2011-12 NFL Wild Card Round: Fantasy Football RB Rankings

Ryan Lester

Jan 3, 2012

Here is the Lester's Legends fantasy football running back rankings for the Wild Card Round.

1. Arian Foster vs. Cincinnati Bengals: With their third-string QB banged up, it’s going to be a run-heavy game plan for the Texans. Cincinnati finished 10th against the run (104.7 YPG allowed), but they struggled down the stretch. They also tied for 20th with 14 rushing TDs allowed.

2. Michael Turner at New York Giants: The Giants ranked 19th against the run (121.3 YPG) and tied for 23rd in rushing TDs allowed (15).

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3. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Atlanta Falcons: The Giants are a much better team when Bradshaw is heavily involved. He finished with five TDs in his last three games. The Giants have the weapons on the outside that will make it hard to key in on Bradshaw.

4. Darren Sproles vs. Detroit Lions: I’m expecting a shootout. I’m expecting Sproles to make his presence felt. It’s like Brees and Sproles have been together forever. He averaged 87.0 total yards and 0.8 TDs in his past five games, and 82.1 total yards and 0.56 TDs on the year.

5. Isaac Redman at Denver Broncos: Mendenhall’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Steelers, but it elevates Redman’s role. He delivered last week with 110 total yards and a score.

6. Chris Ivory vs. Detroit Lions: Sproles will do the damage in the backfield, but when they do run, it will be mostly with Ivory. Pierre Thomas will also work his way into the mix, but I like Ivory as the lead runner as he’s averaged 14.6 carries in the past five games compared to Thomas’ 6.0.

7. Kevin Smith at New Orleans Saints: Smith can do damage in the passing game, which is where I expect he gets a lot of his of the work in this shootout.

8. Cedric Benson at Houston Texans: He gets a bunch of carries, which helps despite his sub-4.0 YPC. Bernard Scott will get a good share of work, but the Bengals will likely try to keep it close early with their veteran.

9. Willis McGahee vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tough matchup for McGahee, especially considering Tebow’s effectiveness has taken a hit.

10. Brandon Jacobs vs. Atlanta Falcons: Jacobs is facing the Falcons’ sixth-ranked run defense (97.0 YPG) and is playing second-fiddle to Bradshaw in what should be a shootout. Not a good recipe.

11. Ben Tate vs. Cincinnati Bengals: The Texans will mix in Tate, who ran for 67 yards against Cincinnati in Week 14.

12. Bernard Scott at Houston Texans: Scott scored last week, but I’m not expecting much from him this week. Houston has the league’s fourth-ranked run defense (96.0 YPG) and Benson is the lead back.

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