After a Week 2 that was full of carnage, Week 3 wasn't too bad on the injury front for running backs. Let's take a look at which backs could have some questions as we head to the quarter pole of the fantasy season. Here's some news on the backs heading into Week 4:
Injuries
- Reggie Bush was back at practice on Wednesday and it sounds like he's good to go. Obviously, Joique Bell owners should stick with the second-string back.
- Ray Rice is on track to return on Sunday and could have a monster game at Buffalo.
- Daryl Richardson looks ready to go for Week 4 with a foot injury. Although, he played just two snaps early in the game and didn't return. He's going to be a risky play, and Isaiah Pead should be owned in all leagues.
- Steven Jackson could be out until Week 7 with a thigh injury, so his owners are going to be without him for a little while. Jacquizz Rodgers has to be owned across the board.
- LeSean McCoy had a minor issue on Thursday night, but he's fine. He's the top option in standard leagues.
- C.J. Spiller (knee) was back at practice on Wednesday. If you have some time in the next couple days, try and send out some buy-low offers.
- Le'Veon Bell could be back this week and the Steelers need him. He has to be owned in even four-man leagues.
- Chris Ivory could miss time with a hamstring issue. Bilal Powell has been a revelation after a sub-par 2012 and he's an RB2 for now. It's also worth noting that Mike Goodson could be a sneaky pickup in deeper leagues.
- James Starks (knee) and Eddie Lacy could miss time in Week 5, so Johnathan Franklin could be worth a look. The Packers have a bye this week.
- Mark Ingram could miss more time with a toe injury. The Saints couldn't get their ground game moving against the Cardinals on Sunday, but that could change against the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
Depth Charts
- Willis McGahee was signed last week and could be atop the depth chart for the Browns. The Browns are not going to have a dominant rushing attack, but Willis has to be owned should the team get it figured out.
- Ahmad Bradshaw was surprisingly good with Trent Richardson in uniform, and the Colts are going to use a committee approach for now. It shouldn't take long for T-Rich to figure it out, and he could become an elite RB1, but Bradshaw should remain owned.
- Brandon Bolden is on the upswing, and the ball-security issues of Stevan Ridley may have come back to bite him. Ridley is a bit of a risky play until this smooths over and obviously has more value than Bolden. Of course, Bolden should be owned in most leagues.
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Standard League | PPR League | ||
1 | LeSean McCoy (@DEN) | LeSean McCoy (@DEN) | |
2 | Adrian Peterson (PIT) | Matt Forte (@DET) | |
3 | Jamaal Charles (NYG) | Adrian Peterson (PIT) | |
4 | Doug Martin (AZ) | Jamaal Charles (NYG) | |
5 | Matt Forte (@DET) | Doug Martin (AZ) | |
6 | Alfred Morris (@OAK) | Ray Rice (@BUF) | |
7 | Ray Rice (@BUF) | DeMarco Murray (@SD) | |
8 | DeMarco Murray (@SD) | C.J. Spiller (BAL) | |
9 | Marshawn Lynch (@HOU) | Alfred Morris (@OAK) | |
10 | C.J. Spiller (BAL) | Marshawn Lynch (@HOU) | |
11 | Frank Gore (@STL) | Darren McFadden (WAS) | |
12 | Trent Richardson (@JAX) | Reggie Bush (CHI) | |
13 | Lamar Miller (@NO) | Lamar Miller (@NO) | |
14 | Darren McFadden (WAS) | Trent Richardson (@JAX) | |
15 | Reggie Bush (CHI) | Darren Sproles (MIA) | |
16 | Chris Johnson (NYJ) | Arian Foster (SEA) | |
17 | Arian Foster (SEA) | Chris Johnson (NYJ) | |
18 | Darren Sproles (MIA) | Frank Gore (@STL) | |
19 | Knowshon Moreno (PHI) | Giovani Bernard (@CLE) | |
20 | Bilal Powell (@TEN) | Maurice Jones-Drew (IND) | |
21 | Giovani Bernard (@CLE) | Bilal Powell (@TEN) | |
22 | Maurice Jones-Drew (IND) | Jacquizz Rodgers (NE) | |
23 | Stevan Ridley (@ATL) | Knowshon Moreno (PHI) | |
24 | David Wilson (@KC) | David Wilson (@KC) | |
25 | Jacquizz Rodgers (NE) | Pierre Thomas (MIA) | |
26 | Ryan Mathews (DAL) | Ryan Mathews (DAL) | |
27 | Pierre Thomas (MIA) | Daryl Richardson (SF) | |
28 | LeVeon Bell (@MIN) | Joique Bell (CHI) | |
29 | Daryl Richardson (SF) | Fred Jackson (BAL) | |
30 | Fred Jackson (BAL) | Stevan Ridley (@ATL) | |
31 | Joique Bell (CHI) | LeVeon Bell (@MIN) | |
32 | Rashard Mendenhall (@TB) | Danny Woodhead (DAL) | |
33 | Bernard Pierce (@BUF) | Rashard Mendenhall (@TB) | |
34 | Ahmad Bradshaw (@JAX) | Brandon Bolden (@ATL) | |
35 | Willis McGahee (CIN) | Bernard Pierce (@BUF) | |
36 | Brandon Bolden (@ATL) | Ahmad Bradshaw (@JAX) | |
37 | Montee Ball (PHI) | Willis McGahee (CIN) | |
38 | Jason Snelling (NE) | Ronnie Hillman (PHI) | |
39 | Daniel Thomas (@NO) | Bobby Rainey (CIN) | |
40 | Michael Bush (@DET) | Isaiah Pead (SF) | |
41 | Jonathan Dwyer (@MIN) | Ben Tate (SEA) | |
42 | Ben Tate (SEA) | Jason Snelling (NE) | |
43 | Andre Ellington (@TB) | Marcel Reece (WAS) | |
44 | Danny Woodhead (DAL) | Kendall Hunter (@STL) | |
45 | Ronnie Hillman (PHI) | Andre Ellington (@TB) | |
46 | Marcel Reece (WAS) | Da'Rel Scott (@KC) | |
47 | Bobby Rainey (CIN) | Chris Ogbonnaya (CIN) | |
48 | Kendall Hunter (@STL) | Jonathan Dwyer (@MIN) | |
49 | Isaiah Pead (SF) | Michael Bush (@DET) | |
50 | Bryce Brown (@DEN) | Montee Ball (PHI) |
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