It's probably do-or-die time for about 33 percent of fantasy owners out there, so this week has huge implications. The good news is that fantasy owners should know their opponent. If you know you're going up against the league's whipping boy (or girl), then you can play it safe and you don't have to play a high-upside guy like Pierre Thomas over a safer player like Le'Veon Bell. If you're going up against the first-place team, well, then you might have to roll the dice a bit. Here's a look at the running backs that are on the injury report:
Fantasy Round-up
• Top quarterbacks through the bye • Running backs on the rise • Wide receiver rankings • Breakout tight ends to look for • Top defenses you should consider • 5 receivers to target
Rashard Mendenhall has a toe injury. He's fine, but he'll be the secondary back to Andre Ellington.
Jacquizz Rodgers (ankle) and Steven Jackson (toe) are both ready for the short week against the New Orleans Saints.
Fred Jackson (knee) is fine and will heal up on a bye this week.
Reggie Bush (knee) is ready and could get some extra touches with Joique Bell (foot) questionable.
Maurice Jones-Drew (knee) is good to go.
Adrian Peterson (groin) will look to shred the Green Bay Packers like he did last year.
Shane Vereen (wrist) could be unleashed on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Darren Sproles (ankle, knee) is the biggest question mark on this list. His owners will want to check back for an update on Thursday afternoon.
Brandon Jacobs (knee) is questionable and Andre Brown owners will hope he sits so he doesn't get a chance to vulture another TD.
Darren McFadden (hamstring) is doubtful. Look for a big day out of Rashad Jennings.
Daryl Richardson (foot) could be back this week. Stay tuned, but it'll still be Zac Stacy's show.
| Standard leagues | PPR leagues | ||
| 1 | Jamaal Charles (SD) | Jamaal Charles (SD) | |
| 2 | Matt Forte (@STL) | Matt Forte (@STL) | |
| 3 | Adrian Peterson (@GB) | Adrian Peterson (@GB) | |
| 4 | Eddie Lacy (MIN) | Reggie Bush (TB) | |
| 5 | Frank Gore (@WAS) | Zac Stacy (CHI) | |
| 6 | Knowshon Moreno (@NE) | Eddie Lacy (MIN) | |
| 7 | Andre Brown (DAL) | Knowshon Moreno (@NE) | |
| 8 | Zac Stacy (CHI) | Shane Vereen (DEN) | |
| 9 | Reggie Bush (TB) | Andre Brown (DAL) | |
| 10 | Ben Tate (JAX) | Rashad Jennings (TEN) | |
| 11 | Alfred Morris (SF) | Ben Tate (JAX) | |
| 12 | Chris Johnson (@OAK) | Frank Gore (@WAS) | |
| 13 | Rashad Jennings (TEN) | Danny Woodhead (@KC) | |
| 14 | Bobby Rainey (@DET) | Alfred Morris (SF) | |
| 15 | DeMarco Murray (@NYG) | Darren Sproles (@ATL) | |
| 16 | Le'Veon Bell (@CLE) | Chris Johnson (@OAK) | |
| 17 | Shane Vereen (DEN) | DeMarco Murray (@NYG) | |
| 18 | Chris Ivory (@BAL) | Bobby Rainey (@DET) | |
| 19 | Andre Ellington (IND) | Pierre Thomas (@ATL) | |
| 20 | Darren Sproles (@ATL) | Le'Veon Bell (@CLE) | |
| 21 | Stevan Ridley (DEN) | Joique Bell (TB) | |
| 22 | Joique Bell (TB) | Donald Brown (@AZ) | |
| 23 | Danny Woodhead (@KC) | Ray Rice (NYJ) | |
| 24 | Maurice Jones-Drew (@HOU) | Maurice Jones-Drew (@HOU) | |
| 25 | Pierre Thomas (@ATL) | Andre Ellington (IND) | |
| 26 | Donald Brown (@AZ) | Chris Ivory (@BAL) | |
| 27 | Ryan Mathews (@KC) | Stevan Ridley (DEN) | |
| 28 | Lamar Miller (CAR) | Steven Jackson (NO) | |
| 29 | Ray Rice (NYJ) | Lamar Miller (CAR) | |
| 30 | Steven Jackson (NO) | Brian Leonard (@DET) | |
| 31 | Montee Ball (@NE) | Ryan Mathews (@KC) | |
| 32 | Trent Richardson (@AZ) | Trent Richardson (@AZ) | |
| 33 | Brian Leonard (@DET) | Jacquizz Rodgers (NO) | |
| 34 | Jacquizz Rodgers (NO) | Roy Helu (SF) | |
| 35 | Rashard Mendenhall (IND) | Chris Ogbonnaya (PIT) | |
| 36 | Roy Helu (SF) | Rashard Mendenhall (IND) | |
| 37 | Bernard Pierce (NYJ) | Montee Ball (@NE) | |
| 38 | Chris Ogbonnaya (PIT) | Marcel Reece (TEN) | |
| 39 | Willis McGahee (PIT) | Daryl Richardson (CHI) | |
| 40 | Brandon Jacobs (DAL) | Jordan Todman (@HOU) | |
| 41 | Daniel Thomas (CAR) | Bernard Pierce (NYJ) | |
| 42 | James Starks (MIN) | Dennis Johnson (JAX) | |
| 43 | Marcel Reece (TEN) | James Starks (MIN) | |
| 44 | Dennis Johnson (JAX) | Bilal Powell (@BAL) | |
| 45 | Mark Ingram (@ATL) | Jason Snelling (NO) | |
| 46 | Mike Tolbert (@MIA) | Brandon Jacobs (DAL) | |
| 47 | Shonn Green (@OAK) | Daniel Thomas (CAR) | |
| 48 | Kendall Hunter (@WAS) | Kendall Hunter (@WAS) | |
| 49 | Bilal Powell (@BAL) | Mark Ingram (@ATL) | |
| 50 | DeAngelo Williams (@MIA) | Willis McGahee (PIT) |
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