Below you will find our Week 4 Running Back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).
Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 4, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 4.
You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.
Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs
RotoBaller Staff Ranks |
Player Name (Team - Position) |
Zach Wilkens Rankings |
Ed Gorelik Rankings |
1 | Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. BAL | 1 | 1 |
2 | Jamaal Charles KC at CIN | 3 | 2 |
3 | Matt Forte CHI vs. OAK | 2 | 4 |
4 | Eddie Lacy GB at SF | 4 | 3 |
5 | Adrian Peterson MIN at DEN | 6 | 6 |
6 | Mark Ingram NO vs. DAL | 5 | 8 |
7 | Frank Gore IND vs. JAC | 9 | 5 |
8 | Latavius Murray OAK at CHI | 7 | 7 |
9 | Devonta Freeman ATL vs. HOU | 8 | 9 |
10 | Karlos Williams BUF vs. NYG | 11 | 10 |
11 | Giovani Bernard CIN vs. KC | 10 | 18 |
12 | Jonathan Stewart CAR at TB | 14 | 15 |
13 | Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. DET | 15 | 14 |
14 | Joseph Randle DAL at NO | 18 | 12 |
15 | T.J. Yeldon JAC at IND | 16 | 19 |
16 | Justin Forsett BAL at PIT | 24 | 13 |
17 | Shane Vereen NYG at BUF | 27 | 11 |
18 | Carlos Hyde SF vs. GB | 12 | 26 |
19 | Lamar Miller MIA vs. NYJ | 22 | 16 |
20 | Christopher Ivory NYJ at MIA | 17 | 22 |
21 | Lance Dunbar DAL at NO | 23 | 17 |
22 | Melvin Gordon SD vs. CLE | 20 | 20 |
23 | C.J. Anderson DEN vs. MIN | 21 | 21 |
24 | Jeremy Hill CIN vs. KC | 19 | 27 |
25 | Danny Woodhead SD vs. CLE | 25 | 23 |
26 | DeMarco Murray PHI at WAS | 13 | 41 |
27 | C.J. Spiller NO vs. DAL | 29 | 28 |
28 | Ryan Mathews PHI at WAS | 36 | 25 |
29 | Matt Jones WAS vs. PHI | 33 | 29 |
30 | Darren Sproles PHI at WAS | 32 | 30 |
31 | Ameer Abdullah DET at SEA | 30 | 35 |
32 | Theo Riddick DET at SEA | 26 | 40 |
33 | Isaiah Crowell CLE at SD | 37 | 32 |
34 | Doug Martin TB vs. CAR | 40 | 31 |
35 | Todd Gurley STL at ARI | 35 | 37 |
36 | Andre Ellington ARI vs. STL | 24 | |
37 | Alfred Morris WAS vs. PHI | 41 | 34 |
38 | Chris Johnson ARI vs. STL | 34 | 44 |
39 | Chris Thompson WAS vs. PHI | 28 | 57 |
40 | Alfred Blue HOU at ATL | 31 | 48 |
41 | Bilal Powell NYJ at MIA | 42 | 38 |
42 | Thomas Rawls SEA vs. DET | 45 | 36 |
43 | Arian Foster HOU at ATL | 33 | |
44 | Duke Johnson CLE at SD | 38 | 46 |
45 | David Johnson ARI vs. STL | 48 | 39 |
46 | Charles Sims TB vs. CAR | 46 | 43 |
47 | Rashad Jennings NYG at BUF | 44 | 45 |
48 | Benny Cunningham STL at ARI | 39 | 54 |
49 | Tre Mason STL at ARI | 43 | 47 |
50 | Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. MIN | 51 | 42 |
51 | Andre Williams NYG at BUF | 47 | 53 |
52 | James Starks GB at SF | 49 | 50 |
53 | Darren McFadden DAL at NO | 53 | 49 |
54 | Knile Davis KC at CIN | 50 | 62 |
55 | Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL at PIT | 56 | 51 |
56 | Fred Jackson SEA vs. DET | 52 | 58 |
57 | DeAngelo Williams PIT vs. BAL | 57 | 52 |
58 | Mike Davis SF vs. GB | 55 | 63 |
59 | Josh Robinson IND vs. JAC | 55 | |
60 | Joique Bell DET at SEA | 58 | 65 |
61 | Khiry Robinson NO vs. DAL | 59 | 59 |
62 | Marcel Reece OAK at CHI | 60 | |
63 | Fozzy Whittaker CAR at TB | 60 | |
64 | Chris Polk HOU at ATL | 61 | |
65 | Damien Williams MIA vs. NYJ | 64 | |
66 | Mike Tolbert CAR at TB | 66 | |
67 | Javorius Allen BAL at PIT | 67 | |
68 | Reggie Bush SF vs. GB | 68 | |
69 | Branden Oliver SD vs. CLE | 69 | |
70 | Terron Ward ATL vs. HOU | 70 | |
71 | Anthony Dixon BUF vs. NYG | 71 | |
72 | Tevin Coleman ATL vs. HOU | 72 | |
73 | Jonas Gray MIA vs. NYJ | 73 | |
74 | Jerick McKinnon MIN at DEN | 74 |
Week 4 Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis
By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)
There have been A LOT of disappointing running backs early this season. I remain high on some of them, like Jeremy Hill and DeMarco Murray. I still love the Bengals offense and I think Hill has a clear role there even though Giovani Bernard looks really good. I’m still starting Hill this week. As for DeMarco I am a little more concerned but I still expect the Eagles to bounce back at some point soon. Despite what Ryan Mathews did last week I think Murray is clearly the more talented back, it’s just a matter of whether the offensive line can improve. Assuming Murray plays I think he should be in your lineup this week.
I’m feeling less comfortable with Lamar Miller and C.J. Anderson, but I think they should still make it into to most lineups this week as low-end RB2s. Neither has a great matchup but they really need to prove themselves this week. Miller's usage is frustrating but on the bright side there is no clear competition behind him just yet. The same can’t be said for Anderson, who has Ronnie Hillman hot on his heels. Luckily for Anderson owners, Hillman was very quiet in Week 3.
It looks like rookie Karlos Williams will get the start for the Bills this week. He should be in all lineups against a mediocre Giants defense. I expect the Bills to run a lot here and Williams has looked really good so far mostly as the backup to LeSean McCoy. I don’t expect Williams to permanently take the lead role but I do expect a big day in Week 4.
I think Duke Johnson is a PPR sleeper. He quietly recorded six catches last week, flashing a skill set that was a large part of his college succes. He had 38 receptions his final year, but he didn’t catch any balls in his first two NFL games. Now that he’s finally being integrated as a pass-catcher I expect his PPR value to increase. Crowell is still the main rusher for now but Johnson will be looking to impress the coaches and get more touches.
I don’t think we saw enough of Todd Gurley last week to plug him into lineups just yet. I do think he has a good chance to lead the Rams in touches in Week 4, but I don't expect much in a tough matchup against the Cardinals. If he does well with 12+ touches this week I think he'll make a good start in Week 5 against the Packers.
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