Week Seven Rankings Updated: Top 35 RB

The biggest changes from our original Week Seven rankings were Steve Slaton and Frank Gore getting bumped up a few spots, but let’s take a look at the updated list after the dust has settled from the past week:

1. Michael Turner - Atlanta Falcons - at Dallas
2. Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings - at Pittsburgh
3. DeAngelo Williams - Carolina Panthers - vs. Buffalo
4. Ryan Grant - Green Bay Packers - at Cleveland
5. Cedric Benson - Cincinnati Bengals - vs. Chicago
6. Ronnie Brown - Miami Dolphins - vs. New Orleans
7. LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers - at Kansas City
8. Steve Slaton - Houston Texans - vs. San Francisco
9. Clinton Portis - Washington Redskins - vs. Philadelphia
10. Steve Jackson - St. Louis Rams - vs. Indianapolis
    
11. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers - at Houston
12. Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia Eagles - at Washington
13. Brandon Jacobs - New York Giants - vs. Arizona
14. Marion Barber - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Atlanta
15. Matt Forte - Chicago Bears - at Cincinnati
16. Thomas Jones - New York Jets - at Oakland
17. Marshawn Lynch - Buffalo Bills - at Carolina
18. Rashard Mendenhall - Pittsburgh Steelers - vs. Minnesota
19. Pierre Thomas - New Orleans Saints - at Miami
20. Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts - at St. Louis
21. Carnell Williams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - vs. New England
22. Laurence Maroney - New England Patriots - at Tampa Bay
23. Ricky Williams - Miami Dolphins - vs. New Orleans
24. Jonathan Stewart - Carolina Panthers - vs. Buffalo
25. Ahmad Bradshaw - New York Giants - vs. Arizona
26. Darren Sproles - San Diego Chargers - at Kansas City
27. Donald Brown - Indianapolis Colts - at St. Louis
28. Larry Johnson - Kansas City Chiefs - vs. San Diego
29. Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns - vs. Green Bay
30. Michael Bush - Oakland Raiders - vs. New York Jets
31. Tim Hightower - Arizona Cardinals - at New York Giants
32. Tashard Choice - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Atlanta
33. Leon Washington - New York Jets - at Oakland
34. Fred Jackson - Buffalo Bills - at Carolina
35. Jamaal Charles - Kansas City Chiefs - vs. San Diego

Notes

• As if Cleveland’s defense isn’t bad enough, they lost D’Qwell Jackson for the season severely hindering their run defense.  Look for Ryan Grant to have a potentially huge day.
• The Colts are likely to route the Rams, meaning there could be plenty of garbage time for Donald Brown to make an impact.  The former first-round draft pick is just biding his time to make a big impact.  He’s been trading off games scoring a TD, getting one in Week’s Two and Four, so he’s due, right?
• Frank Gore is healthy and definitely resuming his starting spot in the offense in Week Seven.  The Houston defense is one of the ten worst in the league, allowing 125 yards per game, so this is the perfect scenario for Gore to not only return, but make an instant impact.
• Slaton’s not getting the job done on the ground, but he’s been getting more than enough in the passing game to still be rated among the top running backs in the game.  He has combined for over 550 yards over his first six weeks and should continue to produce despite facing off with one of the ten best rushing defenses in the league.

Original Comments

• It was just last week where I said Peterson had to be the top rated RB no matter what. Well, I need to revise that statement. The Steelers are the second best running defense in the league, so while Peterson should still put up solid numbers, the chances of him putting up the biggest and best numbers of the week appears to be a long shot. Let’s just say that Peterson should be the top running back almost every week.
• The Bills defense has been very prone to the rushing touchdown. We all know that DeAngelo Williams is a touchdown magnet. That seems like the perfect situation, doesn’t it?
• Frank Gore is expected to return this week, but how much of the load is he going to shoulder? Glen Coffee should continue to get looks, meaning Gore’s value could be hindered a bit.
• I know, LaDainian Tomlinson seventh? Really? It may change as the week progresses, but for now he easily could get healthy rushing against the porous Chiefs defense.
• I’d rank Steve Jackson higher, but the potential of the Rams getting into a shootout with the Colts has to lower his value a bit for the upcoming week.
• Rashard Mendenhall was the main back in week six and appears primed to shoulder the load over Willie Parker. That makes him a solid play in all formats.
• Donald Brown could be a good option as a FLEX back this week. Who else likes the chances of the Colts in a romp?

What are your thoughts?  Who was left off the list?  Who should be higher?  Who should be lower?

Other Week Seven Rankings:

• Quarterbacks (updated Oct. 23)
• Running Backs (updated Oct. 23)
• Wide Receivers (updated Oct. 23)
• Tight Ends
• Kickers
• Defense

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