NFL Week 7: Running back power rankings
By Mike Dyce
We’re about at the mid-way point of the NFL season and we have a large enough sample size to start ranking players. In this weekly segment we will be ranking the league’s best running backs. Not necessarily from a fantasy perspective, but a general perspective as well
1. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
Jamaal Charles has had a great season so far and is a big part of the reason the Chiefs are undefeated so far. He has rushed 135 times for 561 yards and six touchdowns. He has caught passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns and is fantasy football’s highest scoring running back with 127 points.
2. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Marshawn Lynch isn’t leading in most categories but he seemingly has been running in beast mode all season. He has carried the ball 138 times for 578 yards for a league leading 6 touchdowns. He has also caught 14 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown. He is also the third highest scoring running back in the fantasy football based on ESPN standard scoring.
3. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Forte got a big boost this week in the rankings behind a three touchdown performance in a loss to the Washington Redskins. Forte has rushed 116 times for 533 yards, six touchdowns and has 262 receiving yards as well. In fantasy football, using ESPN’s standard scoring, he is the second highest-scoring running back with 110 points.
4. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have relied heavily on the run and McCoy is a big part of that. He has rushed for a league high 685 yards and three touchdowns and has 267 yards receiving as well. He is fourth in ESPN Fantasy Football scoring with 105 points as well.
5. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Despite a lack of carries on Monday Night Football he is still playing well. He has a fairly low 115 carries compared to other top backs, he has still rushed for 511 yards and 5 touchdowns and has 101 receiving yards and a touchdown as well. In fantasy football, using ESPN standard scoring, he has scored 88 points, 7th best.
6. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
Gore has 547 yards rushing this season and five touchdowns. He isn’t higher on this list because of his lack of involvement in the pass game, he has only 90 yards receiving. In ESPN fantasy leagues he has scored 89 points.
7. Reggie Bush, Detroit Lions
When the Lions signed Bush, they were hoping he’d get their ground attack back on track. He has done that and more. Bush has 98 carries for 426 yards and a touchdown, but he has been a big force in the pass game as well, he has 305 receiving yard. In ESPN Fantasy leagues he has 86 points.
8. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
I don’t think anyone would’ve had Moreno this high on their list before the season started, but Moreno has played well this season. He has 413 yards rushing, 198 yards receiving and a league leading eight rushing touchdowns. All that has helped him get 102 points in ESPN fantasy leagues.
9. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
It is hard to believe he is higher on this list than C.J. Spiller, but he has been injured. Jackson, before getting injured himself, has rushed for 380 yards and five touchdowns and added 215 yards receiving. That gives him 84 points in ESPN fantasy leagues with standard scoring.
10. Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Another player who went down with an injury recently. Foster has rushed for 542 yards and a touchdown, and adds 183 yards receiving and another touchdown. In ESPN standard leagues he has scored 81 points.