FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Running Backs

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			Darren McFadden 110 rush yards, 2 rush TDs, 4 rec, 35 rec yards McFadden totaled 98 yards against the Falcons, with 70 of those yards coming on the ground. He should have one of his best games of the season against the Jags' 30th-ranked rushing defense.	vs
2			Arian Foster 113 rush yards, 2 rush TDs, 3 rec, 24 rec yards Don't expect two bad weeks in a row from Foster. The Ravens' run defense has struggled all season and is dealing with a number of injuries to key players that will only make matters worse for Baltimore. Foster had 154 yards of offense when the Texans faced Baltimore in last year's playoffs.	vs
3			Matt Forte 80 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 27 rec yards, rec TD Forte is the great Lion killer. He has gained 100 or more yards from scrimmage in six of eight career meetings with Detroit and scored touchdowns in each of the other two contests. In those eight games he's found the end zone seven times.	vs
4			Adrian Peterson 90 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 45 rec yards While Peterson didn't score a touchdown in Week 6 against the Redskins, he did rush for 79 yards and caught a season-high seven passes for 50 yards. He remains a must-start player when healthy, which he certainly is now.	vs
5			Chris Johnson 105 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 24 rec yards On a night when most thought Johnson would be bottled up against the Steelers, he finished with 91 rushing yards and 43 receiving yards in Week 6. The Bills are last in the league in rushing defense, so give Johnson another shot in Week 7.	at
6			Trent Richardson 97 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 21 rec yards Richardson's rib injury will force him to play with pain, but reports indicate he will likely suit up. Considering Shonn Greene pounded Indianapolis a week ago, Richardson will probably be glad he plays.	at
7			Stevan Ridley 95 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 22 rec yards The going was expected to be tough for Ridley in Week 6 against Seattle -- and that's exactly what happened, as he rushed for 34 yards on 16 carries. The Jets are up next, though, and they are allowing more than 150 rushing yards per game. Expect Ridley to bounce back.	vs
8			Marshawn Lynch 90 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 25 rec yards The Patriots are strong against the run, but no one expected them to hold Lynch to just 41 yards on 15 carries in Week 6. Despite a tough Niners defense hosting the Seahawks in Week 7, the former Cal back should do well, having averaged 70 rushing yards against them last season.	at
9			Felix Jones 73 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 41 rec yards Welcome back, Felix. The Cowboys' once-promising rusher had fallen from favor among fantasy owners but is now the darling of the waiver wire following DeMarco Murray's foot injury. This week he faces a Panthers defense giving up 127.4 rushing yards per game. It won't lead to superstardom, but it should mean fantasy relevance.	at
10			C.J. Spiller 75 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 35 rec yards Spiller returned to his elusive self in Week 6, as he rushed 12 times for 88 yards and a touchdown against Arizona. He also caught four balls for 22 yards. The Titans are vulnerable to the rushing game, so Spiller remains a solid start.	vs
11			Maurice Jones-Drew 80 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 25 rec yards Outside of MJD's big Week 3 at Indianapolis (177 yards, three touchdowns), he really hasn't done much. He has one receiving touchdown, but he has rushed for more than 80 yards just that once. Even so, he's healthy and remains a must-start for now.	at
12			Ray Rice 79 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 24 rec yards Rice ran all over Houston in the teams' regular season meeting last year (161 yards from scrimmage on 28 touches), but was held in check in the playoffs (80 yards on 25 touches). The takeaway message, though, is that Baltimore fed him the ball a ton in both contests and will likely do so again.	at
13			Mikel LeShoure 89 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 11 rec yards Chicago's outstanding pass defense should encourage more running plays from Detroit. Leshoure is the type of back who performs better the more he touches the ball, as evidenced by his three outings so far. This could be a breakout game for the second-year back.	at
14			Frank Gore 70 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 30 rec yards Gore rushed for a season-low 36 yards on eight carries in Week 6 against the Giants, and things won't get any easier in Week 7 when the Seahawks come to town. In two games against Seattle last season, Gore rushed for a total of 142 yards and one touchdown.	vs
15			Doug Martin 60 rush yards, 5 rec, 40 rec yards, rec TD A lot was expected from the rookie against the Chiefs, and he had a decent performance, carrying 13 times for 76 yards to go with two catches for 55 yards. He should have a similar day against a poor Saints defense in Week 7.	vs
16			Alex Green 72 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 23 rec yards Green will continue to see the bulk of the carries, as James Starks is still recovering from turf toe. Green averaged just less than 3.0 yards per carry last week, but that was against a tough Texans defense. His stock is on the rise.	at
17			Darren Sproles 15 rush yards, 5 rec, 65 rec yards, rec TD While most running backs are having a tough time against the Buccaneers in 2012, Sproles might be an exception given his ability as a receiver. In two games against Tampa Bay last season, Sproles caught 13 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.	at
18			Ahmad Bradshaw 78 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 9 rec yards Bradshaw has been a workhorse the past two weeks, totaling 57 carries combined. The extra work has helped make him a top-10 back again. If Eli Manning and the passing game have their way early, it should clear out plenty of space for Bradshaw to finish.	vs
19			Steven Jackson 55 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 16 rec yards Jackson gained 125 yards from scrimmage in the Rams' visit to Green Bay last year, but in some respects that is ancient history. As seen last week, St. Louis is sharing the workload between Jackson and Daryl Richardson, and that will trim into each player's fantasy value.	vs
20			LeGarrette Blount 32 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Blount scored for the second game in a row Sunday, and he finished with seven carries on 58 yards against the Chiefs. Don't be misled, though: This is still Doug Martin's offense, as Blount's numbers came mostly when the game was decided.	vs
21			Alfred Morris 83 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards The Vikings were the first defense to hold Morris in check. This week he faces a Giants unit allowing 4.6 yards per carry. When Robert Griffin III isn't driving New York mad, Morris will be pounding the ball up the gut, though he may not score.	at
22			Shonn Greene 65 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Greene rushed for a career-high 161 yards and three touchdowns in Week 6 against the Colts, but fantasy owners most likely had him on the bench after his slow start to the season. The Jets' Week 7 opponent, New England, allows fewer than 85 rushing yards per game, so don't expect Greene to replicate his Week 6 breakout.	at
23			William Powell 55 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Despite not scoring a touchdown, Powell rushed 13 times for 70 yards against Buffalo in Week 6, making his fantasy owners happy they missed out on LaRod Stephens-Howling. The Vikings have a tough defense, however, which means Powell is better as a reserve in Week 7.	at
24			Vick Ballard 58 rush yards, 2 rec, 16 rec yards Donald Brown's fill-in didn't make much of an impact last week. How could he with New York up by 15 at halftime? This game will be much closer, offering Ballard more touches. Don't mistake that for an endorsement: He's still a risky start for fantasy owners.	vs
25			Danny Woodhead 25 rush yards, 5 rec, 40 rec yards The diminutive running back rushed four times for 25 yards against Seattle in Week 6 and caught five passes for 46 yards. With Brandon Bolden nursing a knee injury, Woodhead might get more touches against his former team.	vs
26			Daryl Richardson 43 rush yards, 2 rec, 19 rec yards For now, Richardson is still the Rams' No. 2 back, and in games in which Steven Jackson gets hot Richardson's touches will be limited. This week fantasy owners should not expect much from either back -- not if Green Bay defends the run as well as it did against Houston.	vs
27			Fred Jackson 40 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Jackson finally scored for fantasy owners in Week 6, with 53 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and a touchdown run against the Cardinals. The Titans are allowing an average of one rushing touchdown per game, but that score may go to Jackson's teammate C.J. Spiller.	vs
28			BenJarvus Green-Ellis 55 rush yards, 1 rec, 9 rec yards Green-Ellis was given 80 percent of the Bengals' carries in Week 6 and produced his best yards-per-carry total of the season. However, he still has yet to average 4.0 yards in a game. Don't expect him to get there against Pittsburgh.	vs
29			LaRod Stephens-Howlin 20 rush yards, 4 rec, 35 rec yards Stephens-Howling rushed 11 times for 22 yards with no receptions against Buffalo in Week 6. William Powell, meanwhile, had a much more productive day, which could mean LSH remains a third-down option for the Cardinals in Week 7 against Minnesota.	at
30			DeAngelo Williams 41 rush yards, 1 rec, 11 rec yards Williams hasn't reached 16 or more touches in a game since his injury-shortened 2010 season. Limited work has brought fantasy owners limited results.	vs
31			Robert Turbin 35 rush yards, 1 rec, 15 rec yards Turbin continues to get spoonfed into the Seahawks' offense, as he rushed five times for an impressive 27 yards against the Patriots in Week 6. He's not a fantasy-worthy player yet, outside of being Marshawn Lynch's handcuff, but he's a player to watch.	at
32			Mike Goodson 15 rush yards, 3 rec, 35 rec yards While Goodson had just five touches at Atlanta in Week 6, he did go for 96 total yards -- just two shy of starting running back Darren McFadden's total. Even so, Goodson's fantasy value is more as a backup in case McFadden gets injured.	vs
33			Jonathan Stewart 36 rush yards, 2 rec, 13 rec yards Stewart has done nothing with his time on the field and has found the end zone once on 29 offensive touches. If the Cowboys were awful against the run, we might suggest giving one of the Panthers' backs a chance, but that's not the case.	vs
34			David Wilson 32 rush yards, 2 rec, 11 rec yards Wilson finally came out of his shell (or doghouse) last week to gain 35 yards on seven carries. The coaching staff will not give up on this home-run hitter, but it also is not ready to let him be more than an occasional pinch hitter.	vs
35			Rashard Mendenhall 43 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Mendenhall suffered an Achilles injury last week that has fantasy owners concerned. The running back has downplayed the injury, perhaps because he is anxious to face a Bengals defense that gives up 116.8 rushing yards per game.	at
36			Isaac Redman 29 rush yards, 2 rec, 13 rec yards The star of the Steelers' passing game a week ago, Redman is coming off an ankle injury, much like teammate Rashard Mendenhall. If both play as expected, the Steelers will likely divide the touches evenly to lessen the load on both backs.	at
37			Kendall Hunter 35 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards Hunter tallied just four carries for 26 yards against the Giants in Week 6. The Seahawks and their highly-ranked defense come to town in Week 7, and the second-year back remains a better handcuff than anything else in fantasy play.	vs
38			Bernard Pierce 22 rush yards, 2 rec, 12 rec yards Pierce has the potential to be a breakout back (5.3 yards per carry); he just doesn't have the opportunity while playing behind one of the league's steadiest rushers. Ray Rice owners should grab Pierce just in case, assuming they have not already done so.	at
39			Brandon Bolden 15 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Bolden rushed six times for 28 yards against the Seahawks in Week 6, but he missed the second half with a knee injury. Even if the knee injury doesn't keep him out against the Jets in Week 7, it will likely slow him down.	vs
40			Montario Hardesty 28 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards Hardesty came to the rescue last week in relief of Trent Richardson, gaining 65 yards of offense. Hardesty won't see as much work in Week 7 (barring a Richardson setback), and should stay in the waiver wire bin.	at
41			Ben Tate 26 rush yards, 1 rec, 9 rec yards A toe injury has limited Tate on the field in recent weeks, but the results may not have been any different had he been healthy. Arian Foster gets almost five carries for every one carry Tate sees.	vs
42			Joique Bell 22 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards The Lions shut Jahvid Best down for the year this week, which is good news for Bell, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry Sunday (better than Mikel Leshoure's 4.6). Bell offers Detroit a good change of pace from Leshoure, and will continue to see a handful of reps each game as the Lions' primary backup.	at
43			Pierre Thomas 20 rush yards, 1 rec, 10 rec yards Thomas is averaging 10 touches per game for the Saints, but he's going up against a stout Buccaneers rushing defense in Week 7. Look elsewhere for running back help this week.	at
44			Mark Ingram 18 rush yards In four of five games this season, the former Heisman Trophy winner has scored just one fantasy point. The Bucs are a tough opponent for running backs, which makes starting Ingram an even riskier decision in Week 7.	at
45			Jamie Harper 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Harper got the call from one yard out after Chris Johnson got stopped just short against the Steelers in Week 6. Harper is not someone to look to yet, but he could begin to get regular carries with Javon Ringer (knee) sidelined.	at
46			Bilal Powell 15 rush yards, 2 rec, 10 rec yards Powell had just four carries for 14 yards against the Colts in Week 6. Shonn Greene turned in a career performance, which means it will take Powell a little longer to unseat him.	at
47			Michael Bush 13 rush yards, 2 rec, 9 rec yards Matt Forte touched the football four times as often as Bush in the Bears' last contest. That's a formula fantasy owners can expect most weeks, as Forte is the better all-around back of the two. Bush is good for cleanup and the occasional goal-line carry, but not consistent touches.	vs
48			Toby Gerhart 10 rush yards, 2 rec, 12 rec yards In his least productive fantasy game of the season, Gerhart had just one carry for one yard and two catches for 10 yards against the Redskins in Week 3. He's merely a fantasy handcuff for Adrian Peterson right now.	vs
49			Rashad Jennings 12 rush yards Jennings has just 13 carries this season and he's being used sparingly as Maurice Jones-Drew gets the full workload. Jennings has little fantasy value unless MJD gets injured.	at

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