Running Backs

Bye Weeks:

Start 'Em:
Running Backs Who Will Outperform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Tim Hightower vs. OAK
Hightower is averaging 85 yards , 7 yards per carry and a TD per game on the ground. Meanwhile, the Raiders are allowing the fourth most rushing yards per game (140), the fifth highest yards per carry (4.7), the most rushing TDs, the most 20+ yard runs, and they’ve allowed the second longest TD run (76 yards) in the league so far. Chris Wells is probably going to finally play but it will be limited, and LaRod Stephens-Howling is still only getting minimal action so I expect Hightower to continue his surprising early season success.

Clinton Portis @ STL
Sure Portis and the entire Redskins running game is struggling, but this week they take on the third worst run defense in the league. The Rams are giving up 143 yards per game on the ground. Portis does have 2 TDs and this week I expect a much more balanced offensive attack from the Redskins, following their throw, throw, throw game plan last week against the Texans. Start Portis and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Darren McFadden @ ARI
On paper this one looks easy, so I’m going with it. The league’s #2 RB with 120 yards per game meets the league’s second worst run defense, giving up 153 yards per game on the ground. McFadden might finally be coming into his own. Even though he has no rushing TDs (he does have 1 receiving TD) he has an impressive 5.0 yards per carry average and is second in the league with 12 rushing first downs. The QB change from Jason Campbell to Bruce Gradkowski could add a small risk as does the potential return of Michael Bush but if McFadden has indeed turned the corner, you need to ride him.

Pierre Thomas vs. ATL
Reggie Bush is out. The Falcons have the 26th worst run defense in the league, giving up an average of 131 yards and 1 TD on the ground every week. They’ve also allowed big ground chunks, giving up the longest TD run of the season (80 yards), the highest yards per carry average (5.9) and the most runs over 40 yards. The Saints are explosive, are playing at home and are ready to blow somebody out after two close wins to start the season. So, wipe away those less than stellar stats for Thomas to-date and get ready to cash in on a big day. Side note: if Sean Payton screws me by giving Heath Evans or Chris Ivory the ball I’m quitting!

Bench 'Em:
Running Backs Who Will Under Perform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Jahvid Best @ MIN
He may only be averaging 49 yards per game rushing but he leads the league with four rushing TDs and has been a monster in the receiving game for Detroit. He’s tied for eighth with 14 receptions, ninth with 170 yards receiving, and has the second longest receiving TD at 75 yards. So why am I recommending benching him after listing these impressive stats? Because he plays a desperate Vikings team on the road - a team giving up only 99 rushing yards per game, a low 3.7 yards per rush average, and have allowed just 1 rushing TD so far. Hopefully you rode Best’s performance last week to victory, but letting him ride the bench this week is your best play.

Jerome Harrison @ BAL
It should be enough to say that Harrison is facing the Ravens…in Baltimore…after a tough loss to the Bengals. Harrison is nursing a thigh injury and has missed practice. He’s also been sharing playing time with Peyton Hillis and now he has to deal with James Davis supposedly getting a bigger role in the offense. But, since I don’t want any of you writing me complaining about the lack of analysis on why to bench Harrison , here goes…. The Ravens are only giving up 105 yards per game, which is uncharacteristically bad for them, plus they have yet to give up a TD on the ground. Harrison has 85 yards in two games, a 3.4 yards per rush average and 0 TDs (Hillis has both rushing TDs for the team). Oh, and I almost forgot… the Browns suck.

Jamaal Charles vs. SF
The most concerning issue I have with Charles is the job-sharing situation with Thomas Jones. In week 1 both Charles and Jones had 11 carries, but last week, while Charles was still getting his 11 carries, Jones rushed 22 times! Charles is young and strong enough to be an every down back and challenge for a league rushing title, but Todd Haley is being as dumb with his RBs as he is with his QBs – I’m sorry, you cannot tell me Croyle should not be starting over Cassell – but I digress. The 49ers currently sport a top-10 run defense and are allowing just 64 yards a game and just 2.7 yards per carry. So, until this nonsensical split RB philosophy goes away in KC (and they play a defense that you can actually run against) I cannot recommend Jamaal Charles.

Arian Foster vs. DAL
Foster still leads the league in rushing with 300 total yards, but 231 of them came in week one, meaning last week he was only good for 69 yards on the ground. His 3 rushing TDs – all in week one, meaning nada last week. His 7 yards per carry average in week one dropped by 50% to a 3.6 yards per carry average last week. After destroying the league’s worst run defense he looked pedestrian against a top-10 run defense in week two. What do we have to look forward to this week? Well, how about a top-5 run defense in the Cowboys. Dallas is giving up 64 yards per game and 0 TDs. Nobody has had a run over 18 yards against them yet, and their 3 yards per carry average allowed is sixth best in the league. Dallas is 0-2 and struggling on offense, but their run defense is playing great while their pass defense is below average. Schaub won’t throw for another 500 yards but the damage will be done through the air as opposed to on the ground so leave Foster out of your lineup.

Wide Receivers