Fantasy Football Week 9 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs (Updated)

News on Beanie Wells, Christopher Ivory and others have caused some changes to our running back rankings.  Let’s take a look at how things currently look:

1. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Arizona
2. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Indianapolis
4. Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders – vs. Kansas City
5. Arian Foster – Houston Texans – vs. San Diego
6. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Miami
7. LaDanian Tomlinson – New York Jets – at Detroit
8. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
9. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – at Oakland
10. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants – at Seattle
11. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears – at Buffalo
12. Peyton Hillis – Cleveland Browns – vs. New England
13. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots – at Cleveland
14. Brandon Jackson – Green Bay Packers – vs. Dallas
15. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – at Minnesota
16. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
17. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions – vs. New York Jets
18. Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs – at Oakland
19. Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Cleveland
20. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers – vs. New Orleans
21. LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Atlanta
22. Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins – at Baltimore
23. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Chicago
24. Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers – at Houston
25. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys – at Green Bay
26. Shonn Greene – New York Jets – at Detroit
27. Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins – at Baltimore
28. Jason Snelling – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Tampa Bay
29. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants – at Seattle
30. Christopher Ivory – New Orleans Saints – at Carolina
31. Mike Tolbert – San Diego Chargers – at Houston
32. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts – at Philadelphia
33. Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – vs. New York Giants
34. Justin Forsett – Seattle Seahawks – vs. New York Giants
35. Marion Barber – Dallas Cowboys – at Green Bay
36. Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders – vs. Kansas City
37. Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals – at Minnesota
38. Carnell Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Atlanta
39. John Kuhn – Green Bay Packers – vs. Dallas
40. Toby Gerhart – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Arizona

Thoughts:

• It is looking like Beanie Wells is going to play, but luckily the Cardinals-Vikings game is at 1 PM, so if he were to be a last minute scratch you’d have the opportunity to make a change.  Still, with him clearly still banged up he has to be dropped in our rankings for the coming week.  You also have to figure that Tim Hightower will get more touches going forward, as Wells has not made the most of his opportunities.
• Felix Jones is hurting, though he is back at full practice.  Still, with Marion Barber in the backfield and Tashard Choice returning, it is tough to count on him for the coming week.  He falls down the rankings and should be considered a low-end RB2 or FLEX option for the coming week.
• Mike Hart and Joseph Addai are both hurting and potentially out, making it look like Donald Brown will be the lead back against the Eagles.  The Indianapolis Star has reported that Coach Jim Caldwell anticipates his workload increasing in Week 9 (click here for the article).  Considering the pass-first offense the Colts run, consider him a FLEX option.
• DeAngelo Williams is not expected to play in Week 9, according to Steve Reed of the Gaston Gazette (via Twitter).  Of course, with how poorly Jonathan Stewart has played this season, the news does little to change his perceived value.
• Having suffered a concussion in Week 8, it’s hard to know what to expect from Christopher Ivory.  However, it’s not like he’s been producing much as of late.  He actually doesn’t have more then 15 carries in a game and has exceeded 67 yards just once (158 yards against Tampa Bay).  He has just two games averaging more then 3.9 yards per carry.  He has to fall in our rankings for the coming week, as it certainly is possible that Julius Jones steals a few carries.

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

Make sure to check out our Week 9 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Top 20 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 15 Defenses
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em
• Sunday Sleepers

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