Fantasy Football Week 10 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs

Has Chris Johnson gotten things on track?  Has Roy Helu emerged as the go-to running back for the Washington Redskins?  Has LeSean McCoy stepped up and claimed top back status?  Let’s answer these questions and all the rest for Week 10:

1. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – at Green Bay
2. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Arizona
3. Arian Foster – Houston Texans – at Tampa Bay
4. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears – vs. Detroit
5. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers – vs. New York Giants
6. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – at Dallas
7. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens – at Seattle
8. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Indianapolis
9. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams – at Cleveland
10. DeMarco Murray – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Buffalo
11. Willis McGagee – Denver Broncos – at Kansas City
12. Mike Tolbert – San Diego Chargers – vs. Oakland
13. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons – vs. New Orleans
14. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans – at Carolina
15. Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders – at San Diego
16. Darren Sproles – New Orleans Saints – at Atlanta
17. Shonn Greene – New York Jets – vs. New England
18. Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers – vs. Oakland
19. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots – at New York Jets
20. Jackie Battle – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Denver
21. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – at Philadelphia
22. LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Houston
23. Reggie Bush – Miami Dolphins – vs. Washington
24. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
25. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Pittsburgh
26. Roy Helu – Washington Redskins – at Miami
27. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers – vs. Tennessee
28. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants – at San Francisco
29. Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Baltimore
30. James Starks – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
31. Ben Tate – Houston Texans – at Tampa Bay
32. Chris Ogbonnaya – Cleveland Browns – vs. St. Louis
33. Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints – at Atlanta
34. DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers – vs. Tennessee
35. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Jacksonville
36. Maurice Morris – Detroit Lions – at Chicago
37. LaDainian Tomlinson – New York Jets – vs. New England
38. Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos – at Kansas City
39. Daniel Thomas – Miami Dolphins – vs. Washington
40. Javon Ringer – Tennessee Titans – at Carolina

Thoughts:

• It appears like Darren McFadden is going to sit out once again this week.  Throw in the fact that Carson Palmer threw three interceptions as well as the Chiefs allowing 120.2 rushing yards per game, and you figure you are going to get a steady diet of Michael Bush this week.  Consider him a good play as a RB2.
• It was a slow start for Frank Gore, but he now has rushed for over 100 yards in five straight games.  The 49ers are winning, have a passing game that hasn’t shown the ability for the big play and take on a Giants defense in the bottom 10 in the league, allowing 127.1 rushing yards per game (as well as having allowed nine TDs).  It’s pretty safe to consider him a must-use option in all formats, isn’t it?
• Ryan Mathews missed Week 9, allowing Mike Tolbert to carry the load.  He went for 83 yards and a touchdown, as well as adding four receptions for 59 yards.  They are both usable, if playing, against the Raiders and it would appear that’s the direction we are heading.  However, monitor the news just in case something changes with his health.
• I guess it’s not quite time to give up on Chris Johnson, huh?  It’s not like he was unbelievable in Week 9, but he did have 110 total yards.  The Carolina Panthers are the sixth worst rushing defense in the league, allowing 133.2 yards per game, and are tied with two other teams for the most rushing TD allowed with 11.  I know there’s some risk involved, but he’s a must use option in all formats at this point.
• Was Darren Sproles the best free agent signing of this past offseason?  He was big once again this past week, combining for 99 yards and one TD.  On the year, he already has 793 yards and five TDs.  In PPR formats he’s been even better, having amassed 56 receptions.  He’s clearly the back to trust in New Orleans at this point.
• For the fourth straight week, Shonn Greene received at least 19 carries (he had 19 carries for 76 yards).  It really doesn’t matter that the Patriots are weak against the pass, because the Jets strength is defense and controlling the football.  Look for him to continue to get the ball fed to him, making him an intriguing option.
• Jonathan Stewart appears to slowly be taking over as the more used back in Carolina.  Is it going to remain that way?  You never really know, but at this point he clearly is the better play.  He’s had 27 carries over the Panthers past two games vs. DeAngelo Williams’ 17.  Going up against a Titans’ defense that is among the 10 worst in the league, consider him a low-end RB2.
• The Redskins just continue to frustrate owners, as we never know who is going to be the main back.  In Week 9 it was Roy Helu, who rushed for 41 yards and added 14 receptions for 105 yards.  We’ll have to see how things change once Tashard Choice is healthy, but with Ryan Torain getting just 11 carries over the past three weeks (taking them for 11 yards), it’s clear that Helu is currently the back to own, though who knows if he’ll once again get the bulk of the carries.
• Will Ahmad Bradshaw play or won’t he?  Even if he does, the Giants draw the toughest rushing defense in the league as the 49ers are allowing just 70.8 rushing yards per game and have yet to allow a touchdown (no other team has allowed less than three).  Along with Brandon Jacobs, the Giants’ running game has got to be considered low-end options.
• Chris Ogbonnaya may have a great matchup against the St. Louis Rams, but he’s managed to average just 2.9 yards per carry over his 30 carries this season.  He’s failed to break a run longer than 10 yards and has fumbled in back-to-back games.  Matchup or not, there’s way too much downside to trust him.
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis has four TDs in his last two games against the New York Jets.  How could you not like him for the coming week?

Make sure to check out all the rest of our Week 10 articles:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Waiver Worthy
• Quick Hit: Deciphering The Raiders Receiving Corps
• Quick Hit: Has John Beck Destroyed The Redskins Passing Game?