FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Running Backs

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			C.J. Spiller 125 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 25 rec yards With Fred Jackson sidelined, Spiller scored twice and rushed for 123 yards against the Chiefs in Week 2. With two 100-yard games already, Spiller looks like he'll cost Jackson more touches even when Jackson in healthy. Spiller is a must-start running back until Jackson returns.	at
2			Trent Richardson 90 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 35 rec yards "Whew!" said every Richardson owner in fantasy football. After looking tentative and overwhelmed in Week 1, Richardson came back with 109 rushing yards last Sunday. He also became the first Browns rookie to rush for 100 yards and score on the ground and in the air in the same game.	vs
3			Reggie Bush 80 rush yards, rush TD, 5 rec, 40 rec yards Bush had a career-high 26 carries against the Raiders in Week 2, for 172 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins are built around making room for Bush to run, and he remains a solid RB2 in fantasy against the Jets. He rushed for 71 yards against the Jets in his only game against them in 2011.	vs
4			LeSean McCoy 90 rush yards, rush TD, 5 rec, 30 rec yards McCoy continues to produce like a first-round fantasy pick, with 191 total rushing yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals haven't allowed a rushing touchdown yet, but don't let that discourage you from starting McCoy, who can score on passing plays, too.	at
5			BenJarvus Green-Ellis 86 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 28 rec yards The Redskins have allowed the 10th-fewest rushing yards this season; they've also allowed opposing rushers to gain 4.9 yards per carry. The second number is the more telling stat.	at
6			Maurice Jones-Drew 111 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 9 rec yards How good is MJD? Consider this: Last week, Jacksonville gained only 117 yards of total offense, and yet Jones-Drew still averaged 5.0 yards per carry. He has gained 100 or more yards in four of his last five games against the Colts.	at
7			Doug Martin 85 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 22 rec yards Martin hopes to exploit a Cowboys defense that had trouble corralling Marshawn Lynch in Week 2. The Seahawks were able to run the ball 41 times to beat Dallas; Martin would do well with half that total.	at
8			Marshawn Lynch 78 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 27 rec yards The Packers' run defense is probably not as good as the unit Lynch tore up last week, but it's doubtful the Seahawks will rack up 41 rushing attempts this week like they did against Dallas. The Packers will push the tempo; Lynch will do well with what he's given to work with.	vs
9			Michael Bush 80 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Bush should see a much bigger role while Matt Forte is out with injured ankle. Even with Forte healthy, Bush has played well. The St. Louis defense should cure the Bears' offensive woes.	vs
10			Darren McFadden 75 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 30 rec yards Run-DMC was expected to run roughshod over Miami's defense, especially after Houston ran well in Week 1. But McFadden was held to just 22 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards in Week 2. Even so, he's a must-start player each week when he's healthy.	vs
11			Arian Foster 79 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 24 rec yards This game pits the league's best back against one of its top run defenses. The Broncos allow just 2.6 yards per carry and have permitted just one rushing score. Yards will be harder to find this week.	at
12			Alfred Morris 101 rush yards, rush TD The Redskins aren't rotating backs, much to the delight of those who plucked Morris off the waiver wire last week. In Week 3 Morris will face a Bengals defense that allows 5.5 yards per carry (31st in the league).	vs
13			DeMarco Murray 79 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 21 rec yards Murray was shut down in the loss to the Seahawks, in part because Dallas dug an early hole and had no choice but to abandon the running game. Don't worry, Murray fantasy owners. Things will get better this week.	vs
14			Frank Gore 75 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Gore is playing like a fantasy first-rounder, which a few actual fantasy first-rounders can't say. He's averaging 105 rushing yards and a touchdown per game, and the Vikings are a middle-of-the-road defense against the run so far, averaging 98 rushing yards allowed.	at
15			Adrian Peterson 70 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 30 rec yards Sure, Peterson didn't have a huge game in Week 2, but he still got more touches than in Week 1, as he battles back from a knee injury. The Niners defense is formidable, but fantasy owners should keep Peterson active in all formats, as the Vikings will rely on him.	vs
16			Andre Brown 78 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 16 rec yards Ahmad Bradshaw did not practice Tuesday, suggesting it's likely Brown will get another crack at the starting job. He held up well last week, and should enjoy facing a Carolina defense that ranks 28th against the run (146.5 yards allowed a game).	at
17			Peyton Hillis 65 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards With Jamaal Charles' knee sore, Hillis could see even more action in Week 3. The Saints are tied for allowing the most rushing touchdowns (five) in the league, making Hillis an intriguing fantasy starter.	at
18			Ryan Mathews 65 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards The Chargers expect Mathews to return from a broken collarbone this week. Some owners may give him a week to prove he's healthy and in shape, but if you gamble by starting Mathews you could be rewarded.	vs
19			Mark Ingram 70 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 15 rec yards The former Heisman winner rushed the ball 16 times in Week 2, which is only the third time in his career he has reached that mark. He scored at Carolina, but he still has to share the backfield with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. The Saints should play well offensively against the Chiefs in Week 3, but can all three backs contribute like they did in Week 2?	vs
20			Kevin Smith 78 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 9 rec yards The Lions have not hidden the fact that they are ready to replace Smith at any time, even though he has done well in the first two games. But Mikel Leshoure is not ready to carry the load, so Smith will see the bulk of the carries again this week against the Titans' 30th-ranked run defense.	at
21			Jonathan Dwyer 55 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Dwyer looks like the best option for the Steelers at running back, but Isaac Redman continues to see carries at the goal line. Consider him an RB3 or flex option going up against the Raiders' subpar rushing defense.	at
22			Cedric Benson 45 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 22 rec yards Last week's encouraging performance (116 yards from scrimmage) will quickly be forgotten this week against a Seahawks defense that kept Dallas' DeMarco Murray in check.	at
23			Willis McGahee 64 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 9 rec yards McGahee is fresh off a 113-yard effort. The Texans haven't allowed a rushing score to date, but they have given up 4.4 yards per carry. McGahee's fantasy owners can expect 15 or more carries.	vs
24			Darren Sproles 0 rush yards, 6 rec, 60 rec yards, rec TD The "running back" still doesn’t have a carry in the 2012 season. He does, however, have 18 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown. He should perform well in Week 3 against Kansas City, especially in PPR leagues.	vs
25			Ray Rice 62 rush yards, 3 rec, 27 rec yards The Patriots have allowed 2.6 yards per carry in two games, second best in the league. And while the Patriots have yet to face a back as good as Rice, he didn't exactly produce when the teams met in January, managing 3.2 yards per carry.	vs
26			Chris Johnson 63 rush yards, 2 rec, 21 rec yards The Lions have given up 112.5 rushing yards per game so far, and last week allowed Frank Gore to average 5.2 yards per carry. Time for CJ to break free? Nah, keep away. Tennessee’s running game is a mess right now.	vs
27			Donald Brown 63 rush yards, 3 rec, 18 rec yards The Jaguars were run over by Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster, but those backs are in a class above Brown, who gained just 104 yards from scrimmage in two games against the Jaguars last season.	vs
28			Pierre Thomas 65 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards The Saints' three-headed running back machine had a big day against Carolina, with Thomas putting up the most yardage (110 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards). The Saints are opening up big holes for Thomas, who gets yardage after first contact. The Saints should perform well against the Chiefs in Week 3, but starting Thomas is a gamble outside of larger leagues.	vs
29			Beanie Wells 45 rush yards, 3 rec, 30 rec yards The Cardinals split their running back duties between Wells and Ryan Williams again in Week 2, and both were equally ineffective. Expect more of the same in Week 3. Wells, at least, showed some promise, but he’s not a good fantasy starter against the Eagles.	vs
30			Stevan Ridley 46 rush yards, 2 rec, 24 rec yards Ridley is making a case to become Bill Belichick's full-time back -- no small task. He could regress this week, however, against an unforgiving Baltimore defense that held New England to 3.1 yards per carry when the teams met in January.	at
31			Steven Jackson 45 rush yards, 3 rec, 20 rec yards A groin injury cut Jackson's Week 2 effort short, and now he has just 111 rushing yards after two games. This groin injury could open the door further for impressive rookie Daryl Richardson to get more touches. The Bears have allowed an average of 85 rushing yards in two games.	at
32			Jacquizz Rodgers 25 rush yards, 3 rec, 40 rec yards The Chargers are allowing less than 50 rushing yards per game, which leads the NFL after two weeks. Rodgers has worked as a change-of-pace back so far, but the going will be tough in San Diego.	at
33			David Wilson 45 rush yards, 2 rec, 18 rec yards Wilson remains in Tom Coughlin's doghouse -- we suspect -- but should Coughlin let him loose this week Wilson may be able to regain a little of the confidence he lost in Week 1. The Panthers allowed New Orleans' shifty backup rusher, Pierre Thomas, to gain 110 yards on just nine carries last week.	at
34			Shonn Greene 60 rush yards, 2 rec, 10 rec yards While Greene's stat line in Week 2 (11 carries, 23 yards) has owners feeling their 2011 frustrations again, keep in mind he suffered a head injury that cost him some minutes. Sophomore Bilal Powell could start cutting into Greene's touches moving forward.	at
35			Isaac Redman 40 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Any lead that Redman had on Jonathan Dwyer in the running back race in Pittsburgh appears to have faded away. But the Steelers continue to use Redman near the goal line, which makes him a decent flex player against the Raiders, who rank 29th against the run.	at
36			Jonathan Stewart 38 rush yards, 2 rec, 21 rec yards Stewart had a nice day last week but will find yards harder to come by against New York. The Giants kept Doug Martin in check for much of their Week 2 matchup; Stewart will seem like a snack.	vs
37			DeAngelo Williams 41 rush yards, 1 rec, 14 rec yards This game isn't made for running the ball. Unless the Panthers have a commanding lead (not likely), they will keep the ball in the air, where it's safer than in Williams' hands.	vs
38			Jamaal Charles 40 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Charles has to be happy that CJ2K is playing so bad, or he might be the biggest early-round disappointment. Charles' knee has some soreness, but he's expected to play at New Orleans, and the Saints have the worst rushing defense in the NFL right now.	at
39			Daryl Richardson 35 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards The rookie out of Abilene Christian did a fine job against the Redskins in place of Steven Jackson injured. He had 15 carries for 85 yards, which should earn him more playing time. He's a solid waiver wire pickup for Week 3.	at
40			Curtis Brinkley 30 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards With Ryan Mathews expected to return to action in Week 3, the rest of the Chargers' running backs have lost what little fantasy value they had gained.	vs
41			Ben Tate 38 rush yards, 1 rec, 11 rec yards Admit it: You picked Tate just to mess with the guy in your league who drafted Arian Foster, and now you're convinced Tate can be an every-week starter. Give up on that dream. Tate is a fill in who most weeks won't see as many touches as he did against the Jaguars -- certainly not against the Broncos.	at
42			Tashard Choice 25 rush yards, 1 rec, 15 rec yards With eight carries, Choice rushed for 37 yards against the Chiefs in Week 2. He'll continue to be the backup tailback for the Bills while Fred Jackson's knee heals.	at
43			Michael Turner 40 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards The Falcons are enjoying a ton of offensive success, and Turner got in on the action with a short touchdown run Monday night. He's averaging just under three yards per carry, but he got arrested for a DUI early in the week. Things won't improve against the Chargers, who have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL.	at
44			Mikel LeShoure 38 rush yards Fresh off suspension, Leshoure is expected to take over as the team's starting running back -- but that will take time. This week fantasy owners can expect a dozen touches and modest results.	at
45			Kendall Hunter 20 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Hunter fumbled for the first time in his short career in Week 2, but he continues to run well when he holds onto the ball. He's a nice handcuff for Frank Gore owners.	at
46			Mike Goodson 20 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Serving as the backup running back to Darren McFadden last Sunday, Goodson rushed just once -- for minus-six yards. But he did grab a pass in the flat that he took for a 64-yard touchdown. Even so, until McFadden gets injured, Goodson shouldn't be used in fantasy leagues.	vs
47			Danny Woodhead 21 rush yards, 2 rec, 13 rec yards With Shane Vereen still hobbled by a foot injury, the Patriots will likely continue to use Woodhead to spell Stevan Ridley. Last week that didn't amount to much (2.3 yards per carry). We can't imagine Woodhead will have better success against Baltimore.	at
48			Lamar Miller 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards Rookie Miller has replaced the injured Daniel Thomas as the second tailback on Miami's depth chart. Miller rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Raiders. If Bush gets hurt -- not unheard of -- Miller would be a decent pickup.	vs
49			Toby Gerhart 15 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Another sub-20-yard week for Gerhart, as Adrian Peterson continues to prove he's healthy. If you don't already own Peterson, Gerhart is worth cutting to pick up someone like Rams running back Daryl Richardson.	vs
50			Ryan Williams 30 rush yards, 2 rec, 10 rec yards Williams had just 13 yards on 10 carries against the Patriots. One of those carries was a late-game fumble, allowing New England a shot at the win, which will likely cost Williams more playing time. Cutting him in fantasy isn’t a horrible idea.	vs
51			Bilal Powell 25 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Shonn Greene's concussion allowed the sophomore running back to see extended playing time in Week 2 and he registered nine carries for 33 yards. Greene should be fine for Week 3, but Powell could see more touches as the season wears on.	at
52			Felix Jones 5 rush yards, 3 rec, 23 rec yards Jones was effective as a receiver in Week 2 but those efforts will be few and far between this time. In close games, like this one should be, Jones won’t see much action.	vs
53			LeGarrette Blount 16 rush yards Blount's neck kept him off the field last week. He's been cleared to play, but won't see much action in this game, either.	at
54			Armando Allen 15 rush yards With Matt Forte sidelined, the Bears might give Allen a few more touches, but from a fantasy perspective he won't be worth owning.	vs
55			Brandon Jackson 15 rush yards Expected to work as the third-down back for the Browns, Jackson was inactive for Week 2. Whether it's him or Montario Hardesty working as Trent Richardson's backup, neither should do much against the Bills.	vs
56			Bryce Brown 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards With three carries in Week 2, Brown carries the designation of Eagles backup running back. Still, he doesn't see enough action to warrant a look in fantasy play.	at

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