Week 2 was full of wacky and wild performances and the injury bug was in full contagion. For the most part, injuries were isolated to quarterbacks, defensive players and big men. Oddly enough, most running backs were spared.

That didn't stop a handful of teams from completely changing their rushing attack over the course of one week. The Redskins shocked the league with a new rookie weapon, while the Patriots asserted yet another anonymous half back. The Eagles recorded negative yardage on the ground, as the 2012 MVP surged back to prominence.

Let's take a look at some changes in backfields around the NFL that may become relevant in weeks to come

 

AFC EAST: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver     Wire Watch
Questionable	Patriots	Dion Lewis	LaGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden	James White	Dion Lewis
Solid	Jets	Chris Ivory	Bilal Powell	Zac Stacy, Stevan Ridley	N/A
Solid	Bills	LeSean McCoy	Karlos Williams	Bryce Brown, Boobie Dixon	Karlos Williams
Questionable	Dolphins	Lamar Miller	Damien Williams, Jay Ayaji	LaMichael James	N/A

 

It's now certain that LeGarrette Blount will be entering Week 2 as the starter. Blount returned from suspension on Sunday, but Dion Lewis was the clear starter in this one. Lewis played 73 snaps compared to just seven for Blount. Through two weeks of the season, Lewis is a top-5 fantasy running back with 258 all-purpose yards and a touchdown. He is a must add in all formats. However, it's always important to be weary of Patriots tail backs. Remember Jonas Grey? Remember every running back in New England since Corey Dillon? Lewis seems to be the top dog for now, but his value remains situational.

Chris Ivory rushed for a modest 57 yards on 14 carries against the Colts Monday night. Bilal Powell was a surprisingly heavy handcuff, gaining 54 yards on 16 touches. The two backs had nearly identical nights, with Ivory getting the slight nod. For now, it appears that Ivory is the unquestioned starter, while Powell will be used as the situation calls for him.

McCoy looked good in a shoot out against the Patriots Week 2, rushing for 89 yards on 15 carries and adding three receptions for 27 yards. It was a good bounce back game for Shady. He still doesn't resemble his 2013 form, a year in which he led the league in rushing and total yards from scrimmage. Karlos Williams didn't look too bad himself, piling up 37 yards and a score during his 23 snaps. Williams has proved to be a considerable handcuff for McCoy early on. Don't expect any changes in the depth chart, but McCoy's value will be limited while the backups continue to perform.

The Dolphins run game has been practically nonexistent through two weeks. Lamar Miller only saw 40 snaps, compared to 31 for backup Damien Williams. Williams may have asserted his role as the passing down back with his fourth quarter touchdown grab. It seems like Miller still has the starter role locked down. Still, he must perform to maintain that job and the Dolphins must make some changes if the backfield in Miami is to hold any value at all.

 

AFC WEST: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver     Wire Watch
Volatile	Broncos	C.J. Anderson	Ronnie Hillman	Juwan Thompson	Ronnie Hillman
Solid	Chiefs	Jamaal Charles	Knile Davis	Charcandrick West	N/A
Solid	Raiders	Latavius Murray	Taiwan Jones	Roy Helu	N/A
Volatile	Chargers	Melvin Gordon, Danny Woodhead	Branden Oliver	Donald Brown	Danny Woodhead

 

Owners who spent an early draft pick on C.J. Anderson are likely kicking themselves by now, as the much-hyped tail back has gathered only 54 rushing yards through two weeks. Some (forgiving) observers claimed that Anderson's Week 1 struggles were the result of a staunch Baltimore run defense. Well, for what it's worth, Latavius Murray gained 87 yards from scrimmage with a score against that same unit. Ronnie Hillman accumulated seven more yards than Anderson, despite rushing three less times. I don't like either of these players moving forward. Anderson holds a tentative hold on the job for now, but his tenure is quickly evaporating. Stash Hillman if you're feeling curious.

Another strong showing from Jamaal Charles. 125 yards and touchdown has become business as usual for the flagship tail back in Kansas City. The two lost fumbles, including the game-clinching turnover, are not routine. As long as Charles can hold on to the football, he is locked in and ready to go each and every week. Knile Davis will be seen only as a change of pace.

As previously mentioned, Murray put up a solid performance against a tough Ravens run defense Week 2. The Raiders offense got rolling this time around and looks like it may have found some rhythm. Murray is clearly the lead back here, as he was one of only five RBs to receive over 75% of the snaps this week. This situation seems steady for the time being and Murray is beginning to look like a top-10 back. Just be sure to watch out for touchdown vulture Marcel Reece.

What in the world is going on in San Diego? There is no discernible starter nor standout in the Chargers backfield at the moment. Here are the numbers: Danny Woodhead barely outsnapped rookie Melvin Gordon 32-to-29; Gordon rushed 16 times to just seven attempts for Woodhead; Woodhead reeled in six-of-six receptions, whereas Gordon caught his only target; Gordon amassed 98 yards from scrimmage compared to 104 from Woodhead. These two could not be more evenly matched. At this current rate, both hold fantasy value in most leagues. For now, it seems to be a dead split between the two, with the edge going to Woodhead in PPR formats. Stash either one if available, as one is likely to emerge eventually. Branden Oliver is ready to go as third stringer.

 

AFC NORTH: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver     Wire Watch
Solid	Ravens	Justin Forsett	Lorenzo Taliaferro	Javorius Allen	N/A
Solid	Steelers	Le'Veon Bell	DeAngelo Williams	Dri Archer	DeAngelo Williams
Volatile	Bengals	Jeremy Hill	Giovani Bernard	Rex Burkhead, Cedric Peerman	Giovanni Bernard
Volatile	Browns	Isaiah Crowell	Duke Johnson	Shaun Draughn	Duke Johnson

 

Lorenzo Taliaferro saw more action this time around, as he was present for 31 of the Ravens 82 snaps. Still, there was a pretty clear-cut hierarchy on Sunday, as Justin Forsett led the team in snaps, attempts, yards and targets. Javorius Allen saw a slice of the action as well, acting mainly as a blocker. Look for Forsett to heat up in the weeks ahead.

For the record, I totally called DeAngelo Williams going off in a Week 2 matchup against a shattered 49ers defense. Strangely, that same defense held Adrian Peterson to a lowly Week 1 showing. However, Williams helped the world see the Niners' true colors. The backup half back led the position in fantasy scoring with 92 yards from scrimmage and three scores. In fact, Williams is the leading fantasy RB through two games in 2015, averaging 102 YPG on the ground. Of course, All-Pro tail back Le'Veon Bell will be returning from suspension this week and resume his role as the incumbent starter. Still, it will be hard to deny Williams playing time after two consecutive powerful outings.

Oh boy. In a nearly exact reflection of last year's running back drama, Giovani Bernard has taken over dutires from sophomore back Jeremy Hill. Well, that's not quite official yet. After losing two first half fumbles in a tight game against San Diego, Hill was benched in favor of Bernard. The latter did not waste the opportunity. Bernard rushed for 123 yards and added 16 more yards on three receptions. Head coach Marvin Lewis has made it very clear that he will not play a tail back who fumbles the ball. If Hill's early season struggles continue, Gio will have the chance to shine again.

Another poor showing for the Browns ground attack. Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson essentially split snaps (24-to-26) and carries (12-to-15) while neither was targeted in the passing game. Though Crowell seemed slightly stronger, we have yet to see any fantasy relevance from the Browns backfield. With that being said, I claimed that the passing game in Cleveland would hold no value a week ago. The likes of Johnny Manziel and Travis Benjamin proved me wrong. It is still worthwhile to keep an eye on Johnson, who has been electric in the past.

 

AFC SOUTH: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver     Wire Watch
Solid	Colts	Frank Gore	Josh Robinson	Vick Ballard	N/A
Volatile	Texans	Arian Foster	Chris Polk, Alfred Blue	Jonathan Grimes	N/A
Questionable	Titans	Bishop Sankey	Dexter McCluster, Terrance West	Antonio Andrews, David Cobb	Dexter McCluster
Solid	Jaguars	T.J. Yeldon	Denard Robsinson, Bernard Pierce	Corey Grant	N/A

 

Frank Gore, along with the whole of the Colts offense, looked shaky in a Week 2 loss to the Jets. He fumbled on a key possession at the goal line (twice). At times, he looked strong, but the Colts line could not maintain the protection. Josh Robinson saw a few looks, but could only manage 12 yards on five carries. Good news has been scarce through two weeks for Indianapolis. Gore is still locked as starter, but should perhaps be benched until he can right the ship.

So what we know is that Arian Foster (groin) will be starting when he returns. What we don't know is how long it'll take for him to return exactly and who is his backup. No one has really impressed in Houston's RBBC. Chris Polk has seemingly taken over lead duties from a lackluster Alfred Blue, as the former played 42 snaps. This is basically a live competition for a backup gig once Foster returns. For now, it appears that the latest that return will be is Week 4. It remains a very real possibility that Foster, who returned to practice late last week, will be available Sunday against the Buccaneers. If so, Foster is a must own and must start against Tampa Bay's questionable defense.

What the McCluster just happened? After (loudly) hailing the rise of Bishop Sankey last week, Dexter McCluster stole the show against the Browns, rushing for 98 yards on just 10 carries. He out-touched Sankey 14-to-12 and looked good doing it. Naturally, McCluster will never be a true, high-volume tail back. He's just too small. However, the big play ability is too much to ignore. Sankey will probably retain a hold on the starter role with heavy handcuffs from McCluster and, ocassionally, Terrence West.

TJ Yeldon was nothing special in an emotionally charged win against Miami on Sunday. On the other hand, his 62 snaps were special, as he further asserted his role as the one and only back in Jacksonville. Yeldon has piled up 150 yards from scrimmage over two starts and is poised for a potential breakout in the weeks to come. Denard Robinson and Bernard Pierce will only see the field when Yeldon needs to catch his breath.

 

NFC EAST: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver      Wire Watch
Volatile	Giants	Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen	Andre Williams	Orleans Darkwa	N/A
Solid	Eagles	DeMarco Murray	Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles	Kenjon Barner	N/A
Volatile	Cowboys	Joseph Randle	Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar	Christine Michael	Lance Dunbar
Questionable	Redskins	Alfred Morris	Matt Jones	Chris Thompson, Trey Williams	Matt Jones

 

Well, Rashad Jennings is still the starting running back in New York, technically. The G-Men ran a clear RBBC in a crushing loss against the Falcons Sunday. While Jennings' nine carries were the most of the three, he was out-rushed by Andre Williams and far out-received by Vereen. In fact, Vereen's prominence in the passing game has been the only fantasy-relevant level of success out of the Giants backfield thus far. All of these tail backs are nightmares for fantasy owners. If you are in a PPR league, Vereen is well worth a look. Jennings' time is running short to prove his value as a starter.

Yikes. Things are not looking good in Philadelphia. The Eagles failed to break into positive yardage in the run game against Dallas. On the bright side, DeMarco Murray's grasp on starting duties seems stronger after both Darren Sproles and Ryan Mathews were non-factors in Week 2. There's just no way this can continue, right? Eventually, Chip Kelly's offense will right the ship and pick up the tempo. This has become a tricky situation for owners who spent a first-round pick on Murray in this year's draft. He is still locked in as the starter, but will have the unpleasant duty to share the action with a crowded backfield in Kelly's unorthodox offensive scheme.

We're still no closer to a real certainty about what's going on in Dallas. Joseph Randle certainly received the bulk of the work in the rushing game again this week, as he carried the ball 18 times, compared to 10 for Darren McFadden and just one for Lance Dunbar. However, Dunbar remained relevant in the passing game, hauling in three passes for 45 yards. It seems like this situation will remain in place until something decisive happens or until McFadden inevitably gets injured. Randle is still probably the strongest fantasy play, while Dunbar remains a strong sleeper possibility in PPR formats.

Nothing to see here. Woah, didn't see that one coming. Matt Jones was huge for the Redskins on Sunday, posting a 19-123-2 line, good for the second-best fantasy performance of the week. The rookie has huge talent and could be a major factor in the Skins rune game going forward. A crucial takeaway from the dominating win over the Rams is the stellar performance of the offensive line. The line, which has been a contributing factor to Washington's lowly status for years ran over the defense in St. Louis, paving the way for Jones's strong play. Alfred Morris is still the lead back here and did decently well with his 16 snaps. Still, there is a battle brewing in the backfield of Washington.

 

NFC WEST: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver Wire Watch
Solid	49ers	Carlos Hyde	Reggie Bush	Mike Davis, Jerrod Hayne	N/A
Solid	Seahawks	Marshawn Lynch	Fred Jackson	Thomas Rawls	N/A
Questionable	Cardinals	Andre Ellington	David Johnson, Chris Johnson	Stepfan Taylor	Chris Johnson
Questionable	Rams	Tre Mason, Todd Gurley	Benny Cunningham	Isaiah Pead	N/A

 

Mike Davis emerged as the primary handcuff to Carlos Hyde as he played 42 snaps in an embarrassing Week 2 loss in Pittsburgh. He only rushed for 14 yards on seven carries, thus not making a strong argument for playing time once Hyde (head) and Bush (calf) return healthy. Though Hyde was not particularly sharp this time around, he remains top-2 in fantasy scoring in 2015 and is a firm lock as the starting back in San Francisco. Jerrod Hayne was basically irrelevant.

The starter is and will be Marshawn Lynch. He struggled against a usually mediocre Packers run defense, gaining only 41 yards on 15 carries. Still, he was the only half back of relevance in Seattle, as always. Wait - that's not true. Fred Jackson coughed up the game-sealing fumble in the fourth quarter. That's why nobody should touch the ball besides Beast Mode.

Chris Johnson was a solid replacement for an injured Andre Ellington Week 2, rushing for 72 yards on 20 carries. Ellington may be sidelined for a week or so more, meaning Johnson could be a valuable waiver wire pickup for the next couple of games. David Johnson was also impressive, tacking on 42 yards with just five carries. His role in the passing game was much more limited this time around. It's not clear how much of this success is due to a flimsy Bears defense. Both Johnsons will likely take a back seat role again upon Ellington's return.

Tre Mason returned this week and took the reigns - and was completely unsuccessful. He rushed only seven times for 24 yards, as the Rams were completely overrun by the Redskins. Have no fear; Todd Gurley is set to make his NFL debut Week 3 against Pittsburgh. There is little doubt that the 10th overall pick will attain regular starting duties once he is introduced. Still, Gurley must prove his worth before his long-term status is set in stone. It's possible that Mason and Benny Cunningham will hold some value in an active passing attack in St. Louis.

 

NFC NORTH: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver Wire Watch
Solid	Packers	Eddie Lacy	James Starks	Alonzo Harris	N/A
Volatile	Lions	Ameer Abdullah, Joique Bell	Theo Riddick	Zach Zenner	Theo Riddick
Solid	Bears	Matt Forte	Jeremy Langford	Jacquizz Rodgers	N/A
Solid	Vikings	Adrian Peterson	Jerick McKinnon	Matt Asiata	N/A

 

Eddie Lacy lasted only one series against the Seahawks before going down with an ankle injury. In his stead, James Starks shined, rushing for 95 yards on 20 attempts. The x-ray results on Lacy came back negative and it's looking like he will play Week 3 when the Packers host the Chiefs on Monday night. Nobody came in to relieve Starks, meaning that it's basically a two-man backfield in Green Bay. Well, unless you include John Kuhn. Lacy will resume starting duties once healthy and Starks will be valuable if he goes down again.

Triple Yikes. None of the Lions three running backs broke ten yards rushing against the Vikings. Theo Riddick, who saw the most snaps (34), managed 41 yards on five receptions. This remains one of the most volatile backfields in the league. Riddick is the clear third stringer, but neither Ameer Abdullah nor Joique Bell has emerged ahead of him. For now, all three options are mostly useless. It's worth noting that this dismal performance came against a Minnesota run defense that was blasted by Carlos Hyde just a week ago, making matters worse. Abdullah has the best bet to take over starting time if he begins to perform, while Riddick may be a sneaky waiver wire play in deep PPR leagues.

Matt Forte is officially the only meaningful asset left on a ravaged Chicago roster. He remained sharp on Sunday, accumulating 105 yards from scrimmage, breaking the century mark for the second consecutive week. Thus far, he is a top-3 fantasy RB and is the undisputed starter moving forward.

It's about time. After a disappointing season debut in San Francisco, Adrian Peterson led all half backs in rushing yards (132) in Week 2. Not-so-coincidentally, Peterson also led all backs with 29 carries. The performance was a testament to Peterson's ability to produce at age 30 after missing an entire season. The veteran also added 58 yards on two receptions, also losing a fumble in the process. It was a wild day for Peterson. Expect many more games just like this, with a few touchdowns sprinkled in.

 

NFC SOUTH: Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB)

Baller Stability Rating	Team Name	Primary Running Back	Backup or Handcuff	Longshot Candidates	Waiver Wire Watch
Solid	Saints	Mark Ingram	C.J. Spiller	Khiry Robinson	N/A
Questionable	Falcons	Tevin Coleman	Devonta Freeman	Terrone Ward	Devonta Freeman
Solid	Panthers	Jonathan Stewart	Fozzy Whittaker	Cameron Artis-Payne	N/A
Questionable	Buccaneers	Doug Martin	Charles Sims,Bobby Rainey	Mike James	Charles Sims

 

Mark Ingram retained his hold as the main man in New Orleans, out-snapping the backups 51-to-22. Yet, he only managed 53 yards on 16 carries. C.J. Spiller had a nice 19-yard gain on his only target in the passing game, but was mostly quiet aside from that. Of the bunch, Khiry Robinson looked the slickest, pounding the Buccaneers defense for 48 yards on five consistent attempts. Right now, it seems as if Ingram is the only RB with any value in the Saints backfield. Spiller and Robinson should be watched closely for any breakout potential.

Tevin Coleman went down with a broken rib in the Falcons Week 2 matchup against the Giants. The rookie was looking good prior to the injury, posting a 9-32-1 line in 19 snaps. Devonta Freeman stepped up in his absence, adding 59 yards on 16 touches. Freeman is a must-add until Coleman returns. With that being said, he will probably become a must-drop when the time comes.

Jonathan Stewart again saw almost all of the action against the Texans. That will not change any time soon. Fullback Mike Tolbert is the only other relevant player in the Carolina backfield. He touched the ball seven times on Sunday and totaled 33 yards.

In Week 2, Doug Martin out-snapped, out-touched and out-gained Charles Sims to lead the Buccaneers rushing attack. On 23 touches, Martin just barely reached the century mark, while Sims only managed 52 yards on the day. Muscle Hamster remains the starter through two weeks. If I were a betting man, my money would be on Sims taking over by Week 6.

 

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