Week Five fantasy tips: RBs

If you were disappointed in QB BenJarvus Green-Ellis' early contributions, you were probably pleased with a solid game against Oakland. While rookie Stevan Ridley could cut into his carries, Danny Woodhead will likely miss Sunday's game (ankle), and "The Law Firm" will still get the bulk of the carries, especially near the goal line. The Patriots will want to be balanced against the Jets' defense, and New York has struggled against the run this season, allowing 117.8 rushing yards and 1.3 TDs per game.

He should already be in your starting lineups, but Bills RB Fred Jackson is a must-start this week against the Eagles' 30th-ranked run defense. In addition to playing a struggling "D" that is very weak at linebacker, the Bills will want to control time of possession by running the football, which would keep Michael Vick off the field as much as possible. Jackson should provide matchup problems for Philly as a receiver as well — he has 13 catches on 17 targets this season. The Eagles are allowing opposing running backs 142.8 rushing yards and 68.5 receiving yards to the position this year, including 1.5 TDs per game. He's a top-three fantasy back this week.

The Bengals want to get Bernard Scott more involved in the offense, but for now, Bengals RB Cedric Benson gets the lion's share of the work, as he has throughout his tenure in Cincinnati. Scott had a season-high seven touches in Week Four; Benson still got nearly three times as many opportunities (19 carries). Benson, who's appealing an NFL suspension, is expected to play in Week Five at Jacksonville. Should he miss any time, Scott would be the starter. Benson is a weak No. 2 fantasy back, and Scott is a bench play this week. The Jaguars are allowing opposing backs only 89 rushing and 34 receiving yards with 0.8 TDs to the position. Benson will struggle, but Scott won't see enough touches to make a difference for owners.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) missed practice on Wednesday, and his status for Sunday's game vs. Tennessee is unclear. If you're depending on Mendenhall, it's time to consider picking up Isaac Redman, the clear-cut backup to Mendenhall. Redman (22 carries, 107 yards) has played well this season with 4.9 yards per carry. However, whoever starts for the Steelers Sunday has to deal with a Tennessee defense allowing just 3.22 yards per carry and holding opposing backs to 81.3 rushing and 48.8 receiving yards with 0.8 TDs per game. Mendenhall, averaging only 43.3 rushing yards and 0.5 TDs per game, is only a No. 3 or flex play this week, if he's able to play.  

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew is off to a strong start this season. In fact, MJD has racked up more rushing yards — 391 — than any player in franchise history through the first four games. But for the second season in a row, he is having a surprisingly difficult time finding the endzone (one TD). On Sunday, MJD's struggles could continue, as he faces a Cincinnati defense that is limiting opposing RBs to only 86.8 yards and .75 TDs each week. In his only meeting with the Bengals in 2008, Jones-Drew carried the ball 10 times for 33 yards and a score. You didn't draft him to bench him, and this week he makes a No. 2 fantasy back.

RB Chris Johnson showed signs of life in the Titans' Week Four win over the Browns, eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark (101 yards on 23 carries) for the first time this year. He broke off his longest run of the season — a 25-yard scamper — and also banged out more four- and five-yard runs than in prior weeks. In years past, recommending virtually any RB as a strong play against Pittsburgh's vaunted run defense would have been unusual. But the Steelers are ranked 22nd in the league in run defense and allowed Texans RB Arian Foster to run roughshod over them to the tune of 155 yards and a TD on 30 carries last week. On the season, Pittsburgh is surrendering 119.5 rushing yards and .75 TDs to the position each week. Johnson should also get a boost from the return of his lead blocker, FB Ahmard Hall, who was suspended the first four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Johnson makes a No. 2 fantasy back this week.

Raiders RB Darren McFadden has been a dominant every-other-week runner this season. In Weeks One and Three, he averaged 160.5 rushing yards per game; in Weeks Two and Four, just 73.5 yards. The trend implies McFadden will have a big performance in Week Five vs. an improved Texans "D." They are allowing 97.8 rushing yards and 0.8 TDs with 26.5 passing yards to the position. McFadden is a No. 1 fantasy back.

It has been nearly seven years since Broncos RB Willis McGahee had consecutive 100-yard-plus games, but that's what he could do this Sunday with a big performance. The veteran back has been a pleasant surprise for Denver this season, though going over the century mark could be tough against a Chargers defense that ranks sixth in yards allowed per game, giving up only 78 rushing and 24 receiving yards with 0.5 TDs to the position per game. He makes a No. 2 back this week in larger leagues because of the bye weeks and a No. 3 or flex in others.

The good news: Lions RB Jahvid Best has a reception of at least 24 yards in each of the last three games. The bad news: His carries have decreased in each of the last four games, to a season-low of 11 in Week Four. Best remains the Lions' top back, but he's averaging just 3.2 yards a carry, and if the Lions fall behind as they have in recent weeks, the running game may be set aside. One other note for those depending on Best: His backups haven't exactly played well, either. With no clear-cut No. 2 back emerging, he's a safe bet to still see most of the touches for fantasy owners. He's averaging 98.8 offensive yards per game with 0.5 TDs and he's being utilized 22 times per game. Overall he's earning No. 1 fantasy numbers for owners, albeit, weakly. He's facing a Bears defense that is allowing 165.3 offensive yards but only 0.25 TDs to the position, making him a weak No. 1 fantasy back in PPR leagues and a No. 2 in non-PPR.

The Panthers' run defense was gashed last week vs. the Bears, and Carolina is one of the league's worst defending the run, ranking 31st. They're allowing 139.8 yards and one TD per game rushing and 39.5 receiving yards to the position. The running backs facing the Panthers' front seven, which has been weakened by the loss of injured LBs Jon Beason and Thomas Davis, will be worth considering for a start each week, and Week Five gives the Saints' three-pronged attack a chance to go off. Some owners may be hesitant to start anyone from the Saints' backfield since carries are split between Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles, but Ingram, who gets the goal-line carries, and Sproles, who is averaging 89.5 total yards per game, are worth considering as No. 3 backs (Sproles a No. 1 in PPR) or flex options in most leagues. Owners hit hard by injuries or the bye week at running back might even consider starting Thomas, who has yet to score a touchdown.

Are both Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter burgeoning fantasy weapons in the Bay Area? Eyebrows were raised when Hunter, a very promising-looking rookie, started in place of Gore in the Niners' shocking upset victory in Philadelphia. They were raised further when Gore overcame a right-ankle injury and ran for a season-high 127 yards in the game, including a 12-yard TD. Still, Hunter made his mark in Philly, adding 116 total yards, including a huge 14-yard third-down run that set up Gore's TD one play later. What suddenly has developed is a very effective inside (Gore)-outside (Hunter) duo that could reap more fantasy dividends. "Hunter gives you more speed," said one Niners insider. "I see 20-25 touches for Gore and 10-12 for Hunter in every game moving forward." Gore is a No. 2 fantasy back, and Hunter runs the gamut from a flex play to bye-week or injury fill-in. While it may be tough on the ground for the duo, the Bucs this year are allowing opposing backs 134.4 offensive yards and 0.5 TDs per week. Both players are pass-catching backs, as well.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/10/06/week-five-fantasy-tips-rbs-3

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