RADIO
With one week of the 2016 NFL season in the books, the top five fantasy scorers at the running back position came from players who were not considered top picks in the draft. DeAngelo Williams, Spencer Ware, C.J. Anderson, Theo Riddick and Carlos Hyde rounded off the group and stirred up a bit of a panic for Adrian Peterson and Ezekiel Elliott owners to start the year.
Is it too early to be concerned? Yes. If this continues, though, the landscape of backfields around the NFL could change. Let's take a look at the running back situations from around the league.
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2016 Running Back Depth Charts for Week 2
AFC East
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Bills | LeSean McCoy | Reggie Bush | Mike Gillislee | N/A |
| Stable | Dolphins | Arian Foster | Damien WilliamsJay Ajayi | N/A | |
| Questionable | Patriots | LeGarrette Blount, Dion Lewis (O) | James White (PPR) | Brandon Bolden, D.J. Foster | James White |
| Stable | Jets | Matt Forte | Bilal Powell | Troymaine Pope | N/A |
New England backfield should be monitored entering the second week of the NFL season. With Dion Lewis out for the unforeseeable future, LeGarrette Blount is the No. 1 rusher on the Patriots. Blount scored a touchdown in Week 1, but he also put the ball on the ground, which could spell trouble for his job. James White is the team's primary pass-catching back and should be played over Blount in PPR scoring formats.
AFC North
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Volatile | Ravens | Justin Forsett | Terrance West | Buck Allen | Buck Allen |
| Questionable | Bengals | Jeremy Hill | Gio Bernard | Rex Burkhead | N/A |
| Questionable | Browns | Isaiah Crowell | Duke Johnson | George Atkinson III | N/A |
| Stable | Steelers | DeAngelo Williams, Le'Veon Bell (S) | Fitzgerald Toussaint | N/A | N/A |
Baltimore's running game is a bit of a mess. Justin Forsett is the starter for the time being, but Terrance West is right on his tail for the No. 1 spot. Forsett outscored West 5.6-to-3.8 in standard scoring formats. However, West out-touched the injury-prone veteran 14-to-13 in the opening contest. The Ravens will likely use a by-committee approach to their running game this year and West is poised to emerge as the No. 1 as the season progresses. Sell Forsett high if the situation arises.
AFC South
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Texans | Lamar Miller | Alfred Blue | Tyler Ervin | N/A |
| Stable | Colts | Frank Gore | Robert Turbin | Josh Ferguson | N/A |
| Stable | Jaguars | T.J. Yedon | Chris Ivory (Q) | Denard Robinson | Denard Robinson |
| Stable | Titans | DeMarco Murray | Derrick Henry | Antonio Andrews | N/A |
Keep an eye on the running back scenario in Jacksonville. Chris Ivory was inactive in Week 1 after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness leaving T.J. Yeldon to receive the start. Ivory was released from the hospital on Wednesday but has yet to practice this week. He will likely be inactive on Sunday and Yeldon is expected to carry the workload once again in Ivory's absence. Aside from his lone touchdown last week, Yeldon was unimpressive with his remaining touches. Despite his struggles, Yeldon should be considered as the only fantasy-relevant back utilized by the Jaguars in a favorable Week 2 matchup with the Chargers.
AFC West
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Broncos | C.J. Anderson | Devontae Booker | Kapri Bibbs | N/A |
| Questionable | Chiefs | Spencer Ware, Jamaal Charles (O) | Charcandrick West | Knile Davis | Charcandrick West |
| Stable | Raiders | Latavius Murray | DeAndre Washington | Jalen Richard | Jalen Richard |
| Questionable | Chargers | Melvin Gordon | Danny Woodhead (PPR) | N/A |
Kansas City's backfield appears to be operating strongly in the absence of Jamaal Charles. Spencer Ware finished second to DeAngelo Williams in fantasy points scored last week and should be considered as a low-end RB1 in Week 2. Charcandrick West garnered action in the contest, but Ware was the clear-cut all-purpose rusher in the matchup. the problem arises up Charles' return. He is expected to miss Week 2, but could be active in the following contest. If Ware performs well again this week, he should be considered a prime sell-high candidate on the trading block.
NFC East
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | Alfred Morris | Lance Dunbar | Lance Dunbar |
| Stable | Giants | Rashad Jennings | Shane VereenOrleans Darkwa, Paul Perkins | Shane Vereen | |
| Stable | Eagles | Ryan Matthews | Daren Sproles | Kenjon Barner, Wendell Smallwood | Kenjon Barner |
| Questionable | Redskins | Matt Jones | Chris Thompson | Rob Kelley | Chris Thompson |
Monitor Washington's running back situation this week in preparation for the future. Matt Jones was expected to be the starter entering the year, but he lost a goal-line carry and touchdown to Chris Thompson in Week 1 which could indicate a time-share situation between the two.
NFC North
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Bears | Jeremy Langford | Ka'Deem Carey | Jordan Howard | N/A |
| Questionable | Lions | Ameer Abdullah | Theo Riddick (PPR) | Zach Zenner | N/A |
| Stable | Packers | Eddie Lacy | James Starks | Jhurell Pressley | N/A |
| Stable | Vikings | Adrian Peterson | Jerick McKinnon | Matt Asiata | N/A |
Detroit had a pair of running backs that both finishes in the top 10 in scoring in Week 1. Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah both produced over 15 fantasy points with different roles on the offense. Abdullah appears to be the every-down back while Riddick is the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield. As the season progresses, expect a similar split in touches and workload between Detroit's talented duo of productive running backs.
NFC South
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Volatile | Falcons | Devonta Freeman | Tevin Coleman | Terron Ward | N/A |
| Stable | Panthers | Jonathan Stewart | Fozzy Whittaker | Cameron Artis-Payne | N/A |
| Stable | Saints | Mark Ingram | Tim Hightower | Travaris Cadet | Tim Hightower |
| Stable | Buccaneers | Doug Martin | Chris Sims | Mike James | N/A |
Perhaps the one running back I would consider trading at this point is Devonta Freeman. Once the darling of Atlanta's backfield, he disappointed in the season opener and was nearly doubled in fantasy points by Tevin Coleman. The Falcons could very well employ an RBBC approach to their running game from here on out and Coleman is the hot hand coming off of Week 1.
NFC West
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Cardinals | David Johnson | Chris JohnsonAndre Ellington | N/A | |
| Stable | Rams | Todd Gurley | Benny Cunningham | Malcolm Brown | N/A |
| Stable | 49ers | Carlos Hyde | Shaun Draughn | Mike Davis | Shaun Draughn |
| Questionable | Seahawks | Thomas Rawls | Christine Michael | C.J. Prosise | C.J. Prosise |
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
