyer will see an increased workload after clearly outperforming Isaac Redman in Week 1. It may not amount to more than 12 or 15 touches, but that's all it took for Buffalo’s C.J. Spiller to bust up the Jets last week.	vs
18			Chris Johnson 65 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 20 rec yards After a horrible 2011, many were hoping for a big rebound game for CJ2K against the Patriots. Not only did they not get that, but Johnson turned in his worst NFL game ever. The offensive line couldn't open up any lanes for him, and the Titans went to the passing game early. Bad omens lie ahead; the Chargers held Raiders RB Darren McFadden to just 32 rushing yards in Week 1.	at
19			Alfred Morris 80 rush yards, rush TD The big rookie rumbled for 96 yards and two TDs in his first NFL game, and he's sure to be a waiver-wire darling. But head coach Mike Shanahan loves to mess with fantasy owners' heads. Start him in Week 2 and cross your fingers.	at
20			Jacquizz Rodgers 40 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 30 rec yards The Falcons running game struggled from the get-go against the Chiefs in Week 1. Michael Turner and Rodgers combined for just 54 rushing yards. Turner's owners should work now to trade for his handcuff in Rodgers.	vs
21			Frank Gore 61 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 9 rec yards The Lions' imposing front wall kept Steven Jackson to just 2.5 yards per attempt last week. Gore got off to a fast start -- and had a nice game against the Lions a year ago -- but depending on the rest of your roster, this might be a good week to sit him down.	vs
22			Steven Jackson 75 rush yards, 5 rec, 45 rec yards Until the Rams find some playmaker wide receivers, defenses are going to continue to key on Jackson. Don't let his abysmal yards-per-carry convince you he's over the hill. He also caught four passes for 31 yards. The rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.	vs
23			Doug Martin 90 rush yards, 4 rec, 25 rec yards Martin proved to be as good as the hype suggested in Week 1 against Carolina, staying on the field for passing downs, blocking, getting extra yards and finding open holes. He's a solid fantasy starter going forward, although the Giants have had 11 days to prepare for him.	at
24			Peyton Hillis 35 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 10 rec yards The carries split ended up being about 2-to-1 in favor of Jamaal Charles over Hillis in Week 1. Hillis was targeted three times in the passing game, however. He's a flex option against a Bills team looking to rebound.	at
25			Willis McGahee 75 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards The Broncos drafted Ronnie Hillman to possibly take over for McGahee in the backfield, but that time has not come yet. McGahee rushed 16 times for 64 yards against the Steelers in Week 1, and he's worth a look against a Falcons defense that allowed over 130 rushing yards to the Chiefs.	at
26			DeAngelo Williams 55 rush yards, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Williams was shut down in Week 1 at Tampa Bay, with minus-one yard on six carries. He started in place of Jonathan Stewart, who is expected to be back in Week 2. Reserve Williams against the Saints.	vs
27			Donald Brown 45 rush yards, 3 rec, 29 rec yards There's no doubt that Brown will be the Colts back moving forward. That doesn't mean it's always going to be pretty. The Vikings were one of eight teams to keep opposing runners under 4.0 yards a carry last year.	vs
28			Trent Richardson 59 rush yards, 1 rec, 13 rec yards The Bengals gave up 5.3 yards per carry to the Ravens. This week Cincinnati does not need to play “honest” defense. The Bengals will stack the deck against Richardson, expecting that Brandon Weeden will not beat them with his arm. In gambling terms that's called a safe bet.	at
29			Ryan Mathews 45 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards The former Fresno State star hopes to return to live game action in Week 2 against the Titans, after sitting out most of the preseason and Week 1 with a broken clavicle. Fantasy owners should proceed with caution.	vs
30			Michael Turner 60 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards In Atlanta's new pass-happy offense, Turner appears to be out of place. Even when the Falcons tried to run the ball against the Chiefs, he couldn't do much, with just 11 carries for 32 yards. He should do better against the Broncos, but fantasy owners can't be excited about his 2012 outlook.	vs
31			Kevin Smith 39 rush yards, 2 rec, 19 rec yards Did you see what San Francisco's defense did to the Packers running game? Did you see what San Francisco's defense did to every opposing running game last year? You'd have to be mad to start Smith this week.	at
32			Beanie Wells 35 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Wells came into Week 1 with a sore hamstring, and the Seahawks didn't really give him much breathing room when he got the ball. His 14 yards on seven carries should be enough to keep him on your bench this week.	at
33			David Wilson 30 rush yards, 4 rec, 25 rec yards After fumbling on his second touch of the game, Wilson was essentially benched for the remainder of his NFL debut against the Cowboys. He's a home-run threat when he holds onto the ball, though. Keep him reserved until he earns Tom Coughlin's trust again.	vs
34			Roy Helu 30 rush yards, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Head coach Mike Shanahan appears to like Helu on passing downs and Alfred Morris on other downs. That's not enough to make Helu an option in Week 2. But things change quickly in Washington's backfield, so don't cut him.	at
35			Michael Bush 33 rush yards, 2 rec, 19 rec yards No cheap touchdowns this week. Bush's role in the Bears offense will vary based on the game situation; Matt Forte will not need much help this week in the running game.	at
36			Shonn Greene 51 rush yards Greene gained 92 yards on 21 carries against Pittsburgh in 2010 -- we should add that was for two games, Week 16 and the AFC Championship Game. You have better options on your roster (you must).	at
37			Mark Ingram 50 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards In Week 1, the Heisman winner from Alabama had just 15 yards on six carries, but then again, the Saints had to turn to the passing game relatively early. He's still a better fantasy reserve than starter.	at
38			Ryan Williams 50 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards Williams had eight carries for nine yards in his NFL regular season debut against the Seahawks. This Cardinals offensive line is not a strong one, and fantasy owners should remain leery of Williams and Beanie Wells (hamstring).	at
39			Cedric Benson 44 rush yards Benson might love the idea of spoiling the Bears' visit to Lambeau, but it's just not going to go down that way. The Packers have experienced trouble with their blocking up front, and Benson looked stiff running the ball last week. He may be a few weeks away from becoming comfortable in this offense -- assuming he ever reaches that point.	vs
40			Ronnie Brown 25 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards If Mathews remains sidelined, Brown will get the rock again in Week 2. He was stifled for just five yards on five carries in Week 1 at Oakland, however. But he did catch five passes for 26 yards.	vs
41			Ben Tate 19 rush yards, 3 rec, 19 rec yards So much for Tate coming up big for fantasy owners in Week 1. Arian Foster played and Tate gained just six yards. The Texans will use Tate when they have to, but won't disrupt Foster when he finds a rhythm. This week you can already hear the beat of Foster's cleats.	at
42			Isaac Redman 22 rush yards, 2 rec, 13 rec yards A popular pick this summer, Redman is now someone fantasy owners should consider cutting loose. He will share carries with Jonathan Dwyer for now, and who knows what his role will be if/when Rashard Mendenhall returns.	vs
43			Toby Gerhart 23 rush yards, 1 rec, 11 rec yards Don't get caught entertaining the idea that if Peterson follows Forte, Gerhart will somehow follow in Michael Bush's footsteps (two touchdowns last week). The Vikings are a one-horse team now that Peterson is back to full go.	at
44			Jonathan Stewart 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards An ankle injury kept Stewart out of Week 1, but he's hopeful of getting on the field in Week 2 against the Saints. He had nine carries for 79 yards and a TD the last time he played the Saints last New Year's Day.	vs
45			Knowshon Moreno 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards With Ronnie Hillman inactive, Moreno was McGahee's backup for Week 1. He had just five touches and Hillman is still expected to climb past him on the depth chart.	at
46			Tashard Choice 25 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Fred Jackson’s knee injury opens up some playing time for the former Cowboys running back. Despite the bigger role, he’s not expected to contribute much.	vs
47			Daniel Thomas 25 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Daniel Thomas had three carries and three targets in Week 1 before suffering a concussion against the Texans. He's barely worth owning in most standard leagues.	vs
48			Kendall Hunter 23 rush yards, 1 rec, 6 rec yards Hunter probably won't match his touch total (nine) from last week in a game that will be decided by quarterbacks, not ball carriers. He possesses no fantasy value unless Frank Gore goes in the tank.	vs
49			LeGarrette Blount 20 rush yards Blount had a quiet 2012 season opener against the Panthers, but it's unclear if his body was injured or just his pride, as he watched rookie Doug Martin literally take the ball and run with it. Blount is a safe cut for now in 12-team leagues.	at
50			Taiwan Jones 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards There’s no way the Raiders will allow Darren McFadden to take all of the touches in their backfield again. If Run DMC keeps being used that much, Jones will replace the oft-injured back soon.	at
51			Shane Vereen 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards A foot injury kept Vereen sidelined for Week 1, and Stevan Ridley's big game will keep Vereen on the bench even when he is healthy.	vs
52			Daryl Richardson 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards The rookie got two carries for 20 yards in Week 1, but it's clear that Steven Jackson is the horse the Rams plan to ride throughout this season. Richardson has eclipsed fellow rookie Isaiah Pead, however, on the depth chart.	vs
53			Javon Ringer 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Ringer will serve as Chris Johnson's caddy once again, and his fantasy value is only as a handcuff in larger leagues.	at
54			Rashad Jennings 14 rush yards Jennings' injury last week opened the door for Maurice Jones-Drew to take back the full-time rushing duties. Now the door is closed, leaving Jennings outside looking in. Unless he's a handcuff to MJD, fantasy owners might as well purge Jennings from their rosters now.	vs
55			Felix Jones 11 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards The Cowboys are committed to getting DeMarco Murray off to a fast start. Jones didn't get a carry last week, and he was thrown to just twice (no catches). There's no reason to think Dallas will change up the formula this week.	at
56			Fred Jackson 0 rush yards Fred Jackson is out for at least three weeks with a knee injury, which makes C.J. Spiller the main running back in Buffalo. Tashard Choice will see more carries in Jackson's absence.	vs

More Fantasy