Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs

Which injuries have an impact on the rankings (DeMarco Murray, Darren McFadden, etc.)?  Which matchups should fantasy owners lean towards (Stevan Ridley vs. Buffalo)?  Which ones should they try to steer clear of? 

Let’s try to answer all of the questions for the coming week:

1. Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – vs. New York Jets
2. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Oakland
3. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Detroit
4. Doug Martin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. San Diego
5. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis
6. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Dallas
7. Arian Foster – Houston Texans – at Chicago
8. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons – at New Orleans
9. Reggie Bush – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee
10. Stevan Ridley – New England Patriots – vs. Buffalo
11. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans – at Miami
12. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears – vs. Houston
13. Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers – at Tampa Bay
14. Willis McGahee – Denver Broncos – at Carolina
15. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – at Pittsburgh
16. Rashad Jennings – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Indianapolis
17. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants – at Cincinnati
18. Isaac Redman – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Kansas City
19. Vick Ballard – Indianapolis Colts – at Jacksonville
20. Marcel Reece – Oakland Raiders – at Baltimore
21. Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
22. Shonn Greene – New York Jets – at Seattle
23. Mikel Leshoure – Detroit Lions – at Minnesota
24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. New York Giants
25. C.J. Spiller – Buffalo Bills – at New England
26. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys – at Philadelphia
27. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers – vs. Denver
28. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – at New England
29. Joique Bell – Detroit Lions – at Minnesota
30. Shane Vereen – New England Patriots – vs. Buffalo
31. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco
32. Daniel Thomas – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee
33. Andre Brown – New York Giants – at Cincinnati
34. Jacquizz Rodgers – Atlanta Falcons – at New Orleans
35. Daryl Richardson – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco
36. Michael Bush – Chicago Bears – vs. Houston
37. Ronnie Hillman – Denver Broncos – at Carolina
38. Mark Ingram – New Orleans Saints – vs. Atlanta
39. Peyton Hillis – Kansas City Chiefs – at Pittsburgh
40. Kendall Hunter – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis

Thoughts:

• There are few NFL running backs who are both every down backs and virtually matchup proof, but Doug Martin has quickly entrenched himself among them.  Coming off a week where he rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns (over the past two weeks he has a total of 486 total yards and six touchdowns), does it really matter who he is facing?  Martin is a Top 10 back every single week at this point.
• We all know that Arian Foster is an elite back and should produce, but the Chicago Bears defense boasts a very difficult test.  While I obviously wouldn’t bench him, he’s more of a low-end RB1 this week.
• It’s hard not to like Matt Forte, but the Houston Texans have not yet allowed a rushing touchdown this season.  It’s obviously a tough matchup and limits his potential value.
• Michael Turner has not been a major cog in the Falcons’ offense this season (though he did have a big performance in Week 9), but this week the matchup should yield much better results.  The New Orleans Saints are among the worst rushing defenses in the league, allowing 170.1 rushing yards per game and nine touchdowns.  Turner should be considered a RB1 this week.
• Every week there is a lot of hype surrounding Ryan Mathews, but he has yet to truly produce his breakout performance (including going scoreless the past three weeks).  The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter Week 10 allowing a league-best 77.2 rushing yards per game, so you have to wonder if this will actually be the week he puts it together.  I would consider him more of a high-end RB2 given his lack of production and the matchup, but there is too much upside to completely ignore.
• The Buffalo Bills have allowed 14 rushing touchdowns this season, so all Patriot running backs could be in play for those desperate for a FLEX option.  However, Stevan Ridley obviously leads the way and is a viable RB1.
• Both Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson are likely out for Week 10.  That leaves Marcel Reece as the last man standing and likely viable option in all formats as either a RB2 or FLEX option.
• Will DeMarco Murray be able to return for Week 10?  It’s a big question mark.  He’s excluded, for now, but if he’s healthy, he is going to be a viable option.
• Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell split carries, but it was Leshoure who got the bulk of the TD opportunities in Week 9.  That makes him the better option, though the carry split suppresses both of their values.
• Jonathan Dwyer, Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman…  Who will be healthy in Week 10?  Who will lead the way?  Time will tell, but this is quickly becoming a confusing fantasy situation to try and decipher.  For now Redman appears to be the top option, with the other two unsure to even play.  However, if more than one of the backs is on the field the team will likely ride the hot hand.
• With Donald Brown hurting, we are currently leaving him off the rankings.  However, if healthy, he would likely just slide into Vick Ballard’s spot on the rankings.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 10 rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 25 Tight Ends