Fantasy Football Week 7 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs (Updated)

There are no major injury concerns among running backs as we head into Week 7, at least outside of the ones we’ve been dealing with (i.e. LeSean McCoy).  That doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything that necessitated some changes in our rankings, however.  Let’s take a look at how things currently stand:

1. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Buffalo)
2. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans (vs. Philadelphia)
3. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams (at Tampa Bay)
4. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (at Green Bay)
5. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (at Carolina)
6. Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Cincinnati)
7. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Miami)
8. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (at Dallas)
9. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Kansas City)
10. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals (at Atlanta)
11. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles (at Tennessee)
12. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers (vs. New England)
13. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos (vs. Oakland)
14. Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns (at New Orleans)
15. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)
16. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers (vs. San Francisco)
17. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (vs. Washington)
18. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Jacksonville)
19. Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins (at Chicago)
20. Christopher Ivory, New Orleans Saints (vs. Cleveland)
21. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins (vs. Pittsburgh)
22. Thomas Jones, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Jacksonville)
23. Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Arizona)
24. Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders (at Denver)
25. Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals (at Seattle)
26. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins (vs. Pittsburgh)
27. Brandon Jackson, Green Bay Packers (vs. Minnesota)
28. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, New England Patriots (at San Diego)
29. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals (at Seattle)
30. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Arizona)
31. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. St. Louis)
32. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills (at Baltimore)
33. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (at Denver)
34. C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills (at Baltimore)
35. Matt Tolbert, San Diego Chargers (vs. New England)
36. Danny Woodhead, New England Patriots (at San Diego)
37. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants (at Dallas)
38. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys (vs. New York Giants)
39. Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Cincinnati)
40. John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers (vs. Minnesota)

Thoughts

• According Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle via Twitter, coach Tom Cable said that Darren McFadden is “likely to play.”  Earlier in the day, Tafur reported that McFadden gave himself a 70 percent chance of playing.  I want to believe that he’s not only going to play, but is going to return to being the lead back, but that’s a huge risk to take.  It seems like he’s a game-time decision, and with a 4:15 PM start, depending on him would be a mistake.  He’s plummeted down from our initial rankings, with Bush becoming a low-end RB2/FLEX option.
• The Chargers have been hit hard by injuries, with both Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee likely out and Antonio Gates questionable.  That should mean a greater role for Ryan Mathews, who moves up a notch on our rankings.
• According to the Arizona Republic’s Kent Sumers via Twitter, “Beanie is the guy.”  Of course, he’s referring to Beanie Wells taking over as the lead back, over Tim Hightower.  In an article on the Arizona Republic’s website (click here to view), “Hightower has struggled in pass blocking at times this season and could be blamed for giving up three of the four sacks against the Saints two weeks ago.  Is Beanie going to start this week in Seattle? I doubt it but if the game is close, he’ll get around 20 carries.”  It’s tough to depend on him yet, but make sure to keep Wells stashed in all formats.  If Sumers is right, Wells should emerge as a RB2 in all formats.
• The Jaguars are hurting at quarterback, potentially having to turn to Todd Bauman to start in Week 7.  Could Maurice Jones-Drew finally get things going?  You know the Chiefs are going to be focusing on him, so it’s going to be tough running, but I’d still consider him a RB1.
• LeSean McCoy is still dealing with a fractured rib, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer (click here to view).  While it hasn’t hurt his production, you have to fear a flare up, causing him to get a lighter workload.  That fear moves him just outside our Top 10 for the week, but still a very usable option.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

Make sure to check out our Week 7 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Top 15 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 15 Defenses
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em
• Sunday Sleepers

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