Fantasy Football Week 11 2012 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs

Will DeMarco Murray or Darren McFadden return to the field in Week 11?  Has Steven Jackson suddenly rediscovered his old form?  How far should Ryan Mathews fall down the rankings?  Let’s try to answer these questions and all the rest with a look at our Week 11 rankings:

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

Thoughts:

• Anyone who thought that Doug Martin would slow down after his enormous Week 9 performance was quickly proven wrong.  While he failed to find the end zone, he posted 119 total yards (68 rushing, 51 receiving), his fifth consecutive 100+ total yard performance.  This week he takes on a Panthers team who he got for 118 yards in the season opener (95 rushing, 23 passing).  In other words, there is no reason to think he is going to slow down now.
• Ray Rice remains a RB1, despite a tough matchup, but there are plenty of reasons for concern.  Mainly, he has posted 68 total yards or fewer in two of his past three games. While I would expect a rebound it is just as likely that the Ravens continue to go pass heavy.
• With Michael Vick banged up, could this finally be the week that the Eagles simply try to feed LeSean McCoy in order to help open things up for rookie Nick Foles? Time will tell, but one would hope so.
• Granted, the Dolphins were down early and therefore unable to pass the ball significantly, but the performance from Reggie Bush in Week 10 was dreadful. He rushed for 21 yards (the same amount as Daniel Thomas), while getting eight receiving yards before he was pulled from the game after fumbling. Bush has actually struggled for three consecutive weeks, failing to exceed 66 total yards, scoring one touchdown and losing two fumbles. It’s not like Daniel Thomas has been much better, but it also wouldn’t be shocking to see Thomas emerge as the more productive back this week against a Bills defense that can be gashed by the run. Consider both viable options, given the matchup. While I would prefer to use Bush, Thomas is worth considering as a FLEX.
• Maybe there is life for Steven Jackson left after all. He got 29 carries last week, turning them into 101 yards and a touchdown against a tough 49ers defense. This week he gets a Jets team that has allowed 145.0 rushing yards per game, as well as 10 touchdowns (and watched Marshawn Lynch go for 124 yards and a touchdown in Week 10). In other words, while Jackson could lose some touches to Daryl Richardson, he actually holds RB1 appeal.
• Should we continue to hype the potential of Ryan Mathews or has the time come to give up on him? As a RB1 I still can’t trust him, but there is too much potential value to simply write him off. While the disappointing performances continue to mount, you have to think that sooner or later a big game will emerge.
• The thought of Joique Bell stealing carries from Mikel Leshoure continues despite Bell being given one carry to Leshoure’s 13. At the same time, however, Bell caught seven passes, so he clearly was still a major factor in the game plan.  The time share is going to continue to deflate both backs potential value. With the Lions likely having to pass significantly to keep up with the Packers, Bell could easily outperform Leshoure.
• Will DeMarco Murray return this week? Given the matchup, he would likely be a RB1 had he not missed significant time. That said, we’ll have to monitor the news. If he plays, Felix Jones obviously plummets down the rankings
• Do we all remember how productive C.J. Spiller was earlier in the season when Fred Jackson was out? Well, Jackson has already been ruled out for Week 11, sending Spiller shooting up our rankings. In any game that Spiller has had at least 13 touches this season he has had at least 100 total yards (five games).
• For now I am ranking Isaac Redman as the top option in Pittsburgh, but who knows for sure. It’s a fluid situation based on health, as well as who the hot hand is. It’s a tough situation to trust at this point.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 11 rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 25 Tight Ends