Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs (Updated)

There are significant question marks surrounding the Jets running back duo and how the carries will be split.  How will Mike Goodson fair?  How will the Redskins split carries with Clinton Portis potentially back in the mix? 

Let’s take a look at how things currently look (the running backs who have already played are in italics):

1. Arian Foster – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville
2. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans – at Miami
3. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – at Chicago
4. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis
5. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants – vs. Dallas
6. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington
7. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens – at Atlanta
8. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New England
9. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco
10. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Baltimore
11. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo
12. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – at Denver
13. LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina
14. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston
15. Peyton Hillis – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets
16. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis
17. LaDanian Tomlinson – New York Jets – at Cleveland
18. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears – vs. Minnesota
19. Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs – at Denver
20. Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City
21. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit
22. Mike Goodson – Carolina Panthers – at Tampa Bay
23. Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – at Arizona
24. Ryan Torain – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia
25. Shonn Greene – New York Jets – at Cleveland
26. Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee
27. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cincinnati
28. Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Seattle
29. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants – vs. Dallas
30. Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh
31. Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins – vs. Tennessee
32. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh
33. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants
34. Justin Forsett – Seattle Seahawks – at Arizona
35. C.J. Spiller – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit
36. Carnell Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina
37. Jason Snelling – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Baltimore
38. Clinton Portis – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia
39. Marion Barber – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants
40. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – at San Francisco

Thoughts:

Both Ryan Torain and Clinton Portis are listed as questionable

I would still consider Torain as the more usable option (the current word is that he will start on Monday).  However, with the uncertainty on how the carries will be split, both should be considered more as FLEX options.  My guess is Torain ultimately reestablishes himself as the RB1 long-term, so keep him stashed on your bench in shallower formats.

The Jets are likely going to start limiting LaDanian Tomlinson’s carries, while increasing the carries for Shonn Greene. 

Until Greene proves otherwise, however, he’s still the secondary back on our rankings.  Still, when it comes to the Jets running backs you need to adjust your thought process.

With both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart out, Mike Goodson is going to be the lead back for the Carolina Panthers this week. 

Considering the matchup with the third worst rushing defense in the league (147.0 rushing yards per game), he’s worth using as a RB2, though I wouldn’t over rank him.  With Jimmy Clausen as the QB, the Buccaneers will be able to key on him.

Beanie Wells is still struggling with knee problems, so Tim Hightower is expected to start in Week 10. 

Hightower doesn’t offer much fantasy upside, but he’s the better option this week (though as a FLEX play).

Joseph Addai and Mike Hart are looking like they will be out for Week 10. 

That leaves Donald Brown as the starter, though he could again lose goal line touches.  Think of him as a FLEX option because of that.

What are your thoughts on these rankings? Whose too high? Whose too low?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 10 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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