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Week 2 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 2 running back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).

Lead fantasy football editor Edward Gorelik also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 2, 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 2.

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.

 

Week 2 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

RotoBaller
Staff Ranks
Player Name
(Team - Position)
Zach Wilkens
Rankings
Ed Gorelik
Rankings
1 Matt Forte CHI vs. ARI 1 1
2 Marshawn Lynch SEA at GB 4 2
3 DeMarco Murray PHI vs. DAL 2 5
4 Jeremy Hill CIN vs. SD 8 3
5 Carlos Hyde SF at PIT 3 8
6 Adrian Peterson MIN vs. DET 10 4
7 Jamaal Charles KC vs. DEN 7 7
8 Mark Ingram NO vs. TB 5 10
9 Justin Forsett BAL at OAK 9 6
10 Eddie Lacy GB vs. SEA 6 9
11 Lamar Miller MIA at JAC 13 11
12 Ameer Abdullah DET at MIN 12 13
13 LeSean McCoy BUF vs. NE 11 15
14 Christopher Ivory NYJ at IND 14 12
15 Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. HOU 15 14
16 Doug Martin TB at NO 24 16
17 Tevin Coleman ATL at NYG 17 23
18 Frank Gore IND vs. NYJ 22 19
19 Latavius Murray OAK vs. BAL 20 24
20 Danny Woodhead SD at CIN 27 18
21 DeAngelo Williams PIT vs. SF 23 22
22 Joseph Randle DAL at PHI 21 25
23 C.J. Anderson DEN at KC 25 21
24 Giovani Bernard CIN vs. SD 18 31
25 Dion Lewis NE at BUF 35 17
26 Bishop Sankey TEN at CLE 32 20
27 Shane Vereen NYG vs. ATL 19 34
28 Rashad Jennings NYG vs. ATL 28 26
29 Alfred Morris WAS vs. STL 26 28
30 C.J. Spiller NO vs. TB 16 43
31 Melvin Gordon SD at CIN 31 30
32 T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. MIA 29 36
33 Chris Johnson ARI at CHI 39 27
34 Isaiah Crowell CLE vs. TEN 34 35
35 Benny Cunningham STL at WAS 37 33
36 Darren Sproles PHI vs. DAL 43 29
37 LeGarrette Blount NE at BUF 41 32
38 Joique Bell DET at MIN 36 39
39 Lance Dunbar DAL at PHI 33 44
40 Tre Mason STL at WAS 30 49
41 Ryan Mathews PHI vs. DAL 42 40
42 Alfred Blue HOU at CAR 40 42
43 Duke Johnson CLE vs. TEN 45 38
44 David Johnson ARI at CHI 47 37
45 Ronnie Hillman DEN at KC 38 46
46 Devonta Freeman ATL at NYG 44 45
47 Khiry Robinson NO vs. TB 62 41
48 Jonathan Grimes HOU at CAR 46 56
49 Reggie Bush SF at PIT 47
50 Fred Jackson SEA at GB 48 64
51 Matt Jones WAS vs. STL 58 48
52 Andre Williams NYG vs. ATL 49 58
53 Roy Helu OAK vs. BAL 50 67
54 Bilal Powell NYJ at IND 56 50
55 Darren McFadden DAL at PHI 54 51
56 Denard Robinson JAC vs. MIA 51 53
57 Karlos Williams BUF vs. NE 55 52
58 Charles Sims TB at NO 52 54
59 Damien Williams MIA at JAC 53 71
60 Theo Riddick DET at MIN 55
61 Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. DET 57 60
62 James White NE at BUF 57
63 Marcel Reece OAK vs. BAL 59 62
64 Terrance West TEN at CLE 60 59
65 Josh Robinson IND vs. NYJ 61 72
66 Javorius Allen BAL at OAK 68 61
67 Knile Davis KC vs. DEN 63 63
68 Chris Polk HOU at CAR 64 66
69 Toby Gerhart JAC vs. MIA 65
70 Anthony Dixon BUF vs. NE 65
71 James Starks GB vs. SEA 66
72 Chris Thompson WAS vs. STL 67
73 Brandon Bolden NE at BUF 68
74 Dri Archer PIT vs. SF 69
75 Jarryd Hayne SF at PIT 69
76 Bobby Rainey TB at NO 70
77 Will Johnson PIT vs. SF 70
78 Cameron Artis-Payne CAR vs. HOU 73
79 Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL at OAK 74

 
 

Week 2 Quick Hit Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik)

Jamaal Charles is another player that's hard to feel this week. On short rest, the Chiefs are lucky to at least be playing at home against the Broncos' talented front seven.

This is a team whose front has the ability to match up with running backs in the passing game, and completely close out rushing lanes, as it did against the Ravens. Charles is going to be hoping for a high volume of passes if he wants to find value in this game, because otherwise that 3.5 YPC average he had against the Texans is likely going to find itself falling even lower this week.

Speaking of front sevens that close running lanes, the Broncos found out last week that the Ravens front wasn't kidding around either. No one was able to find room to run in that game, and this week the Raiders (with an injured Derek Carr) are going to see the Ravens at home.

Latavius Murray was featured last week as the true three-down back on the roster, still finding value in a game where the Raiders were unable to do anything, but Murray is going to have to pull off some real magic in order to create value for himself in this one.

With either an injured signal caller or a backup, Murray will become the focal point of the offense against a very tough defense with little support.

On the flip side, Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell are getting boosts from irrelevance to potential relevance this week. I can't buy the idea that the Titans have suddenly turned their bottom-eight offense into a top-eight one so quickly, but even if they have gotten better they shouldn't be good enough to take advantage of an offensive line like the Browns.

Both running backs are still far outside the top 24, and are more FLEX options than actual starters, because of the Browns offense that's likely to stutter. But the matchup is in their favor for some relevance this week.

 

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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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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

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Sam Montembeault

Remains Out For Game 5
Aliaksei Protas

Likely To Return Wednesday
Gary Woodland

Could See Success At CJ CUP
Alexandre Carrier

A Game-Time Call Wednesday
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Out On Wednesday
Cam Davis

Making First Appearance At TPC Craig Ranch
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Expected To Miss Rest Of The Season
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Devonte Wyatt's Fifth-Year Option Exercised By Packers
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Montravius Adams Released By Steelers
Sam Burns

Could Be Due For A Great Week At TPC Craig Ranch
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Eagles Picking Up Fifth-Year Option On Jordan Davis
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Myles Price Lands With Vikings As UDFA
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Nick Nash Has An Opportunity With Falcons
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A.J. Puk

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Josh Lowe

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Shane McClanahan

Begins "Throwing-Like" Activities
Patrik Laine

Remains Day-To-Day
Gabriel Vilardi

On Track To Return Wednesday
Brandon Hagel

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Marcus Johansson

Returns To Action Tuesday
Cole Ragans

Won't Start On Wednesday
Dylan Moore

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Jonas Siegenthaler

Considered A Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Brett Pesce

A Game-Time Call Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Back In Tuesday's Lineup
Frederik Andersen

Unavailable Tuesday
Aaron Nesmith

Upgraded To Available
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Jack Bech A Strong Candidate To Be An Immediate Starter
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New York Jets

Mason Taylor To Immediately Be Atop Jets Tight End Depth Chart
Bennedict Mathurin

Cleared For Game 5
Buffalo Bills

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Denver Broncos

Dre Greenlaw Expected To Be Ready For Training Camp
Seattle Seahawks

Sam Darnold To Take Over 90% Of The Snaps
Tennessee Titans

Titans In No Rush To Trade Will Levis
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Records Third Consecutive Double-Double
Brandin Podziemski

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Jimmy Butler III

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Jarrett Allen

Has Double-Double, Six Steals In Blowout Win
Brandon Boston Jr.

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Kelly Olynyk

Undergoes Heel Procedure
Aaron Nesmith

Probable For Tuesday's Action
Nathan MacKinnon

Has Two Points In Losing Effort
Jimmy Butler III

Officially Active For Game 4
Isaiah Stewart

Uncertain For Game 5
Michael Porter Jr.

Expected To Play In Game 5
Russell Westbrook

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Jaylen Brown

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William Byron

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Ryan Blaney

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Kyle Larson

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Brad Keselowski

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Zhang Mingyang

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Anthony Smith

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Giga Chikadze

Takes Unanimous Decision Loss
Giga Chikadze

Takes Unanimous-Decision Loss
David Onama

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Michel Pereira

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Abus Magomedov

Extends His Win Streak
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Gets Finished For The First Time
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Gets Back In The Win Column
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Gets First-Round TKO Finish At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Gets TKO'd At UFC Kansas City
Chase Elliott

Recovers from Speeding Penalty to Finish Fifth
Joey Logano

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Ryan Preece

Loses Talladega Race First in Photo Finish Then in Post-Race Inspection
NASCAR

Poor Toyota Strategy Arguably Cost Bubba Wallace Winning Chances at Talladega
Christopher Bell

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DFS Players Should Like Bubba Wallace For Talladega This Week
Christopher Bell

Should DFS Players Roster Christopher Bell At Talladega?
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Austin Dillon

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Josh Berry

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Should DFS Players Take A Shot On Michael McDowell At Talladega?
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RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF