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Week 7 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 7 running back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Bill Dubiel (@Roto_Dubs), Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) and Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).

Featured writer Ben Ruppert also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 7, 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 7. You can also check out RotoBaller's overall player rankings here.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email info@rotoballer.com with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

 

Week 7 Running Backs - Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Get ready for a dominating week from DeMarco Murray. Indianapolis has been the recipe for RB success all season long. They have allowed two straight rushers to eclipse the 100-yard mark, and they allowed T.J. Yeldon to have his best game of the season the week before that. Murray has been doing it all this season while completely holding off Derrick Henry for the bulk of the carries. As per usual, roll out Murray with extreme confidence. He should be the best play of the week.

LeSean McCoy had his hamstring tighten up in practice this week, leaving his status for Sunday completely up in the air. He has a prime matchup this week at Miami, who allow 120 yards on the ground per game to opposing RBs. He is a great play if he can go, if not look for Mike Gillislee to step in. Gillislee has been good in limited action this season, rushing 17 times for 117 yards (6.9 YPC) with two TDs. Last season at the end of the year he got one start and didn’t look good, rushing 24 times for 28 yards. However, that was against a Jets defense that was much more difficult to face than the Jets this year. He would be a nice RB2 play against Miami if named the starter.

The New Orleans Saints have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season. This week they take on the Chiefs at KC, who have two running backs with the ability to dominate in Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles. The return of Charles was supposed to put an end to Ware’s run, but he has been playing too well to sit. Last week Ware dominated the touches, but Charles looked good in the limited touches he had. Charles did report some swelling in his knee at practice this week however, so if he is at all limited expect an even bigger day from Ware. Charles makes for a bit of a risky play given the swelling news, but against the Saints he is still worth a roll of the dice.

Things have begun to shake up a bit down in Jacksonville, as Chris Ivory out-touched T.J. Yeldon last week 13-to-7. Ivory missed most of the season so far while recovering from an illness, but has been looking healthier each week he has played. Yeldon has been unable to produce much this season, leaving the door open for Ivory to see an expanded role if he can find some success. He scored a TD last week, and this week they face a Raiders defense that was shredded by the Chiefs running game last. Ivory can continue to separate himself from Yeldon with a good game this week.

With the news that Doug Martin suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury, it looks like the Jacquizz Rodgers train will remain on the tracks for this week against San Francisco. Rodgers surprised in Week 5, rushing for 101 yards on 30 carries while also catching five passes for 28 yards. The 49ers run defense has been abysmal, allowing 149 yards on the ground to RBs per game. If the Bucs offense operates like it did before the bye, expect another huge game for Rodgers. He will be a solid option in the coming weeks until Doug Martin is ready to return.

When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, who wins? That’s the case this week with David Johnson matchup up with the Seattle Seahawks run defense this week. This is likely the lowest you will see Johnson in our rankings all season long. He has been electric all season long, every bit as good as we drafted him to be and then some. The Seahawks were able to limit Devonta Freeman last week, and have been dominant against opposing RBs all season long outside of some late TDs by Carlos Hyde. I think Johnson will have a good game due to volume, but this will easily be his toughest challenge yet this season.

Latavius Murray returns to the Raiders RB rotation this week. DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard filled in and kept the ship afloat, but before the injury Murray was receiving the bulk (not a much bigger bulk) of the work. Murray should return to his role atop the totem pole, so he should be a bit higher up in our rankings compared to Washington. None of these players are very good starts this week, but Murray is an OK play if you’re in a tough spot. You can’t sell any of these guys right now; one can only hope the coaching staff ditches the committee approach and picks one back to roll with. Until then, this backfield is too volatile for fantasy purposes.

The Monday night matchup this week pits the Texans up against the Broncos in Denver. Lamar Miller will look to continue to success he found last week against the defenseless Colts. The Broncos passing defense is legit, but they have allowed the 12th most fantasy points to RBs this season, making Miller a better play than expected. It is still CJ Anderson’s backfield in Denver, with Devontae Booker operating as the change of pace back. Last week Anderson ran into some bad luck with holding calls taking away big plays, including a nice 20-yard reception TD. He looks good on the field, and against a Houston run defense just behind the Broncos at #14, he should have a strong performance also.

 

Week 7 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

Rank Player Name Pos Nick Ben Bill
3 DeMarco Murray RB 2 2 3
4 Le'Veon Bell RB 3 5 2
6 LeSean McCoy RB #N/A 8 6
8 Devonta Freeman RB 6 10 9
10 David Johnson RB 5 14 5
12 Melvin Gordon RB 7 13 7
16 Todd Gurley RB 9 20 13
17 Lamar Miller RB 19 17 14
21 Christine Michael RB 10 37 10
22 Spencer Ware RB 13 22 20
26 Mark Ingram RB 21 30 17
34 Jordan Howard RB 41 27 22
36 Jamaal Charles RB 35 38 23
37 C.J. Anderson RB 20 46 24
38 Tevin Coleman RB 30 39 29
45 Terrance West RB 46 55 33
47 James White RB 55 49 50
49 Giovani Bernard RB 62 58 43
51 Frank Gore RB 48 59 38
52 Matt Jones RB 37 62 40
53 LeGarrette Blount RB 26 67 31
55 Jacquizz Rodgers RB 32 44 35
64 Jerick McKinnon RB 74 66 57
65 Jay Ajayi RB 49 75 48
67 Theo Riddick RB #N/A 52 85
72 Matt Forte RB 71 73 62
75 Chris Ivory RB 60 69 70
76 Jeremy Hill RB 54 89 51
77 T.J. Yeldon RB 75 78 77
78 Duke Johnson RB 85 81 82
81 Isaiah Crowell RB 67 101 56
84 Ryan Mathews RB 79 90 64
85 Rashad Jennings RB 81 92 65
90 Darren Sproles RB 100 94 93
97 DeAndre Washington RB 89 108 89
100 Bilal Powell RB 92 117 74
102 Mike Davis RB 98 127 78
104 Matt Asiata RB 111 105 97
105 Devontae Booker RB 107 109 94
111 Latavius Murray RB 139 77 116
112 Arian Foster RB 104 120 99
115 Chris Thompson RB 130 113 119
117 Jalen Richard RB 94 121 105
123 Derrick Henry RB 135 133 109
125 Knile Davis RB 123 147 103
127 Bobby Rainey RB 134 131 120
129 Mike Gillislee RB 28 99 133
138 Zach Zenner RB 127 159 112
140 Dwayne Washington RB 114 137 130
145 Don Jackson RB #N/A 153 142
146 Justin Forsett RB 115 152 138
148 DeAngelo Williams RB #N/A #N/A 148
149 Shaun Draughn RB 126 145 134
154 C.J. Spiller RB 155 168 150
156 Kenneth Dixon RB 140 164 143
160 Travaris Cadet RB 147 142 167
164 Wendell Smallwood RB 141 161 158
167 Robert Kelley RB 164 #N/A 165
170 Ka'Deem Carey RB 159 172 151
171 Peyton Barber RB #N/A #N/A 171
175 Dexter McCluster RB #N/A #N/A 173
177 Damien Williams RB 163 173 175
181 Alfred Blue RB 168 #N/A 176
182 Jamize Olawale RB 167 177 179
183 Orleans Darkwa RB 161 #N/A 180
189 Tim Hightower RB 176 #N/A 188
192 Charcandrick West RB #N/A #N/A 189
193 Andre Ellington RB 181 #N/A 190
198 Benny Cunningham RB #N/A #N/A 193

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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