X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

2013 Fantasy Football Advice: Deep Look at Week 4 Running Back (RB) Depth Charts

RotoBaller brings you 2013 fantasy football running back depth chart updates for week 4. These are the leading stories regarding the most volatile RBs in the league. Check back each week to see which running backs you should target to win your 2013 fantasy football season.

With injuries wreaking havoc and other guys just not able to seize the featured back job, there are lots of Running Back situations in the NFL are in major flux. RotoBaller takes a deep dive into these situations and helps you understand who to target in your 2013 fantasy football leagues.

2013 Fantasy Football - A Deep Look at Week 4 Running Back (RB) Depth Charts

 

Denver Broncos - Knowshon Moreno vs. Montee Ball vs. Ronnie Hillman

The Broncos are a tough one to figure out. Let’s analyze the 2013 season for the Broncos' running game through three weeks. Player (% carries, % rushing yards):

  • Knowshon Moreno (43%, 47%) – Moreno has received the bulk of the backfield work, handling 43% of the carries. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has accounted for 160 rushing yards. Moreno leads the team as a running back in both PPR and non-PPR leagues and has double the points of Hillman.
  • Montee Ball (39%, 29%) – Ball is second on the team in carries (39%) and third in yards at 29%. He is the only Bronco RB that does not have a touchdown. He is struggling on the season with only 3.2 YPC and is third on the team in terms of fantasy production in both PPR and non-PPR leagues. Ball is a first-year player, so his numbers should get better as he progresses and adjusts with the speed of the game. 
  • Ronnie Hillman (18%, 43%) – Hillman had a solid game Monday night on only nine carries. On the season, Hillman leads the team in YPC with 5.8, but with minimal workload, just 18% of the carries. Despite receiving fewer than half the carries, his one touchdown is a big difference-maker in terms of fantasy points.

Bottom Line: Moreno and Ball are splitting time as the feature back with around 80% of the carries while Hillman is around 20%. If Hillman has games like he had on Monday, he could steal carries from the other two, but Moreno has been the dominant running back, especially with his mix of abilities as a pass-catcher. Ironically, the Broncos have yet to really rely on the passing game despite Manning’s gaudy numbers (12 TDs), and Broncos backs have been the beneficiaries. Late in their first three games, they've seen a lot of carries in offensively-controlled football games. Net net, Moreno is the primary back to own on the Broncos, but for the time being, Ball is getting his fair share of the carries and should be stashed. As with all running back committees, we will monitor this one closely.

 

Indianapolis Colts - Trent Richardson vs. Ahmad Bradshaw

Newly-acquired RB Trent Richardson rushed for a one-yard touchdown in his first carry as a member of the Colts. Things looked good for T-Rich to start, but in his next 12 carries, he only managed 34 yards, his longest a seven-yard job. Bradshaw, on the other hard, was a bruiser, rushing 19 times for 95 yards and scoring a touchdown of his own. Donald Brown was also incredibly efficient on three carries. The Colts stuck to the running game for 35 carries while throwing only 27 times, and they dominated the 49ers defensively, which played a major role in their sticking with the run game that was ultimately working. What does this mean going forward? The Colts signed Bradshaw to a one-year deal for a little over $2M, while they invested a future first-round pick in Trent Richardson. But those facts should not be considered in who gets carries. Trent Richardson's biggest knock was his low YCP, his career YPC sits at 3.5. The Colts don't care about that number, apparently unworried about third-and-three situations. If Bradshaw continues to improve, as he has in each game this season, both players are going to steal carries from one another. The major dynamic here will be RB use in the passing game. Last season, T-Rich caught 50 passes. It will be interesting to see how Luck utilizes his new weapon.

Bottom line: One thing is for sure; Richardson is the #1 back.  But if he wants to avoid Bradshaw cutting into his time, he is going to need to avoid tip-toeing and hit the holes-- 3.5 YPC is just not going to cut it.

 

Green Bay Packers - Eddie Lacy vs. James Starks vs. Johnathan Franklin

There is a lot to be said about the Packers' running backs. We went into the season with Eddie Lacy as the Packers #1 back. Lacy went down in Week Two after an ugly helmet-to-helmet hit. James Starks took over and rushed for over 100 yards. He looked like a solid bet heading into Week Three to manage the bulk of the groundwork, but he left the game with a knee injury in the second half of the game. Johnathan Franklin, who has been sharing time with Starks, turned in a solid fantasy performance, racking up top points for available players on waivers. With under four minutes left in the game, though, Franklin fumbled in what would have become the winning touchdown after the fumble was returned 60 yards.  Ouch. You know that fumble isn't sitting too well with Packers' offensive coaches.

Bottom Line: Expect Starks and Franklin to split carries until Lacy returns.

 

Cleveland Browns - Willis McGahee vs. Chris Ogbonnaya vs. Bobby Rainey

The Browns went from one of the more fluid depth chart situations to a very unorganized mess. Ogbonnaya only rushed the ball twice, while Rainey (who is listed as the RB1), rushed four times. Newcomer Willis McGahee had a team-leading nine carries but only managed nine yards. With more preparation, McGahee will provide a higher yards-per-carry than he did this past Sunday (1.1), and hopefully more than the 3.5 YPC that Trent Richardson had managed on the season.

Bottom Line: The Browns are a passing team and will face some tough competition in the weeks to come, including the Bengals twice and the Packers and Chiefs once each in the next seven weeks, so any Browns' RB will have a tough time racking up solid numbers. None of these guys will be worth starting just yet.

 

Atlanta Falcons - Jacquizz Rodgers vs. Jason Snelling

With S-Jax nursing his injured leg, Rodgers and Snelling were given the tough task of running on the 'Fins. While neither back got into the end zone, they both averaged a solid 4.8 YPC. Rodgers received the majority of the carries and should he get the start this Sunday-- he will be a must-start against New England.

Bottom Line: Both backs will get carries and will split time for the most part. Both are worth starting.

 

=========

Make sure to check out our full RB depth charts for information on all the RBs in the league.  Our Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups Blog also has a ton of good RB info and recommendations to help you win your league in 2013.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jake Burger

to Miss an Additional 2-3 Weeks
TreVeyon Henderson

Signs Rookie Contract
Christian Watson

Goes on PUP List
Austin Riley

Hopes to be Activated Next Week
Ketel Marte

Lands on Restricted List After Burglary
Ricky Pearsall

Heads to PUP List
Brandon Aiyuk

Placed on PUP List
Luther Burden III

Signs Rookie Deal
Washington Nationals

Eli Willits Expected to Sign Contract on Saturday
Grayson Rodriguez

Being Shut Down Again - Will We See Him Again This Year?
Ezequiel Tovar

Activated and Back in Lineup on Friday
Max Fried

"Hopeful" to Pitch Next Week - Looks Like He'll Avoid IL Stint
Steven Kwan

Receives Injection in Wrist, Considered Day-to-Day
CJ Abrams

Back to Start Second Half
Alec Bohm

Back From Rib Injury on Friday
Trey Hendrickson

Holdout to Spill into Regular Season?
Jalen McMillan

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Not Forgetting About Jalen McMillan
Levi Onwuzurike

to Miss at Least Four Games
Nick Emmanwori

Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori Reach Agreement on Rookie Deal
Max Holloway

Set For Main Event
Brandon Lowe

Back From 10-Day Injured List
Dustin Poirier

Set For His Final UFC Fight
Roman Kopylov

Set For Co-Main Event
Paulo Costa

Returns At UFC 318
Luis L. Ortiz

to Remain on Leave for Another Month - Will he Pitch Again?
Daniel Rodriguez

Looks For Third Win In A Row
Kevin Holland

Set For His Fourth Fight This Year
Dan Ige

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
MMA

Patricio Freire Set For His Second UFC Fight
Daniel Zellhuber

Set To Open Up UFC 318 Main Card
Michael Johnson

Looks For Third Consecutive Win
Elijah Arroyo

Signs Rookie Deal
Jaydon Blue

Described as "Borderline Lazy"
T.J. Sanders

Bills Sign T.J. Sanders to Rookie Deal
Christian Wilkins

Raiders Put Christian Wilkins on PUP List
Jabari Small

Lions Add Jabari Small to Backfield
Quinshon Judkins

Remains Unsigned, Won't Report With Rest of Rookies
Mason Taylor

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Jets
Hendon Hooker

Leading Lions QB2 Battle Entering Training Camp
Ozzy Trapilo

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Bears
Tate Ratledge

Agrees to Rookie Contract with Lions
Jack Bech

Signs Rookie Contract with Raiders
Yegor Chinakhov

Requests Trade
Dakota Joshua

Maple Leafs Acquire Dakota Joshua
Lukas Dostal

Signs Five-Year Extension with Ducks
Shemar Stewart

Not Practicing With College Team
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Expected Back Friday
Damian Lillard

Returning to Portland
Paul Skenes

Pirates Could Preserve Paul Skenes in Second Half
Brooks Barnhizer

Grabs 19 Points, Nine Boards in Summer League Win
Jeremiah Fears

Scores 22 Points in Summer League Loss to Thunder
Isaiah Collier

Collects 17 Points In Summer League Win
Caleb Houstan

Joins Hawks
AJ Johnson

Erupts for 25 Points in Summer League Loss
Washington Wizards

Leaky Black Logs Double-Double in Loss to Jazz
Connor Norby

Undergoes Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-8 Weeks
Trey Alexander

Tallies 25 Points in Losing Effort
Johni Broome

Records Second Consecutive Double-Double
Jahmir Young

Has Historic Summer League Outing
Rob Dillingham

Plays Big Role in Wednesday's Win
Tyrese Proctor

Erupts for 35 Points Against Kings
Cody Williams

Leads Jazz to Victory Against Wizards
LeBron James

Mavs Not Interested in "Gutting its Roster" For LeBron James
Josh Hart

Undergoes a Procedure on Right Finger
Jake Burger

Goes on 10-Day Injured List With Quad Strain
Sal Frelick

Dealing With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain, TBD for Start of Second Half
Chris Sale

Plays Catch
Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal Heading to Los Angeles to Join Clippers After Contract Buyout
Rayan Rupert

Scores 24 Points in Summer League Win
Derik Queen

Collects Third Consecutive Double-Double in Summer League Loss
GG Jackson II

Records 13 Points in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Johni Broome

Logs Double-Double Against Wizards
DaRon Holmes II

Records Double-Double in Summer League Loss to Raptors
Kyle Schwarber

Named All-Star Game MVP
Harris English

Takes Stellar 2025 Performance to The Open Championship
Aldrich Potgieter

Seeks Better Result in Northern Ireland
Cameron Young

Likely to Hang Around at The Open Championship
Cameron Smith

Just Trying to Make the Cut at Royal Portrush
Jordan Spieth

Is Jordan Spieth Still a Natural for Links Style Golf?
Patrick Reed

a Viable Option at The Open Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound from Last Experience at Royal Portrush
Xander Schauffele

Looks to Defend His Claret Jug at Royal Portrush
Tony Finau

Trying to Turn Tide at Royal Portrush
Daniel Brown

Seeks a Rebound at The Open Championship
Rory McIlroy

Will be the Most Watched Player This Week at Royal Portrush
Daniel Berger

Trending Poorly as The Open Championship Looms
Clayton Kershaw

Retires Both Batters In ASG Appearance
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Hit In Pinky In All-Star Game, X-Rays Negative
Robert MacIntyre

Hoping to Bounce Back at Open Championship
Shane Lowry

Hopes to Repeat at Royal Portrush
Brian Harman

Hopes to Rekindle Some Magic at the 153rd Open
UTA

Michael Carcone Returns to Utah on One-Year Contract
Bowen Byram

Signs Two-Year Deal with Sabres
Morgan Barron

Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron for Two Years
PGA

Chris Gotterup Punches Ticket to Royal Portrush With Win at Scottish Open
Bryson DeChambeau

Hopes to Reverse Links Golf Struggle at the 153rd Open
Keegan Bradley

Needs to Find The Weekend at Royal Portrush for Ryder Cup Hopes
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied For 22nd at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Finishes Tied For Eighth at Genesis Scottish Open
Jon Rahm

Finishes in Second at LIV Andalucia
Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF