2011 NFL Fantasy Football Week 10: Running Backs (RB) Rankings / Projections

Reggie Bush vs Redskins

Like him or not, it appears Reggie Bush has not only earned the starting job in Miami, but he’s clearly earned a starting spot in fantasy lineups going forward.

While rookie Daniel Thomas continues to battle hamstring problems, Bush has put together two of his better performances of his career, leaving me to wonder why the coaches were so quick to give Thomas the football, in Week 2, after Bush played a good game against the Patriots to open the season.

Sure, Bush will struggle between the tackles at times, but the guy is making plays, and that is exactly what the Dolphins need.

Before last week, every time Thomas has been active this year, he’s dominated in carries in the backfield over Bush, but after his second 100-yard performance in his career in Week 8, Bush clearly earned the trust of his coaching staff.

Who knows? Maybe they were just concerned about Thomas’s hamstring after another week of limited practice, but one would have to think Bush is in line for a big day against the Redskins this week. Get him in your lineup as he makes for a solid RB-2 play this week even with all 32 teams active without bye weeks.

Chris Johnson @ Panthers

While I’ve yet to see the film from Chris Johnson’s performance against the Bengals, it’s clear by the numbers he put up (and the lack of touches Javon Ringer had) that he looked more like his old self.

Hopefully, your not like me and you held onto Johnson without trading him early last week for Ahmad Bradshaw, because it looks like this guy might actually start play from this point on.

I can sympathies with any owner who has grown frustrated with Johnson this year, perhaps it was rumors this week that the Titans might release him in the offseason that got his attention to start running harder.

Again, I’ve not watched the film from this game to see how he played, but he did have plays of 20 and 18 in the running game to go with a 21-yard reception. Playing against a poor Panthers run defense this week, it’s advisable to get him in your lineup this week.

Ryan Mathews, Darren McFadden (Thursday Night Game)

As the Raiders and Chargers get set for a Thursday night game this week, fantasy owners will be left wondering whether both Ryan Mathews and Darren McFadden will be ready.

It appears likely that both teams deactivated their beat-up starters last week because they knew this important divisional game was coming, but keep an eye on their progress as we head up to game time.

Both are would-be starters this week, but I expect backs Mike Tolbert and Michael Bush to be active in the backfield as well. Look to both as respectable RB-2 plays this week if they are in fact active.

More WK 10 Rankings – QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex | K/D | Waivers | Start / Sit |

1	LeSean McCoy	Cardinals
2	Arian Foster	@ Buccaneers
3	Adrian Peterson	@ Packers
4	Matt Forte	Lions
5	Fred Jackson	@ Cowboys
6	Ray Rice	@ Seahawks
7	Maurice Jones-Drew	@ Colts
8	DeMarco Murray	Bills
9	Steven Jackson	@ Browns
10	Michael Turner	Saints
11	Frank Gore (I)	Giants
12	Willis McGahee (I)	@ Chiefs
13	Darren Sproles	@ Falcons
14	Reggie Bush	Redskins
15	Chris Johnson	@ Panthers
16	Darren McFadden (I)	@ Chargers
17	Ryan Mathews (I)	Raiders
18	Mike Tolbert	Raiders
19	Jackie Battle	Broncos
20	Beanie Wells (I)	@ Eagles
21	Jonathan Stewart (I)	Titans
22	Rashard Mendenhall	@ Bengals
23	LeGarrette Blount	Texans
24	Roy Helu	@ Dolphins
25	Ben Tate	@ Buccaneers
26	Brandon Jacobs (I)	@ 49ers
27	Shonn Greene (I)	Patriots
28	BenJarvus Green-Ellis (I)	@ Jets
29	Cedric Benson	Steelers
30	Marshawn Lynch(I)	Ravens
31	Pierre Thomas	@ Falcons
32	Michael Bush	@ Chargers
33	Chris Ogbonnaya	Rams
34	Maurice Morris	@ Bears
35	Delone Carter	Jaguars
36	James Starks	Vikings
37	Javon Ringer	@ Panthers
38	DeAngelo Williams	Titans
39	Daniel Thomas (I)	Redskins