NFL Playoffs Conference Championships: Fantasy Rankings, Analysis for Every RB

Figuring out who the best running backs are from week to week is a little easier than doing so for wide receivers, especially now, when you only have two games to look at.

However, by no means is it simple.

That's why those of us in the fantasy industry put together these lists—to give the reader a gauge of what to expect from their players during the NFL Playoff Championship weekend.

With that, here are the complete RB rankings for Round Three of the playoffs, along with some detailed analysis for those looking to learn just a little bit more:

11.      Anthony Dixon (vs. NYG – Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

The big fantasy question with Dixon is whether he’ll get two carries, one carry or none.

If you’re the type that likes to throw a few bucks on the long-shots at the track, Anthony Dixon is without a doubt your best bet for the week.

10.      D.J. Ware (@ SF – Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

Ware might get a couple of carries and/or receptions in this one, but he won’t see more than that unless either Bradshaw or Jacobs gets hurt.

It also wouldn’t surprise me if, at some point in the game, we see Ware in the middle of some sort of trumped-up gadget-play, but that still won’t do much for your fantasy team.

9.        Stevan Ridley (vs. Bal – Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

Ridley may be the most talented running back on the Patriots' roster, but after the fumble he produced in last week’s game against the Broncos, I can’t see Belichick throwing a ton of trust his way in a Championship setting.

That being said, Belichick is ALSO known for mixing things up and sometimes doing the very last thing you would expect.

Go ahead and take a chance if you’re feeling hairy, but the odds are high against it working out.

8.        Ricky Williams (@ NE – Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

Williams' average per game this season of seven carries for 28 yards is hardly worth calling upon in the fantasy postseason, especially with Rice garnering the Ravens' goal-line carries as well (Ricky had just two rushing TD in 2011).

Look elsewhere for a dark horse.

7.        Kendall Hunter (vs. NYG – Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

As usual, Kendall Hunter will spell starter Frank Gore on occasion throughout the game, but it won’t be enough to make all that much of a difference from a fantasy standpoint.

In addition, with the Giants' pass rush being one of the best in the league, the ‘Niners will need someone a little bigger than the 5’7” Hunter to supply pass protection, so his role in the offense may decrease even more with Gore being (relatively) healthy.

6.        Brandon Jacobs (@ SF – Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

The Giants’ coaches may give Jacobs a decent shot at bowling his way through the 49ers' defensive front at some point in the game, but the likelihood of it being a successful effort is minute at best.

Brandon’s best chance at scoring a few fantasy points this week will be if the Giants get the ball down inside the five-yard line, in which case he may get a couple of carries to try and punch it in.

Even then, however, it’s no sure thing he scores, so I wouldn’t put too much stock in the Giant Juggernaut this weekend.

5.        Ahmad Bradshaw (@ SF – Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

Bradshaw stays a notch above Brandon Jacobs this Sunday due to my belief that sooner rather than later, the Giants will give up trying to run the ball and the game becomes a war staged mainly through the air.

The 49ers' rush D is still the best in the league and should be able to stop the Giants in their tracks, despite their admirable rushing effort against the Packers last weekend.

With Bradshaw being the Giants' main back used in passing situations, he’ll have more of a shot to accumulate some decent fantasy numbers on the day than Jacobs will, but I wouldn’t expect much more than 70 total yards or a touchdown. 

4.        BenJarvus Green–Ellis (vs. Bal – Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

The Law Firm will undoubtedly get his fair share of playing time in this game, especially in goal-line situations, but my guess is that most of his time will be spent in the backfield protecting Brady against a strong Baltimore Ravens pass rush.

He’s likely to garner around 10 carries or so, as Brady likes to keep opposing defenses from dropping too many bodies back in coverage, but I can’t see him putting up more than 35-40 yards in the game.

His saving grace for fantasy purposes will be his opportunity (and likelihood) to punch one in from a yard or two out, but don’t expect much more than that.

3.        Danny Woodhead (vs. Bal – Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

I know, it’s strange seeing a secondary player like Danny Woodhead way up here in the rankings ahead of guys like Green-Ellis, Bradshaw and Jacobs—but I also believe this will turn out to be one of the more peculiar weekends of playoff football in recent memory.

When two of the highest-scoring offenses in the league (Patriots and Giants) meet two of the stingiest defenses in the league (Ravens and 49ers), anything can, and usually does, happen.

The last time the Pats and Ravens met was in Week 6 of 2010, but I don’t believe a lot will change in terms of how New England uses their players on offense.

In that game, Woodhead led the NE RBs with 11 carries for 63 yards and five catches for another 52 yards, totaling 115 yards on the day.

Since Green-Ellis wasn’t able to run against Baltimore’s front seven in that one—along with my doubts that either he or Stevan Ridley will be able do so in this one—Woodhead looks like a prime candidate to get some good playing time as the best receiving back on the Pats' roster.

2.        Frank Gore (vs. NYG – Sunday, 6:30pm ET)

When the 49ers met the Giants back in Week 10 of the regular season, Frank Gore was in the midst of a franchise-record streak where he’d put up five straight games with 100 or more rushing yards.

However, as Brett Favre or Peyton Manning could tell you, all good streaks must come to an end.

The Giants would end up putting the clamps down on the ‘Niners RB that day, holding him to the first zero-yard output of his career (six carries) before Gore left the game at halftime with a knee injury.

I can’t see the Giants repeating that sort of stellar effort this time around, but they won’t make it easy for Frank the Tank, either.

I expect around the same numbers he put up last week against the Saints (20 touches, seven receptions, 127 total yards) in what could be another shoot-out type of game this Sunday.

1.        Ray Rice (@ NE – Sunday, 3:00pm ET)

Last week’s performance against the Texans certainly wasn’t the best in Ray Rice’s career, as he averaged less than three yards a carry (21 rushes for 60 yards) and only 80 total yards (his second lowest total in 2011) on the day.

I suspect he’ll fare much better this weekend against New England, a team whose defense has declined substantially since Rice put up 126 total yards (88 yards rushing, eight catches for 38 yards) against them in Week 6 of last year.

However, this game could end up a bit tricky for the Ravens if the Patriots get out to an early lead.

Either way, Rice will remain the focal point of the offense and be just fine fantasy-wise, whether it be as a rusher or as a receiver out of the backfield.

Week 3 Playoff Rankings for Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

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