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Week 4 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 4 Running Back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).

Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 4, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 4.

You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.

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Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

RotoBaller
Staff Ranks
Player Name
(Team - Position)
Zach Wilkens
Rankings
Ed Gorelik
Rankings
1 Le'Veon Bell PIT vs. BAL 1 1
2 Jamaal Charles KC at CIN 3 2
3 Matt Forte CHI vs. OAK 2 4
4 Eddie Lacy GB at SF 4 3
5 Adrian Peterson MIN at DEN 6 6
6 Mark Ingram NO vs. DAL 5 8
7 Frank Gore IND vs. JAC 9 5
8 Latavius Murray OAK at CHI 7 7
9 Devonta Freeman ATL vs. HOU 8 9
10 Karlos Williams BUF vs. NYG 11 10
11 Giovani Bernard CIN vs. KC 10 18
12 Jonathan Stewart CAR at TB 14 15
13 Marshawn Lynch SEA vs. DET 15 14
14 Joseph Randle DAL at NO 18 12
15 T.J. Yeldon JAC at IND 16 19
16 Justin Forsett BAL at PIT 24 13
17 Shane Vereen NYG at BUF 27 11
18 Carlos Hyde SF vs. GB 12 26
19 Lamar Miller MIA vs. NYJ 22 16
20 Christopher Ivory NYJ at MIA 17 22
21 Lance Dunbar DAL at NO 23 17
22 Melvin Gordon SD vs. CLE 20 20
23 C.J. Anderson DEN vs. MIN 21 21
24 Jeremy Hill CIN vs. KC 19 27
25 Danny Woodhead SD vs. CLE 25 23
26 DeMarco Murray PHI at WAS 13 41
27 C.J. Spiller NO vs. DAL 29 28
28 Ryan Mathews PHI at WAS 36 25
29 Matt Jones WAS vs. PHI 33 29
30 Darren Sproles PHI at WAS 32 30
31 Ameer Abdullah DET at SEA 30 35
32 Theo Riddick DET at SEA 26 40
33 Isaiah Crowell CLE at SD 37 32
34 Doug Martin TB vs. CAR 40 31
35 Todd Gurley STL at ARI 35 37
36 Andre Ellington ARI vs. STL 24
37 Alfred Morris WAS vs. PHI 41 34
38 Chris Johnson ARI vs. STL 34 44
39 Chris Thompson WAS vs. PHI 28 57
40 Alfred Blue HOU at ATL 31 48
41 Bilal Powell NYJ at MIA 42 38
42 Thomas Rawls SEA vs. DET 45 36
43 Arian Foster HOU at ATL 33
44 Duke Johnson CLE at SD 38 46
45 David Johnson ARI vs. STL 48 39
46 Charles Sims TB vs. CAR 46 43
47 Rashad Jennings NYG at BUF 44 45
48 Benny Cunningham STL at ARI 39 54
49 Tre Mason STL at ARI 43 47
50 Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. MIN 51 42
51 Andre Williams NYG at BUF 47 53
52 James Starks GB at SF 49 50
53 Darren McFadden DAL at NO 53 49
54 Knile Davis KC at CIN 50 62
55 Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL at PIT 56 51
56 Fred Jackson SEA vs. DET 52 58
57 DeAngelo Williams PIT vs. BAL 57 52
58 Mike Davis SF vs. GB 55 63
59 Josh Robinson IND vs. JAC 55
60 Joique Bell DET at SEA 58 65
61 Khiry Robinson NO vs. DAL 59 59
62 Marcel Reece OAK at CHI 60
63 Fozzy Whittaker CAR at TB 60
64 Chris Polk HOU at ATL 61
65 Damien Williams MIA vs. NYJ 64
66 Mike Tolbert CAR at TB 66
67 Javorius Allen BAL at PIT 67
68 Reggie Bush SF vs. GB 68
69 Branden Oliver SD vs. CLE 69
70 Terron Ward ATL vs. HOU 70
71 Anthony Dixon BUF vs. NYG 71
72 Tevin Coleman ATL vs. HOU 72
73 Jonas Gray MIA vs. NYJ 73
74 Jerick McKinnon MIN at DEN 74

 

Week 4 Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis

By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)

There have been A LOT of disappointing running backs early this season. I remain high on some of them, like Jeremy Hill and DeMarco Murray. I still love the Bengals offense and I think Hill has a clear role there even though Giovani Bernard looks really good. I’m still starting Hill this week. As for DeMarco I am a little more concerned but I still expect the Eagles to bounce back at some point soon. Despite what Ryan Mathews did last week I think Murray is clearly the more talented back, it’s just a matter of whether the offensive line can improve. Assuming Murray plays I think he should be in your lineup this week.

I’m feeling less comfortable with Lamar Miller and C.J. Anderson, but I think they should still make it into to most lineups this week as low-end RB2s. Neither has a great matchup but they really need to prove themselves this week. Miller's usage is frustrating but on the bright side there is no clear competition behind him just yet. The same can’t be said for Anderson, who has Ronnie Hillman hot on his heels. Luckily for Anderson owners, Hillman was very quiet in Week 3.

It looks like rookie Karlos Williams will get the start for the Bills this week. He should be in all lineups against a mediocre Giants defense. I expect the Bills to run a lot here and Williams has looked really good so far mostly as the backup to LeSean McCoy. I don’t expect Williams to permanently take the lead role but I do expect a big day in Week 4.

I think Duke Johnson is a PPR sleeper. He quietly recorded six catches last week, flashing a skill set that was a large part of his college succes. He had 38 receptions his final year, but he didn’t catch any balls in his first two NFL games. Now that he’s finally being integrated as a pass-catcher I expect his PPR value to increase. Crowell is still the main rusher for now but Johnson will be looking to impress the coaches and get more touches.

I don’t think we saw enough of Todd Gurley last week to plug him into lineups just yet. I do think he has a good chance to lead the Rams in touches in Week 4, but I don't expect much in a tough matchup against the Cardinals. If he does well with 12+ touches this week I think he'll make a good start in Week 5 against the Packers.

 

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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.




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