NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Did Maurice Jones-Drew Jump Up This Week?
It's funny how weather plays a factor in statistics in the NFL.
With the weather cooler overall in NFL venues this week, there was more running this week, leading to some good stats for the running backs on this list.
Well, most of the running backs anyway.
There are some big changes this week in the rankings.
32. Jahvid Best, DET
1 of 32
Best's stock this season is really slipping.
Maurice Morris got 10 carries Sunday compared to Best's three.
It might be partly injury related, considering Best has had issues all year, and the Lions are all out of the playoff race.
Still, since that game against Philly, Best has not been at his best. Pun intended.
31. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE
2 of 32
The Law Firm makes a reappearance in the top 32 this week with an impressive game against Indianapolis Sunday, with 21 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown in a big win for the Pats.
Right now, he's getting the bulk of the carries in a solid offense, but with Bill Belichick that could change any minute.
And Fred Taylor is supposedly coming back soon.
30. Ronnie Brown, MIA
3 of 32
It's not all Brown's fault that the Dolphins had literally no one on Thursday against the Bears.
Still, this has not been the rebound year that many hoped Brown would have.
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29. Chris Ivory, NO
4 of 32
A nice bounceback game for Ivory against Seattle on Sunday.
We'll see if he can keep it up. He got a lot of help from the passing game Sunday, and Seattle doesn't exactly have a stellar defense.
28. Mike Tolbert, SD
5 of 32
Tolbert looked good on Monday against the Broncos, and continues to take advantage of injuries to Ryan Mathews.
I never thought before the season that Tolbert would outplay Mathews this year.
The question is if Matthews gets healthy, and the Bolts make a playoff push, who do they give the rock to?
27. Keiland Williams, WAS
6 of 32
Another solid outing from Williams, and this time it wasn't like most of his yards came in garbage time either.
He may have troubles holding onto the job though with Clinton Portis back and Ryan Torain sure to be back soon.
26. Danny Woodhead, NE
7 of 32
What a find the Pats have had in Woodhead, who has played much more than the Kevin Faulk role in Foxboro.
Woodhead had a huge 36-yard touchdown run against the Colts to help New England come away with a win.
25. Donald Brown, IND
8 of 32
Pretty solid game for Brown, who has made a case for more carries even when Joseph Addai comes back.
The problem is, Addai is the better receiver.
24. Felix Jones, DAL
9 of 32
Kind of a disappointing game for Jones considering he was playing the Lions.
Not to mention the fact that Jon Kitna had better stats running the ball.
23. Cedric Benson, CIN
10 of 32
Much better game from Benson, but he was playing Buffalo.
Let's see what he does against the Jets this week. My guess is he comes back to Earth.
22. Shonn Greene, NYJ
11 of 32
This could be like last season, when Greene came on strong for an older running back.
It seems that way after another week of Greene getting more carries.
But in regards to Greene's performance, it was a bit disappointing considering Houston's defense.
21. LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ
12 of 32
The aforementioned Greene is getting more carries than Tomlinson, but LT does remain valuable in the passing game.
We'll see how LT finishes out the season.
20. Brandon Jackson, GB
13 of 32
Kind of a tough game for Jackson, as Aaron Rodgers took the controls and threw all over the Vikings.
We'll give Jackson a one week pass, although he was involved in the passing game, so that's a plus.
What's not a plus is the emergence of Dimitri Nance later in the game. Keep an eye on that development.
19. Knowshon Moreno, DEN
14 of 32
Likewise, a tough situation for Moreno, whose Broncos were down much of the game.
But still, Moreno has looked good since coming back from injury, and he scored one of two Denver touchdowns along with several catches.
18. LeGarrette Blount, TB
15 of 32
Blount had a good week, but got stuffed in goal line situations a couple of times, which is a little laughable considering his size.
Still, what a season for the rookie so far. If Tampa makes the playoffs, he will be a huge reason why.
17. Fred Jackson, BUF
16 of 32
Another great game for Jackson, but not to be Jonny Raincloud, it was against a depleted Bengals defense.
Still, Buffalo fans have to like how he's playing. They just wish he'd done this sooner.
16. Thomas Jones, KC
17 of 32
A big rebound game for Jones, who scored twice against Arizona.
Much like the aforementioned Blount, should Kansas City make the playoffs, Jones will be a huge factor.
15. Matt Forte, CHI
18 of 32
A much better outing this time for Forte, who isn't putting up the numbers like his rookie season, but it's still an improvement over last season.
Forte has to keep running well for the Bears to hold off the Pack.
14. Peyton Hillis, CLE
19 of 32
Hillis didn't have the best game on the ground, but he really helped out Colt McCoy via the air, as he got six catches for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Hillis has to excite Browns fans for next season, when he is sure to be the featured back going into the offseason.
13. Jamaal Charles, KC
20 of 32
Charles and Jones make a great one-two punch in Kansas City.
Here's to hoping we see them in the playoffs.
12. Steven Jackson, St.L
21 of 32
Kind of an off week for Jackson.
But if the Rams are to somehow sneak in the playoffs, he has to play better.
11. Rashad Mendenhall, PIT
22 of 32
Interesting to note the two best running quarterbacks this week, according to rushing yards.
Jon Kitna and Ben Roethlisberger.
Mendenhall got his touchdown, but was out-rushed by Big Ben.
C'mon man.
10. Ray Rice, BAL
23 of 32
Nice outing for Rice, but then again, he could've not tried and done well against the Carolina defense.
9. Darren McFadden, OAK
24 of 32
He's only in the top 10 because of what he's done so far this season.
We'll give him a pass for Sunday, which was a tough game on the road against a top defense.
8. LeSean McCoy, PHI
25 of 32
McCoy sneaks into the top 10 for the first time after a big performance on Sunday night against the Giants.
What's amazing is he only got 14 carries, despite the fact that Philly had the lead or was close for much of the game.
All I know is I turned off the game in the third, and he had five carries for five yards.
He ended with 14 carries for 111 yards. That's quite impressive.
7. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG
26 of 32
Great job by the Philly defense shutting down Bradshaw, who's done a great job in his first year as a featured back.
6. Frank Gore, SF
27 of 32
I'm a bit surprised Gore was shut down by a mediocre Tampa Bay run defense.
But then again, Gore has these performances from time to time.
He'll be back this week against Arizona.
5. Arian Foster, HOU
28 of 32
Foster jumps back into the top five due to a couple of bad performances by Bradshaw and Gore, and due to his solid performance against a tough run D in the Jets.
Actually solid isn't a good word. I'd say great (he did have two touchdowns).
It's too bad the rest of the Texans didn't play great.
4. Adrian Peterson, MIN
29 of 32
I feel bad for Peterson. I really do.
He just can't seem to catch a break with all this drama in Minny.
3. Michael Turner, ATL
30 of 32
Another very solid game from Turner, who has benefitted from a breakout season by Matt Ryan.
2. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC
31 of 32
Jones-Drew continued his tear against Cleveland on Sunday, leading the Jags in rushing and receiving.
He has helped the Jaguars to a first-place tie in the AFC South.
Plus, did you see the screen pass he took for 75 yards? How the heck did he avoid that tackle?
1. Chris Johnson, TEN
32 of 32
Much like Peterson, I feel sorry for Johnson with all the drama in Tennessee.
But what hurts is that Vince Young helped Johnson because he was a decent enough passer, and teams had to watch out for Young's legs as well.
I'm not so sure I can say the same for Rusty Smith.
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