NFL Predictions Week 4: 3 Top Tier RBs Who Will Be Shut Down This Weekend

The NFL is undergoing a vast transformation from the old days of a running offense and tough defense to a newer aerial attack look. That said, running the ball effectively is still key in coming away from games with victories. Green Bay and New England may tell you otherwise, but running is still important.

Here are three top-tier running backs in the league who will be shut down this weekend.

Ray Rice (Baltimore)

Baltimore is one of those teams that has just been throwing the ball way too much this season. This is a team built to run the ball 60 percent of the time and play tough defense. Instead, they are throwing the ball 60 percent of the time.

Ray Rice is a top-tier running back. He is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. For some reason, he has only run the ball 41 times this season. This weekend, the Ravens play the New York Jets. The Jets aren't as good as they have been at stopping the run in the past, but with how often Baltimore is running the ball, Rice may not be able to have a big game.

LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia)

LeSean McCoy may be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. McCoy is currently second in the NFL in rushing yards. On 57 carries, he has 345 yards and four touchdowns. His four touchdowns are the most in the league for a running back.

This success hasn't come thanks to blocking. In fact, the Eagles line has been awful. McCoy has shed blocks in the backfield and picked up positive yards all year. This week, that task is going to be a little more difficult. The Eagles face the 49ers, who have the third-ranked rushing defense so far this year.

Knowing Andy Reid, the running game will fail early and he will bail on it completely.

Arian Foster (Houston)

Head coach Gary Kubiak says that Arian Foster will take back over as the primary running back and carry the full load for the Texans this weekend.

There are a couple concerns with this.

Foster may not be quite 100 percent yet, and that is going to be important this weekend. The Texans are playing the Steelers, who have the top ranked rushing defense in the league. If Foster isn't completely ready, he's better off sitting. Even if he is ready, it's going to be a long day for the Houston running back.