FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Running Backs

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			Darren McFadden 100 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 35 rec yards The Falcons are allowing more than 140 rushing yards per game after five weeks, which ranks them in the league's bottom echelon. McFadden should be in line for his second 100-yard rushing game of the season.	at
2			Ryan Mathews 85 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 45 rec yards Mathews tore up the Saints in Week 5 for his best outing of the season, with 80 rushing yards, 59 receiving yards and a touchdown. The Broncos are allowing an average of 120 rushing yards per game, so Mathews remains a solid fantasy starter in Week 6.	vs
3			Rashard Mendenhall 87 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 41 rec yards Mendenhall showed promise against Philadelphia; he should pay dividends against the Titans. Last week Tennessee allowed 5.6 yards per carry to Minnesota.	at
4			Arian Foster 110 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 17 rec yards Foster has scored at least one touchdown in each game this season, and he's gained more than 100 rushing yards in three of the last four. That's what you call a roll.	vs
5			Jamaal Charles 85 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 35 rec yards For the second time in three weeks, Charles rushed the ball 30 times in a game. His 140 rushing yards in Week 5 were among the league leaders, and despite the Buccaneers' top-five rushing defense, Charles remains a must-start in Week 6.	at
6			Marshawn Lynch 95 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 18 rec yards For the fifth straight game, Lynch reached the 20-carry mark, rushing for 80 yards on 21 attempts. He was unable to score his third touchdown of the season, but he remains a must-start running back in all formats. If your fantasy draft was held today, he'd be a first-round pick again.	vs
7			Trent Richardson 88 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 23 rec yards Richardson should do well this week against a Bengals defense that has allowed seven rushing scores and an average of 4.4 yards per carry. In fact, Richardson had 109 yards when these clubs met in Week 2.	vs
8			Ray Rice 79 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 31 rec yards Rice has averaged 22.7 touches over the past four weeks. Maybe it's more work than the Baltimore coaching staff would like to give the 5-foot-8 feature back; if so, the team may have reason to lessen the load this week. The Cowboys' front seven has kept most opposing rushers in check this year. Still, if Rice gets the ball, he'll produce.	vs
9			Reggie Bush 85 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Bush had a decent performance from a fantasy perspective in Week 6, with a touchdown run and 72 total yards, but he's now expected to produce more. The Rams have a middle-of-the-road rushing defense, which makes Bush a good option in Week 6.	vs
10			Mikel LeShoure 81 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 27 rec yards The week off should have given Leshoure more time to get acclimated to his new role as the Lions' feature back. He'll do well this week against an Eagles front seven that helped Rashard Mendenhall average 5.8 yards per carry in his first game back.	at
11			Michael Turner 85 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Turner got a season-high 18 carries at Washington in Week 5, along with 67 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Falcons continue to rely on their passing game, which opens up space for Turner to run when he does see the ball. He's a good start once again when the Raiders come to town in Week 6.	vs
12			Ahmad Bradshaw 75 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 30 rec yards Bradshaw came through with a career-high 200 rushing yards against the Browns in Week 5. With Andre Brown dinged up with a head injury and David Wilson still trying to earn some trust, the Giants rode Bradshaw for 30 carries. Keep him active against a strong 49ers defense in Week 6.	at
13			Doug Martin 55 rush yards, 5 rec, 45 rec yards, rec TD The Chiefs are allowing more than 120 rushing yards per game, and the Bucs have had two weeks to prepare for this contest. Martin looks like a good RB2 in most formats, despite his last outing and LeGarrette Blount creeping up into his touches.	vs
14			Frank Gore 75 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 20 rec yards Despite getting the second-fewest carries of the season (14), Gore rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown against Buffalo in Week 5. He now has four touchdowns and is worth starting in all fantasy leagues as a top-12 running back.	vs
15			Willis McGahee 60 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 35 rec yards It was a quiet week for McGahee, as he had just 28 yards on nine carries plus a fumble at New England in Week 5. McGahee owned the Chargers last season, though, averaging 121 rushing yards (no touchdowns) in two games.	at
16			Alfred Morris 73 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 13 rec yards All people can talk about is Robert Griffin III, and yet Morris could very well be the league's second-place finisher in Rookie of the Year balloting. We're already fans; if Morris busts up the Vikings' run defense, we'll be in love.	vs
17			Fred Jackson 55 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards For the second straight week, Jackson rushed for just 29 yards to go with one catch. Jackson is still trying to get back on track after his knee injury. Fantasy owners should give him one more chance in Week 6 at Arizona before benching him.	at
18			Stevan Ridley 65 rush yards, rush TD While Ridley finished Week 5 with his best rushing effort of the season (151 yards and a touchdown), he did fumble late in the game, which could cause head coach Bill Belichick to give other running backs more carries. For now, though, Ridley remains a good RB2 in Week 6 at Seattle.	at
19			LeSean McCoy 89 rush yards, 4 rec, 35 rec yards It's somewhat surprising, but with everything crumbling around him McCoy is still on pace for 1,400 rushing yards. His low touchdown count is disappointing, though, and could continue to be so against a Detroit front seven that has allowed just one rushing score in four games.	vs
20			Adrian Peterson 77 rush yards, 3 rec, 38 rec yards Peterson sprained his ankle, but no one in Minnesota seems concerned. After all, this is the back who was blowing by teammates in wind sprints this summer not long after undergoing surgery on the knee he injured when Minnesota last met Washington.	at
21			LeGarrette Blount 35 rush yards, rush TD The third-year back had six carries for 17 yards and a touchdown in his last outing, but despite the goal-line carries, he doesn't do enough to warrant starting against the Chiefs.	vs
22			LaRod Stephens-Howling 55 rush yards, 4 rec, 40 rec yards Stephens-Howling (hip) missed the past two games, but with Beanie Wells (toe) and Ryan Williams (shoulder) also injured and out, the team needs Stephens-Howling to come back and assume his third-down back role. Consider other options for Week 6 against Buffalo, though.	vs
23			Alex Green 51 rush yards, 2 rec, 24 rec yards Cedric Benson's foot injury will keep him out for several weeks (possibly the season), opening the door for Green to handle the workload for Green Bay. There is speculation James Starks will also see carries, but Green will be given the first crack at winning the job. Keep your expectations low this week, however -- he's facing a Houston defense that has yet to allow a rushing score.	at
24			DeMarco Murray 59 rush yards, 2 rec, 11 rec yards We can't exactly blame Murray for his lackluster performances the past few weeks -- it's difficult to gain ground when there are no holes to run through. That said, we can't suggest starting him, either. The Ravens rank seventh in yards allowed per carry (3.5) and will make Murray pay each time he touches the ball.	at
25			Steven Jackson 55 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards While Jackson still hasn't scored this season, he at least had his best rushing day in Week 5 against the Cardinals. With 76 rushing yards, he showed once again that he is the Rams' main weapon on offense. The Dolphins are tough against the run, however, so look for alternatives this week.	at
26			C.J. Spiller 40 rush yards, 3 rec, 30 rec yards Spiller carried the ball seven times for 24 yards in the Bills' Week 5 loss at San Francisco. Spiller (shoulder) and Fred Jackson (knee) are both coming back from injuries. Arizona isn't as tough of a foe, but Spiller is better as a flex than an RB2 this week.	at
27			Chris Johnson 46 rush yards, 3 rec, 23 rec yards Johnson is like a father who promises Disneyland and instead delivers Chuck E. Cheese. Fantasy owners thought Johnson's 2011 season was a nightmare; this year has been far worse.	vs
28			Vick Ballard 46 rush yards, 2 rec, 18 rec yards Ballard replaces the injured Donald Brown, who is expected to miss at least a few weeks. Fantasy owners won't notice much of a different on the field, however -- minimal yardage and minimal fantasy value.	at
29			Shaun Draughn 35 rush yards, 2 rec, 25 rec yards Draughn got 12 carries for 40 yards against Baltimore in Week 5, as he continues to serve as Jamaal Charles' primary backup, with Peyton Hillis (ankle) still sidelined. Draughn could be interesting in fantasy play if injury befalls Charles.	at
30			Kendall Hunter 35 rush yards, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Hunter had a season-high 11 carries for 81 yards against Buffalo in Week 5. He's doing enough now to make people start thinking about using him as a flex option during bye weeks.	vs
31			BenJarvus Green-Ellis 53 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards The Bengals placed Bernard Scott on injured reserve following an ACL tear. Good news for Green-Ellis, right? Well, maybe. The Bengals are not exactly pleased with the production of their offseason acquisition and are expected to complement him with other backs in the coming weeks.	at
32			Bilal Powell 27 rush yards, 2 rec, 18 rec yards Powell is seeing more work in the Jets offense, but it has yet to translate to fantasy production. On Monday night he gained 4.5 yards per carry compared to Shonn Greene's 3.2, but Powell got the ball just four times. He was targeted four times in the passing game, but didn't record a single reception. He's not a factor yet for fantasy owners, but he's still a better longterm play than Greene.	vs
33			Toby Gerhart 27 rush yards, 3 rec, 18 rec yards Gerhart has not touched the ball more than 10 times in anygame this season, and fantasy owners should't expect him to buck that trend this week against a Redskins defense that is begging for a heavy dose of Christian Ponder and the passing game.	at
34			Daryl Richardson 25 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Richardson served as Steven Jackson's backup once again, rushing for 35 yards in Week 5. He's better used in keeper leagues than yearly formats for now.	at
35			Daniel Thomas 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 15 rec yards While Thomas got just four touches against the Bengals in Week 5, he was able to score on a short touchdown run. More telling, he received two straight rushes inside the five-yard line. He's a bigger back than Reggie Bush, but his scoring chances are not regular.	vs
36			William Powell 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 15 rec yards The Cardinals' running backs are really beat up, with Beanie Wells, Ryan Williams and LaRod Stephens-Howling each nursing injuries. Powell could see more action in Week 6 against Buffalo, but that doesn't make him a suggested fantasy player.	vs
37			Brandon Bolden 40 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards Bolden followed up his breakout Week 4 outing with 14 carries for 54 yards in Week 5 against Denver. Bolden could prove to be a useful fantasy player later in the season, but for now, he's a better reserve.	at
38			David Wilson 15 rush yards, 2 rec, 25 rec yards Wilson had two carries for 44 yards in Week 5, although one of those carries was for a 40-yard touchdown. Wilson saw more carries because Andre Brown was sidelined with a head injury. He's still a better keeper option than an every-week option, as the Giants spoon-feed him touches.	at
39			Ben Tate 23 rush yards, 2 rec, 11 rec yards In games in which he has touched the ball 10 or more times, Tate has averaged 6.0 yards per touch. In games in which he has touched the ball fewer than 10 times, he's averaged 2.9 yards per touch. After being inactive in Week 5, expect fewer than 10 touches in Week 6.	vs
40			Shonn Greene 31 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards The Jets are slowly (and quietly) shifting from Greene to Bilal Powell, as evidenced by the number of plays each back has been given in recent weeks. Greene has gotten fewer than a dozen touches in three of the past four weeks. He's done.	vs
41			Jackie Battle 15 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards From 15 carries in Week 4 to four carries in Week 5, Battle's role continues to change. He's not worth starting against the Broncos in Week 6.	vs
42			Ronnie Brown 10 rush yards, 3 rec, 30 rec yards Brown returned to his role as Ryan Mathews' primary backup in Week 5 at New Orleans. He ended up with 70 total yards, and he's someone to consider in larger leagues for Week 6 against the Broncos.	vs
43			Jacquizz Rodgers 10 rush yards, 2 rec, 25 rec yards The Michael Turner Takeover Project still hasn't quite happened. Rodgers had just three carries for four yards at Washington in Week 5. He also had just one catch, and it’s apparent fantasy owners should look elsewhere for now.	vs
44			Robert Turbin 25 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards After a promising Week 4 outing in which the rookie rushed six times for 45 yards, Turbin had just four carries for six yards in Week 5 at Carolina. He's still best used in fantasy as Marshawn Lynch's handcuff.	vs
45			Ronnie Hillman 25 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Hillman had three rushes for nine yards in Week 5 at New England, as he continues to work as a backup in Denver's offense.	at
46			Bernard Pierce 16 rush yards, 1 rec, 6 rec yards Fantasy owners can expect Pierce to carry three to five times per game, depending on how the game unfolds. His production (5.3 yards per carry) matches what Ray Rice has done, only on a much smaller scale.	vs
47			Mike Goodson 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards The Raiders' backup running back should see some success against a below-average Falcons rushing defense, but he's still not going to be worth starting in most fantasy formats.	at
48			Lance Ball 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards Ball tallied one yard on one carry in Week 5 at New England. He wasn't thrown to at all, and it appears rookie Ronnie Hillman has become Willis McGahee's main backup now.	at
49			Isaac Redman 13 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Redman is no longer of use to fantasy owners (not that he really ever was this season). Rashard Mendenhall showed last week that he can handle the Steelers' rushing duties just fine.	at
50			Donald Brown 0 rush yards Brown will reportedly miss 2-3 weeks after minor knee surgery, so get him out of your lineup.	at
51			Felix Jones 7 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Jones has just three carries this season, even with DeMarco Murray struggling to move the ball. If Jones had more to offer, Dallas would give him the rock.	at
52			Andre Brown 10 rush yards Brown suffered a head injury early in Week 5 against the Browns, and he couldn't return. Even if he's healthy, Ahmad Bradshaw's presence means limited carries for Brown.	at

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