FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Running Backs

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			Arian Foster 114 rush yards, 2 rush TDs, 3 rec, 30 rec yards While Foster has just three 100-yard rushing games, he does have nine rushing touchdowns in seven games. He's a must-start fantasy player against a Bills defense that is the worst in the NFL against the run.	vs
2			Ryan Mathews 110 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 23 rec yards Mathews hit high marks in both carries and rushing yards last week, but he also had his second fumble of the year. The Chiefs are allowing more than 125 rushing yards per game, which bodes well for Mathews' owners -- if he can protect the ball.	vs
3			Ray Rice 90 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 42 rec yards Don't worry about workload, the touches will be there. The Ravens' coaching staff has admitted it needs to feed Rice in order to be successful, and Rice owners know that when he gets the ball good things happen.	at
4			Darren McFadden 88 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 41 rec yards McFadden rushed for a season-high 114 yards against the Chiefs in Week 8, and he'll take on a Buccaneers team that's starting to crack against the run. McFadden remains a very good fantasy running back, despite having just two touchdowns thus far.	vs
5			Adrian Peterson 95 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 33 rec yards Peterson has 276 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his past two games. While he faces a Seahawks defense that is stingy against the run, he remains a must-start fantasy running back.	at
6			LeSean McCoy 89 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 38 rec yards McCoy hasn't been himself lately. True, he has scored four touchdowns in the last three games, but he has averaged just 2.6 yards per carry. Things should improve against a Saints defense giving up 5.0 yards per carry.	at
7			Reggie Bush 95 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Bush had a relatively disappointing game against the Jets in Week 8, rushing for 59 yards, but the Colts are giving up more than 135 rushing yards per game. So keep Bush in your fantasy lineup for Week 9.	at
8			Trent Richardson 98 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 13 rec yards So much for playing with pain. Richardson shredded the Chargers' defense last week, carrying 24 times without a hint of injury. The Ravens are without Ray Lewis and rank 30th against the run. Sounds like a recipe for more of the same.	vs
9			Matt Forte 85 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 23 rec yards Forte has touched the ball 20-plus times in each of the past three games, having gained 90 or more yards in all three. The Bears have once again made him the focal point of their attack, and Forte has a golden opportunity this week against Tennessee's 28th-ranked run defense.	at
10			Doug Martin 70 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 35 rec yards Martin is coming off the best game of his young career, in which he tallied 29 carries and three catches against the Vikings. The Bucs don't want to use him that much each week, but it's a good thing for fantasy owners when they do. He's a very good RB2 from here on out.	at
11			Willis McGahee 85 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 15 rec yards McGahee had a season-high 23 carries for 122 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Saints in Week 8. Only the Bills have allowed more rushing touchdowns than Cincinnati's nine, so McGahee's in line for a big week.	at
12			Jamaal Charles 75 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 20 rec yards Charles ran for just 10 total yards in Week 8, as the Chiefs chose to rotate several running backs into the huddle. There's no doubt Charles is the most talented Chiefs player, but peculiar coaching decisions make him a better RB2 than RB1 in fantasy play.	at
13			Mikel LeShoure 82 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 11 rec yards Leshoure has been a letdown since bumping Kevin Smith from the lineup a month ago, but this week things could pick up. The Jaguars' run defense allows 135.7 yards per game and has given up eight rushing scores.	at
14			Fred Jackson 65 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 26 rec yards Jackson has improved in fantasy play over each of his past three weeks. He's coming off a bye week, but he's going up against a Texans defense that is also coming off a bye week. Use him as an RB2 or flex in Week 9 even though the Texans haven't allowed a rushing touchdown so far.	at
15			Marshawn Lynch 90 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Despite getting a season-low 12 carries against the Lions, Lynch still recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing game and scored his third touchdown of the season. "Beast Mode" remains a must-start player in Week 9 against the Vikings. He's a top-five fantasy running back right now.	vs
16			Jonathan Dwyer 89 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 9 rec yards Fantasy owners who picked up Dwyer as a short-tem fill-in should hold on to the Steelers' back a wee bit longer. He has given the ground game the spark it's been lacking for much of the year, and will keep the starting role despite the expected returns of Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman.	at
17			Alfred Morris 85 rush yards, rush TD The rookie had his worst fantasy game of the season in Week 8, as he rushed for just 59 yards on 13 carries against the Steelers. Even so, he still ranks in the top five in rushing, and the Panthers' rushing defense is a below-average unit.	vs
18			Michael Turner 81 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 4 rec yards Last week was Turner's first 20-carry game of 2012. It won't be his last. The Falcons love to pound their veteran back at the end of close games to eat up clock and punish the defense, and it could be the formula they use for putting the final touches on a very hungry Cowboys team this weekend.	vs
19			Ahmad Bradshaw 74 rush yards, 2 rec, 11 rec yards Bradshaw's fantasy stock is starting to fall following his blow-up with Tom Coughlin in Week 7 and his fumble last Sunday. Bradshaw wasn't given goal-line duties against Dallas (Andre Brown was) and he didn't see a pass. These are not good times for New York's No. 1 back.	vs
20			Daniel Thomas 22 rush yards, rush TD Thomas rushed for his third touchdown of the season in Week 8, and the Dolphins continue to give him goal-line action. Consider him as a flex option in Week 9 against a porous Colts rush defense.	at
21			DeMarco Murray 66 rush yards, 2 rec, 14 rec yards There is a chance Murray will be ready to play in Week 9. Cowboys fans everywhere have their fingers crossed. Dallas' rushing attack has been awful without Murray in the lineup, and the Cowboys have little hope of having success against Atlanta's defense without some sort of balanced attack.	at
22			C.J. Spiller 55 rush yards, 2 rec, 25 rec yards Spiller has 158 rushing yards, 10 catches, 54 receiving yards and one touchdown in his past two games. The Texans are a tough defense, but Spiller is explosive he can score on any touch. Use him as a flex play this week.	at
23			Chris Johnson 67 rush yards, 2 rec, 11 rec yards The party may be over for Johnson, who has put up respectable totals in four of the Titans' last five games. The Bears allow just 77.9 rushing yards per game -- fewest in the league -- and have given up just one rushing score.	vs
24			Rashad Jennings 44 rush yards, 3 rec, 31 rec yards Jennings was more productive as a receiver than as a rusher in his first week of replacing Maurice Jones-Drew full time. Fantasy owners can expect the Lions to crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the run this week, forcing Blaine Gabbert to beat them through the air.	vs
25			LaRod Stephens-Howlin 70 rush yards Stephens-Howling should have much better luck this week than he did against San Francisco, when he had eight carries for six yards. The Packers give up 4.1 yards per carry, and the defense is missing several key starters from the line and linebacking corps.	at
26			Donald Brown 45 rush yards, 3 rec, 25 rec yards Brown rebounded from knee surgery to rush for 80 yards at Tennessee in Week 8. The Colts mostly split the touches between Brown and rookie Vick Ballard, which could be an indicator of what they'll do in coming weeks.	vs
27			Alex Green 56 rush yards, 2 rec, 13 rec yards If Green is a feature back, fans haven't seen it yet. He has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry this season and is more effective catching passes out of the backfield. Green is still the Packers' starter heading into this week, but James Starks could begin to push for reps.	vs
28			Darren Sproles 19 rush yards, 6 rec, 42 rec yards Fantasy owners have learned to love Sproles the receiver (three touchdowns in his last four games). As for Sproles the rusher … let's just say results have been mixed at best.	vs
29			Jonathan Stewart 47 rush yards, 2 rec, 12 rec yards Stewart rushed a season-high 17 times for 42 yards against the Bears. The Panthers appear to be sold on Stewart as their main back, but he's going to have a tough time against a Redskins rushing defense that ranks in the top 10.	at
30			Pierre Thomas 38 rush yards, 2 rec, 18 rec yards The Eagles give up 110.4 rushing yards a game, but we doubt Thomas will take advantage. He hasn't touched the ball more than 13 times in a game this season, and he has been held to less than 4.0 yards per carry in four of his last five outings.	vs
31			BenJarvus Green-Ellis 55 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards The Law Firm hasn't rushed for a touchdown in his past four games, and the Broncos have allowed just four rushing touchdowns all season. This isn't the week to return Green-Ellis to your lineup.	vs
32			Vick Ballard 40 rush yards, 1 rec, 11 rec yards The rookie running back rushed for 55 yards and caught the game-winning touchdown pass against the Titans in Week 8. With Donald Brown (knee) back in action, Ballard will be fighting for touches from here on out.	vs
33			Ronnie Brown 20 rush yards, 4 rec, 28 rec yards Brown had a big Week 8, with seven catches for 85 yards, and the Chargers could rely on him more in the passing game again, as some of their receivers (Robert Meachem and Antonio Gates) have disappointed.	vs
34			DeAngelo Williams 32 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Williams ran for just 33 yards on 11 carries against the Bears in Week 8. He was a rumored trade chip this past week, but it looks like the Panthers will continue to use him as Jonathan Stewart's backup.	at
35			Joique Bell 14 rush yards, 3 rec, 26 rec yards Bell is a situational back more than he is Mikel Leshoure's backup. The Lions use him on passing downs and in key situations, but nothing suggests he is a threat to cut into Leshoure's workload anymore than he already has.	at
36			Jacquizz Rodgers 13 rush yards, 2 rec, 24 rec yards A look at last week's box score might indicate the Falcons are shifting toward a heavier dose of Rodgers, but the team seems content feeding under-performing Michael Turner the bulk of the carries.	vs
37			Shaun Draughn 24 rush yards, 1 rec, 12 rec yards Even with Jamaal Charles' carries limited, Draughn couldn't capitalize, as he ran for just seven yards on two carries against the Raiders. Draughn will not be a fantasy starter until he becomes an NFL starter.	at
38			Isaac Redman 14 rush yards, 2 rec, 21 rec yards Redman was a game-time decision last week, so there is a good chance he'll see the field Sunday. The Steelers' muddied backfield makes him a risky fantasy play, however.	at
39			Ronnie Hillman 34 rush yards, 1 rec, 9 rec yards Hillman ran the ball a season-high 14 times for 86 yards against the Saints, and it's clear the Broncos want to lean on him more in order to rest Willis McGahee.	at
40			Robert Turbin 15 rush yards, 2 rec, 14 rec yards The rookie had 14 rushing yards and 28 receiving yards in Week 8 against the Lions. If Marshawn Lynch gets hurt, Turbin would likely be a top-20 fantasy running back in this offense.	vs
41			LeGarrette Blount 25 rush yards Blount had eight carries and 16 yardslast Thursday, as he continues to dance around behind the line before hitting the holes. He'll be used to spell Doug Martin, but fantasy owners should look elsewhere.	at
42			Ben Tate 24 rush yards Tate hasn't been as productive as in years past because he's dealing with a hamstring injury, but fantasy owners should still keep him on their rosters.	vs
43			Andre Brown 22 rush yards, 1 rec, 4 rec yards Brown scored on a short run that he bounced to the left side last week. He's been productive for New York, but on limited touches. Until the workload increases, keep him on the bench.	vs
44			Bernard Pierce 20 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards Pierce will see a series or two against Cleveland -- the usual deal -- but even if Baltimore jumps out to a big lead there won't be enough action for Pierce to justify starting him in this game.	at
45			Peyton Hillis 20 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Hillis finally saw more action in Week 8, as he ran four times for 23 yards while the Chiefs inexplicably rotated running backs, including star Jamaal Charles. Hillis is worth adding now that he's healthy again.	at
46			Felix Jones 18 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards Here are the numbers from last week: 19 yards, 1.5 yards per carry and a long run of five yards. Jones may be watching the game from the bench this week, whether DeMarco Murray returns to the lineup or not.	at
47			Mike Goodson 16 rush yards Goodson had just four carries for 22 yards against the Chiefs, and he continues to serve as the Raiders' backup running back. Until Darren McFadden gets hurt, Goodson has little worth in fantasy play.	vs
48			Montario Hardesty 14 rush yards Hardesty's carries have been cut in half in each of the past two weeks. The Browns have no use for Hardesty when Trent Richardson is operating on a full tank. Neither do fantasy owners.	vs
49			Cedric Peerman 10 rush yards, 2 rec, 14 rec yards Despite a score in Week 7, Peerman just doesn't see enough touches as BenJarvus Green-Ellis' backup. Plus, the Broncos have a pretty strong run defense.	vs
50			Mark Ingram 12 rush yards New Orleans has attempted fewer runs than any team in the league, and Ingram is pegged as the No. 3 back behind Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. Any questions?	vs
51			Rashard Mendenhall 11 rush yards Mendenhall was kept off the field last week to allow his Achilles injury extra time to heal. In the meantime, Jonathan Dwyer has gained 100-plus yards in consecutive starts. If Mendenhall does suit up this week, fantasy owners should expect him to play a supporting role.	at
52			Michael Bush 9 rush yards Nothing new to report here. Bush is of interest to Matt Forte owners only. He's not a situational player or a complement to Chicago's offense -- just an insurance card in case the unfortunate happens to the Bears' lead back.	at
53			David Wilson 6 rush yards Wilson carried just twice against Dallas and was ineffective as a kick returner. He won't see many touches unless Ahmad Bradshaw misses time with an injury, and even then Andre Brown will get the first call.	vs
54			Toby Gerhart 10 rush yards Over the past three games, Gerhart has a total of seven touches. Unless Peterson gets injured again, Gerhart has little fantasy value in Week 9 at Seattle.	at

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