2012 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Week 4

Author:
Athlon Sports
Publish date:
Sep 27, 2012

Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.

Indianapolis and Pittsburgh are on bye.

2012 NFL Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings — Running Backs


Rk	Player	Team	OPPONENT	Notes
1	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. TEN	Titans 29th in rushing defense.
2	Ray Rice	BAL	vs. CLE (Thurs.)
3	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	vs. CIN	MJD already back in top 5 among RBs.
4	LeSean McCoy	PHI	vs. NYG	Hoping to back up trash talk against G-Men.
5	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at STL	Beast mode could be in full effect vs. Rams.
6	Adrian Peterson	MIN	at DET
7	Jamaal Charles	KC	vs. SD	Back in charge after 233-yard effort.
8	Darren McFadden	OAK	at DEN
9	Ryan Mathews	SD	at KC	Should see even more touches against Chiefs.
10	Frank Gore	SF	at NYJ	Jets allowing 150 yards rushing per game.
11	Doug Martin	TB	vs. WAS
12	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	CIN	at JAC	BJGE should have success vs. Jags.
13	DeMarco Murray	DAL	vs. CHI (Mon.)	Bears will be tough test.
14	Trent Richardson	CLE	at BAL (Thurs.)	Rookie could be in for long night.
15	Michael Bush	CHI	at DAL (Mon.)	Forte's status for this week uknown.
16	Stevan Ridley	NE	at BUF	Hope Week 3 (13 att) is exception, not rule.
17	Reggie Bush	MIA	at ARI	Knee checked out OK, but watch status closely.
18	Michael Turner	ATL	vs. CAR
19	Darren Sproles	NO	at GB
20	Cedric Benson	GB	vs. NO	Saints giving up most fantasy points to RBs.
21	Alfred Morris	WAS	at TB	Looks to be entrenched as No. 1 back.
22	Mikel Leshoure	DET	vs. MIN	Can he top 100-yard debut?
23	Steven Jackson	STL	vs. SEA
24	Andre Brown	NYG	at PHI	No longer the starter, but has earned a role.
25	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at PHI	Named the starter, but will share with Brown.
26	Chris Johnson	TEN	vs. HOU	Texans not what struggling CJ needs.
27	Ryan Williams	ARI	vs. MIA	Now the starter with Beanie Wells on IR.
28	Tashard Choice	BUF	vs. NE	Less appealing if injured Bills return.
29	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at ATL	Hoping toe/ankle issues are over with.
30	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at ATL
31	Ben Tate	HOU	vs. TEN	Solid flex option vs. Titans.
32	Shonn Greene	NYJ	vs. SF	Powell breathing down his neck.
33	Willis McGahee	DEN	vs. OAK	Rib injury could limit/sideline him.
34	Daniel Thomas	MIA	at ARI	If Reggie sits, Thomas gets the start.
35	Jacquizz Rodgers	ATL	vs. CAR
36	Pierre Thomas	NO	at GB
37	Mark Ingram	NO	at GB
38	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs. NE	Even if he plays, expect limited impact.
39	Lance Ball	DEN	vs. OAK	Should start if McGahee doesn't play.
40	Bilal Powell	NYJ	vs. SF	Time to shine with Greene struggling.
41	Shaun Draughn	KC	vs. SD	Peyton Hillis (ankle) questionable.
42	Danny Woodhead	NE	at BUF
43	Daryl Richardson	STL	vs. SEA
44	Lamar Miller	MIA	at ARI
45	Kendall Hunter	SF	at NYJ
46	Toby Gerhart	MIN	at DET
47	Jackie Battle	SD	at KC	Chargers' goal-line back?
48	Kevin Smith	DET	vs. MIN