Top 10 Running Back Studs - Best Fantasy Football RB Performances from Week 4

October 4, 2022

Running back rankings for half-PPR fantasy points scored in Week 4. Kyle reacts to the best fantasy football RB performances and projects them moving forward.

Some new faces made their way onto the top ten running back list for Week 4. Many fantasy managers across the landscape had high hopes for Rashaad Penny this season and he broke out during Week 4. So far through the first month of the season, many of the usual RB suspects have been nowhere to be found while many of the later picks such as Cordarelle Patterson and James Robinson have been in the top 10 for multiple weeks. Early evidence plus the unfortunate occurrence of injuries have suggested this could be a solid year for Zero RB drafters.

Saquon Barkley is fresh and healthy on a much improved Giants roster and has been looking like his old self again. Jonathan Taylor left the contest for the Colts with what appears to be a high-ankle sprain and D'Andre Swift did not play in Week 4. Many fantasy managers who drafted a running back early are panicking, but to be honest it's been mostly a war of attrition in that regard all across the board. If you are in a bind don't panic and make sure to follow my weekly high-upside waiver wire stashes and be one step ahead of your league mates with FAAB and on the waiver wire.

Here are the Top 10 running back from Week 4 based on fantasy points scored in half-PPR formats. Make sure to bookmark our live fantasy football scoreboard so you can see all the live scoring and top fantasy football performances each week, during the games, and afterward as well.

Top 10 Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 4

Here were the top 10 running back from Week 4 of the NFL season in half-PPR scoring:

1. Josh Jacobs

The general consensus across the fantasy landscape all summer was that Josh McDaniels' arrival in Las Vegas would mean new high heights for Derek Carr, but would spell doom for all of their running backs, most notably Josh Jacobs, but so far the opposite has happened. On Sunday, Jacobs was unleashed in a 32-23 victory over the Denver Broncos where he rushed 28 times for 144 yards and 2 TDs. Jacobs also caught 5 of his 6 targets for 31 and finished as the overall RB1 in Week 4 (excluding MNF).

Many expected McDaniels to utilize the typical RB-by-committee approach that was used in New England, but so far this season Josh Jacobs has played 71% of the team's offensive snaps while the Raiders offense has struggled through the air. Carr's completion percentage and YPA are down considerably, but Jacobs is continuing to be a value for fantasy like he is every other year.

So far this season Jacobs has seen 13 targets and looks to have some value in the passing game. The concern with the Raiders is if they don't get things going Jacobs could be an RB who is not game-script proof in the sense that historically he has not been effective in games that the Raiders don't win or are trailing and are forced to pass. As we can see below, Jacobs is much more effective when his team is winning or in neutral game-scripts. Can the Raiders get things going after their first win?

Jacobs should be viewed as a low-end RB1 / high-end RB2 for the rest of the season, but the consistency may not be there week to week. As the Raiders go so will Jacobs.

2. Austin Ekeler

That sound you heard yesterday afternoon was millions of fantasy players who spent a 1st-Round Pick on Ekeler all sighing in unison. While so far this season it hasn't looked pretty at times, yesterday Ekeler rushed 13 times for 60 yards and 2 TDs. He also hauled in 7 of his 6 targets for 49 yards and a TD. As we have seen from Ekeler in recent years he is more effective as a pass catcher and his high receiving floor will likely be there every week.

Yesterday was a get-right game for the Chargers who had been humiliated by the Jaguars at home the week before. While injuries are starting to pile up in a big way on their roster this season (surprise, surprise), we should still be viewing the Chargers as a Top 10 unit offensively for fantasy this year. The reality is that while Ekeler may be losing some of his sizzle, there simply isn't anyone good enough on the depth chart to take away from his valuable touches.

If you were looking to move on from Ekeler, now is probably the time to do it. The only problem with that right now is that Saquon Barkley is currently the only healthy RB with a higher ceiling than him on a weekly basis. As mentioned in a previous article, it may often not look pretty for Ekeler this season, much like a look behind the scenes at how the sausage is made, he should still be considered a Top 5 start at RB each and every week he is out there.

3. Miles Sanders

A surprise to the Top 10, Sanders had a mighty fall in ADP this summer despite the Eagles not drafting another running back or adding one in free agency who could threaten Sanders for touches. Many including myself believed that Kenneth Gainwell would be a late RB to draft and stash this season, but so far that hasn't happened. So far Sanders has rushed for 356 yards and 3 TDs in four games while playing 52, 53, 59, and 67 percent of the offensive snaps in consecutive weeks.

The issue with Sanders has never been with talent, it has been with injuries/durability and Philadelphia's unwillingness to commit to him. Last season Sanders had 0 rushing touchdowns, so we should have seen that some positive regression was coming his way. In his career, Sanders has averaged over 5.0 yards per rush, which is impressive. So far the receiving numbers do not appear to be high for 2022 as he is averaging just 2 receptions per game, but if you have Sanders in your fantasy lineup right now you've got to be thrilled.

Sanders is a free agent after the season and could be in for a payday if this production keeps up. Boston Scott was out yesterday with an injury, which is why Sanders saw an uptick in red zone carries. This offense still has the potential to be a fantasy nightmare for RBs with Gainwell involved in the receiving game, Scott inside the red zone, and Sanders everywhere, he is a player worth potentially trying to buy low on right now. This Eagles offense is shaping up to be a very good one for the 2022 season and Sanders appears to be the best RB on the roster by far.

4. Rashaad Penny

It finally happened! The Penny breakout week came and went against a Lions defense that is giving up the most points in the NFL. Penny rushed 17 times for 151 yards and 2 TDs while bulldozing his way into the Top 5 on the week. The issue with Penny has never been with his talent, but rather with his utilization from Seattle in their offense, as well as his injury history. While the Seahawks are 2-2 and Geno Smith is currently playing better than Russell Wilson, is it reasonable to expect this kind of offensive output every week from the Seahawks?

Penny is a player I mostly avoided in redraft leagues due to the Seahawks offense not being projected to be very good and the fact that he doesn't catch too many passes. In negative game scripts, Penny would crush your fantasy lineup for that week in a bad way. What has been difficult to anticipate so far has been how solid the Seahawks' offense is as well as how Geno Smith has looked through the first 4 weeks of the season. The Seahawks are in the better half of the league in offensive yards and points per game, something none of us saw coming!

For the next four weeks, the Seahawks play the Saints, Cardinals, Chargers, and Giants. Can Penny keep up the great performance he had yesterday going forward? So far this season he has just 4 total receptions. If the Seahawks are better than advertised and they aren't playing from behind, he could be a smash the rest of the way. Just keep in mind for Penny to be great for fantasy he needs two things in his favor: the Seahawks winning and him scoring touchdowns. Since he isn't used much of a receiver we have to remain conscious of that going forward. What if Pete Carroll was the sane one in the relationship with Wilson all along?

5. Jamaal Williams

So far this season Jamaal Williams is looking like a league-winning handcuff. After a solid Week 3, Williams was at it again with 19 carries for 108 yards and 2 TDs against the Seattle defense. While he hasn't been used much as a receiver this season compared to years past, Jamaal is absolutely crushing it on the ground as he has crossed the goal line 6 times in just 4 games! The Lions have the most points scored in the NFL through the first 4 weeks of the season. The bad news? They are like that dude in your fantasy league who has scored the most points but is still 1-3.

As long as D'Andre Swift remains sidelined Williams is a must-start each and every week regardless of the matchup. Coming up the Lions play the Patriots, Cowboys, and Dolphins who are much better defensively at this point than the Vikings and Seahawks, but nonetheless, we have to feel encouraged by how well the Lions' offense has looked through the first month of the season.

There likely isn't a big trade market for Williams right now being that Swift is expected back in a few weeks. He should be viewed as a top 12 RB each week he starts behind the Lions' monstrosity of an offensive line. The rest of the way he is a valuable depth piece and should be rostered in all formats. Given Swift's unfortunate injury history he is a valuable insurance piece for all needy RB teams.

6. Dameon Pierce

Another week, another great game from Dameon Pierce! He has had quite the fast rise up through the ranks so far this season and it's safe to say that we should no longer be viewing him as a fraud. While many in the fantasy community were skeptical of Pierce's rise in ADP before the season started, for right now it appears very justified being how well he has played. On Sunday against the Chargers, Pierce rushed 14 times for 131 yards and a TD, including a 75-yarder that he took to the house. Pierce also added 6 receptions for a total of 8 yards.

We have to be aware of Rex Burkhead potentially cutting into Pierce's fantasy value this season, but he appears to be gaining a stranglehold of the RB position in Houston. So far this season Pierce has played 29, 62, 59, and 68 percent of the offensive snaps! The Texans are currently 0-3-1, but have been competitive in just about all of their games so far. The concern for Pierce will be if the constant negative game scripts will take away from his production if Burkhead is used more as a receiver out of the backfield than Pierce is.

Last week I mentioned that it is difficult to predict Pierce to be valuable for fantasy each and every week, but as more information comes along we have to adjust our mindset and strategy. Right now, Pierce can be started in all formats as an RB2 if he is going to see 68 percent of the offensive snaps. Sometimes in fantasy we just have to ignore the situation and instead focus on the talent of the player and Pierce is certainly a talented one.

7. Derrick Henry

I can hear Rafiki from The Lion King in the background now: "The King has returned." Derrick Henry had himself a day on Sunday carrying the rock 22 times for 114 yards and a score. He also added 3 receptions for 33 yards, something we have not been accustomed to seeing from him in seasons past, which is obviously a great sign if you have him in full PPR formats. So far this season, Henry is still going strong averaging 4.0 yards per carry as the Titans have battled back to a respectable 2-2 after an 0-2 start.

Given the lack of other weapons on the offense as well as Treylon Burks being sidelined with turf toe, the Titans are going to have to rely heavily on Henry in order to stay competitive and continue winning games as many believe the coaching staff could be playing for their jobs this season. Given the state of injuries to top running backs around the NFL currently, if you are rostering Henry you should be content and thankful for how well he has held up in the first month of the season given where he was drafted.

Henry is likely a Top 5 RB each and every week and should be treated as such. Like Tom Brady, many keep writing them off each and every season thinking that the cliff is coming for both, only that it never does. The Titans have another favorable matchup coming up with the Commanders in Week 5 followed up with a bye week. If you have Henry on your roster there is no need to overthink or panic it as he is your RB1 each and every week.

8. Clyde Edwards-Helaire

The man known as CEH has been fantastic for fantasy so far this season as he seems to score in just about every game despite his modest snap share. Through the first 4 games of the season, CEH is playing barely 45% of the offensive snaps! Not only is he a solid receiver out of the backfield, but he has been used by Kansas City inside the red zone as well. While you likely cannot "sell high" on CEH at this time, he is absolute value at the RB position on your fantasy roster as things stand currently.

After looking quite paltry offensively in Weeks 2-3, the Chiefs got it going on SNF where they dropped 41 points on the Buccaneers' defense. With Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes getting accustomed to their new weaponry in Kansas City, as well as adjusting after the loss of Tyreek Hill, we should have expected that this offense might sputter in and out a bit in the beginning. However, as the season goes we should expect this team to be a high-powered unit by the time November rolls around.

What do you do if you are rostering CEH? There really isn't much you can do other than hold him right now. While it does seem inevitable that he will be due for some negative TD regression as CEH has scored 5 touchdowns on just 55 touches, he does appear to be entrenched as the team's RB1 for the time being. The speedster Isiah Pacheco and the wily veteran, Jerick McKinnon loom in the backfield, but we have to remember that Chiefs GM, Brett Veach spent a first-round pick on CEH, and the Chiefs are invested in him. If you can trade him outright for a player like Dalvin Cook or Joe Mixon I would do that move in a heartbeat, but if you can't get that kind of value he is mostly a player you are going to have to continue holding.

9. Christian McCaffrey

While many were concerned with drafting CMC as high as they did, often the 1.01 in drafts we should not be concerned with how well he is playing so far this season. Through the first 4 games, CMC has played 85% of the team's offensive snaps. As head coach, Matt Rhule is fighting to save his job as the Panthers have slipped to 1-3, it is impossible for them to take their star running back off of the field right now. This is bad for his long-term health and production, but for 2022 it is going to be a good thing.

On Sunday, CMC didn't do much on the ground with just 8 carries for 27 yards, but he showed us why he is still the best receiving back in the NFL catching all 9 of his targets for 81 yards and a score. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has been less than stellar through the first month of the season, which has negatively impacted CMC and DJ Moore's fantasy values. Mayfield has struggled throughout his career throwing to the short and intermediate middle of the field, which could be due to his height. Mayfield has thrown for under 200 yards in 3 of the 4 games so far this season and appears to be the thorn in the side of CMC and Moore. If a switch to Darnold is made it would likely be beneficial more for CMC as Sammy D is more likely to check down and work the underneath routes where McCaffrey absolutely thrives.

There isn't much more you can do right now besides holding and starting McCaffrey. He is a dynamic playmaker with the opportunity to go off on Sundays and win you your weeks. While he is only on pace for 80 receptions, it is difficult to see him finishing outside of the top 5 for running backs on the season as long as he is healthy. With Jonathan Taylor's injury status currently up in the air, there is no reason to beat yourself up for drafting CMC as high as you did. In fantasy, we always want to be chasing the highest possible upside to win our leagues. We are playing to win, not to come in third place.

10. J.K. Dobbins

A player who polarized the fantasy community for much of the summer, JK Dobbins showed us on Sunday why he is a special running back. Dobbins rushed 13 times for 41 yards and a TD while catching all 4 of his targets for 22 yards and a score. While those numbers are hardly exciting outside of the touchdowns, it's important to remember that Dobbins, if healthy is likely only going to get stronger as the season goes along. Lamar Jackson is looking like his former MVP self this season and we should want as many pieces of the Ravens' offense as we can get.

What has typically been a staple of the Ravens' identity in years past has been their defense, but that unit has been struggling to stop opponents so far this season which has resulted in a fair amount of shootouts already. We should be encouraged by Dobbins's 4 receptions on Sunday and that could be huge for his fantasy value going forward if it continues. Typically, offensive coordinator, Greg Roman hasn't dialed up many passes for his backs and a lot of times it doesn't make sense for Lamar to check it down when he is clearly the fastest player on the field.

While we have to be aware of Gus Edwards' eventual return, it was encouraging to see Dobbins making plays on Sundays. From a pure talent perspective, he is one of the most talented RBs in the entire NFL and could be an incredible steal for fantasy given where he was drafted. He should be viewed as an RB2 with upside in all formats going forward. If you need RB help on your roster he is an excellent buy-low candidate.

Looking Forward

How did you fare in Week 4? Many fantasy managers are feeling the frustration early after injuries have begun to pile up at the RB position. JK Dobbins looked healthy and fresh in his limited touches today and Breece Hall appears to be emerging as the true RB1 on the Jets. If you drafted them later in drafts your early patience has a great chance of paying some serious dividends.

A lot can change throughout the course of the season and it's important to stay up to date on all team injury reports and news so that you can use your waivers and FAAB priority wisely. Having running back depth can be crucial for your team over the full grind of a fantasy season and we should always be looking to find value at RB whenever possible.

Are there any running backs not on this list who you expect to bounce back in Week Four? If you have any FAAB or waiver questions as well, feel free to get at me on Twitter.

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