Forbes List Week 8 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

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Quick Hits – Adrian Peterson is questionable with an ankle injury, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t play in this one.  Carolina is giving up the second most fantasy points to running backs.  Make sure you handcuff him with Gerhart, who should be on the wire in most leagues.  He’d be a solid start as well if AP were to suffer a setback … After only 8 carries last week against Jacksonville, expect the Ravens to fix that this week.  Rice should touch the ball 25+ times in this one … Start every Saints’ running back you possibly can, as the 2009 Rams rush defense is back.  After giving up a league high 24 rushing touchdowns in ’09, the Rams turned it around in 2010 by only giving up 7 all season.  Sproles is a rock solid RB1, and with Ingram unlikely to play, Pierre Thomas is a great start as well.  Even if Ingram is active, I’d hesitate to start him despite the matchup.  In a game that the Saints should cruise through, Sean Payton might find it best to limit his touches and get him healthy … Mike Tolbert still hasn’t practiced this week.  With the Chargers playing on Monday night, you should explore other options if he doesn’t put in practice time on Friday and Saturday.  Mathews, who had his best game of the year against the Chiefs in week 3, is a RB1 regardless of Tolbert’s status … Brandon Jacobs will be back for the Giants, but Bradshaw was still seeing nearly twice as many carries prior to Jacobs’ injury.  While Bradshaw probably won’t have any more 3 touchdown games, he should touch the ball 20 times.  Jacobs is a decent flex option … The Steelers/Patriots’ game figures to be a shootout, meaning there will be plenty of opportunities for Mendenhall and Green-Ellis to punch in a couple of touchdowns.  Neither will flirt with 100 yards, but the touchdown opportunities alone make them both legit RB2 plays … Tim Hightower’s injury cleared up some confusion in the Redskins’ backfield. Expect Ryan Torain to handle the early down and goal line duties, while Helu is the change of pace and 3^rd down back.  Against a Buffalo team that isn’t great against the run, both should be decent plays … Daniel Thomas is still battling a hamstring injury, and was pathetic in week 7 with only 53 yards on 19 carries (2.8ypc).  Both he and Reggie Bush are mediocre flex plays … Jackie Battle saw 16 touches in week 7, but lost out on goal line chances to Le’Ron McCalin and a wildcat set that featured nickel cornerback Javier Arenas scoring a touchdown.  Still a decent flex play, he’ll have to get goal line looks before he’s anointed an every week RB2 … Bernard Scott will get the start for the Bengals with Cedric Benson serving his 1-game suspension.  It’s too bad it comes against a Seahawks team that is as good as any team against the run.  Temper your expectations.  Ditto for Montario Hardesty if Peyton Hillis is out … Jonathan Stewart continues to outplay DeAngelo Williams, enough so that he should be trusted in your lineup going forward … Nothing really excites me about the Lions’ running game with Best out.  The Broncos have given up 1 rushing touchdown all year.  Start Maurice Morris only if you’re desperate.

 

Rank	Player	Opponent	Status
1	Adrian Peterson, MIN	@CAR	Q (Ankle)
2	Arian Foster, HOU	JAX
3	Ray Rice, BAL	ARI
4	Fred Jackson, BUF	WAS
5	LeSean McCoy, PHI	DAL
6	Darren Sproles, NO	@STL
7	Chris Johnson, TEN	IND
8	Ryan Mathews, SD	@KC	P (Thumb)
9	Frank Gore, SF	CLE
10	Demarco Murray, DAL	@PHI
11	Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG	MIA
12	Pierre Thomas, NO	@STL	(If Ingram Out)
13	Steven Jackson, STL	NO
14	Rashard Mendenhall, PIT	NE
15	Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX	@HOU
16	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE	@PIT	Q (Toe)
17	Delone Carter, IND	@TEN
18	Toby Gerhart, MIN	@CAR	If AP Out
19	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	MIN
20	Mike Tolbert, SD	@KC	Q (Hamstring)
21	Montario Hardesty, CLE	@SF	If Hillis Out
22	Ryan Torain, WAS	@BUF
23	Brandon Jacobs, NYG	MIA	Q (Knee)
24	Daniel Thomas, MIA	@NYG	Q (Hamstring)
25	Mark Ingram, NO	@STL	Q (Heel)
26	Peyton Hillis, CLE	@SF	Q (Hamstring)
27	Knowshon Moreno, DEN	DET
28	Jackie Battle , KC	SD
29	Reggie Bush, MIA	@NYG	Q (Neck)
30	Roy Helu, WAS	@BUF
31	DeAngelo Williams, CAR	MIN
32	Bernard Scott, CIN	@SEA
33	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	CIN	Q (Back)
34	Maurice Morris , DET	@DEN
35	Alfonso Smith, ARI	@BAL
36	Lance Ball , DEN	DET
37	Kendall Hunter, SF	CLE
38	Beanie Wells, ARI	@BAL	Q (Knee)
39	Danny Woodhead, NE	@PIT
40	Ben Tate, HOU	JAX
41	Dexter McCluster, KC	SD
42	Donald Brown, IND	@TEN
43	C.J. Spiller, BUF	WAS
44	Keiland Williams , DET	@DEN
45	Isaac Redman, PIT	NE
46	Brian Leonard , CIN	@SEA
47	Cadillac Williams, STL	NO
48	Ricky Williams, BAL	ARI
49	Stevan Ridley, NE	@PIT
50	Deji Karim, JAX	@HOU
51	Javon Ringer, TEN	IND
52	Mewelde Moore , PIT	NE
53	Larod Stephens-Howling, ARI	@BAL
54	Thomas Jones, KC	SD
55	Tashard Choice, DAL	@PHI	Q (Shoulder)